America’s electricity infrastructure is vulnerable to physical attack. And while federal regulators have known this for years, they’ve been slow to compel security upgrades.
A confidential Federal Energy Regulatory Commission report disclosed in the Wall Street Journal last week revealed that a coordinated attack on as few as nine specific substations could cause coast-to-coast blackouts. Yet FERC hadn’t updated its rules concerning physical security until last month, when the news media reported on an April 2013 shooting attack on 17 California substations.
“[T]he commission’s efforts to improve security is a welcome development,” the Los Angeles Times editorial board writes. “but as part of that work, FERC should also address the frightening challenges posed by the grid’s reliance on custom-fitted equipment that can take months, if not years, to replace.”
FULL STORY: What if all the lights go out?
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
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The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
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