State senator eyes securing electrical power grid

Mar 10 - Greenville Herald-Banner (TX)

The United States has three main electrical power grids, one that covers the western U.S., one that covers the eastern portion, and one that covers all of Texas .

Protecting that grid from natural and man-made Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) incidents is high on Texas State Senator Bob Hall's to-do list.

Hall has written a resolution, that if passed by the 84th Legislature of Texas , will urge the United States Congress to provide Department of Homeland Security funds for the protection of the electric grid.

Hall highlighted how many of the devices citizens use on a daily basis depend on electricity.

"It starts with how important electricity is," he said, ranking it just below food and water in importance.

Hall's drive to harden -- the process of protecting electrical devices from EMP attacks -- the electrical grid stems from his tour as a project officer for hardening missiles from EMP attacks in the United States Air Force , he said.

EMPs are created in different ways, through solar flares and storms known as the Carrington Effect, or through the detonation of a nuclear device above the earth's atmosphere, which induces a high current and "will fry everything electronic."

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has put a total of $4.5 billion toward increasing the reliability of the grids from storms and natural disasters.

With United States Congressman John Ratcliffe's current position as Chairman of Subcommittee on Cybersecurity in the Homeland Security Committee , Hall said he plans on speaking with him soon on the subject.

Hall said since there are countries with nuclear capabilities, Texas should make advanced preparations for an EMP attack by hardening the electrical grid.

"We have countries that have nuclear devices and have nothing to lose," he said. "The threat is real."

But that will cost money. Approximately $500 million .

Hall is proposing to use a portion of the Texas Enterprise Fund -- which is normally used to encourage businesses to move to Texas -- to secure the grid. The funds would be used in conjunction with federal funds from Homeland Security.

With the comfort of knowing the electric grid is secure, Hall said hardening the grid will also act as a draw for businesses being courted by Texas .

"A secure grid would be an incentive to move to Texas for business," he said, adding it would save the state and businesses billions in the long run, considering the U.S. economy loses between an estimated $18 to $33 billion in lost wages, delayed production and damage to grid infrastructure, among others.

"We're talking about an insurance policy that is almost insignificant compared to what we would have to pay if the grid went down," he cautioned.

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