Energy Quote of the Day: 'Grid Jihad

Posted September 6, 2014

The suggestion that ISIS-related militants could team up with Mexican drug cartels to disable the US power grid for an extended period of time seems a bit alarmist, but worth noting, particularly in light of 2 recent substation attacks in California. US power grid vulnerability, be it from cyber attack or direct assault, has been widely reported and it appears steps are being taken to strengthen security, though threats certainly remain.

“Inadequate grid security, a porous U.S.-Mexico border, and fragile transmission systems make the electric grid a target for ISIS,” said Peter Pry, one of the nation’s leading experts on the grid, according to the Washington Examiner.

Experts quoted in the article claim that if the grid were down for a year 9 out of 10 Americans “would likely perish.” The likelihood of the entire power grid being down for a year seems rather low, but probably not impossible. Perhaps this is a case where using fear to spark action is warranted.

Founder and president of the Center for Security Policy Frank Gaffney called the potential crisis the “grid jihad,” during a press conference in Washington DC yesterday.

“ISIS could hire one of the Mexican cartels, or one of their criminal gangs already in the U.S., or activate jihadist terror cells already in the U.S., and inflict a multi-state blackout immediately, within days or weeks. Perhaps even a nationwide blackout,” Pry explained to [Washington] Secrets. …“I am not saying it is likely they will do so. But given the capabilities and objectives of ISIS and our obvious vulnerabilities, it would be foolish to ignore the threat to the grid, to regard the threat as unlikely. Our planning should be based on imminent asymmetrical threats, and not assume that another 9/11 large-scale attack is years away,” he added.

Is this fear mongering, drawing attention to an imminent threat or just giving ideas to bad people?

http://theenergycollective.com/jared-anderson/484041/energy-quote-day-grid-jihad