President Trump’s important May 1, 2020 Executive Order focuses almost entirely on the operation of the “Bulk Power Grid” which it defines to include “transmission lines rated at 69,000 volts (69 kV) or more, but does not include facilities used in the local distribution of electric energy.” Executive Order 13920, Securing the United States Bulk Power System Read Full Story
“Critical infrastructure keeps our food fresh, our houses warm, our trade flowing, and our citizens productive and safe. The vulnerability of U.S. critical infrastructure to cyber, physical, and electromagnetic attacks means that adversaries could disrupt military command and control, banking and financial operations, the electrical grid, and means of communication.” ~President Donald J. Trump, December 18, 2017 National Security Policy Read Full Story
Everything works — and will continue to work — as long as we have electricity. It’s what keeps the lights on, the oxygen flowing, the information going. Everything is the grid, the grid, the grid.” (Emphasis added) by Peggy Noonan, who once wrote speeches for President Ronald Reagan Read Full Story
“I appreciate the urging that we not let our guard down … recognizing that this [threat] is complicated and multifaceted … truly daunting … and that we need to start out locally … It is important that we in congress be reminded of the urgency and imperative of our task and I think we were given that message this morning.” Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Chairlady of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at the conclusion of her May 4, 2017 Hearing on EMP and policy options to protect the grid. Read Full Story
“Mr. Kissinger grew the council to include one deputy, 32 policy professionals and 60 administrators . . . By the end of the Obama administration, 34 policy professionals supported by 60 administrators had exploded to three deputies, more than 400 policy professionals and 1,300 administrators.” John Lehman Read Full Story
Lake Wylie, on the Catawba River that flows from North to South Carolina, hosts three Duke Energy electric power plants and Transmission Lines to pass electricity to York County Distribution Lines operated primarily by Rock Hill Utility and York County Co-operative companies to provide it to York County citizens. The Lake Wylie Pilot Study promises to protect local citizens and be followed by others in South and North Carolina and beyond. Read Full Story
On the heels of Halloween, we saw the California fires finally wind down and a year-long silly season toward our next national election begin — while Washington’s leaders mostly ignore the existential EMP threat. And after Saturday’s 30th anniversary of the end of the Cold War when the Berlin Wall came down and the 244th birthday of the Marines, Veterans Day reminds us of all who have served and are serving to keep us safe and secure. Read Full Story
“We have known about the existential threat posed by electromagnetic pulses (EMP) and geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) for decades. . . . It is way past time to stop admiring this problem, and actually begin to do something concrete to protect our vulnerable electrical grid, control systems, and the ever-increasing array of electronic devices our society has become dependent upon.” ~ Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) Read Full Story
“An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) has the potential to disrupt, degrade, and damage technology and critical infrastructure systems. Human-made or naturally occurring EMPs can affect large geographic areas, disrupting elements critical to the Nation’s security and economic prosperity, and could adversely affect global commerce and stability. The Federal Government must foster sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective approaches to improving the Nation’s resilience to the effects of EMPs.” Statement of Purpose of the March 26, 2019 Executive Order 13865 on Coordinating National Resilience to Electromagnetic Pulses. Read Full Story
“Critical infrastructure keeps our food fresh, our houses warm, our trade flowing, and our citizens productive and safe. The vulnerability of U.S. critical infrastructure to cyber, physical and electromagnetic attacks means that adversaries could disrupt military command and control, banking and financial operations, the electrical grid and means of communication.” ~President Donald Trump, identifying the most serious existential threats to Americans in his Dec. 18, 2017 National Security Strategy statement Read Full Story
We will be adding key policy briefs as we progress.