Wall Street Journal (August 18)
“A fraying electric grid is a nationwide problem,” with estimates suggesting over $700 billion “will need to be spent to replace aging transmission lines and maintain grid reliability” as 60% of “U.S. distribution lines have surpassed their 50-year life expectancy” and the “average age of large power transformers is 40 years, twice their planned life span.” Meanwhile, “grid upgrades to achieve the net-zero promised land” are estimated to “cost another $2.5 trillion by 2050.”
Tags: $2.5 trillion, 2050, Aging, Electric grid, Fraying, Grid reliability, Life expectancy, Nationwide problem, Net-zero, Power transformers, Transmission lines, U.S., Upgrades
Washington Post (December 6)
“So far, hacking has involved mostly commercial and criminal misdeeds.” Though costly, “they are a lesser danger. The real threat is hacking intended to destabilize entire societies.” Cyberwar and cyberterrorism could do unprecedented damage so “we need to think the unthinkable.” This “change in consciousness” will help us limit the risk that, for chilling example, an entity will intentionally crash the electric grid.
Tags: Commercial, Criminal, Cyberterrorism, Cyberwar, Damage, Destabilize, Electric grid, Hacking, Misdeeds, Unthinkable
Washington Post (May 20, 2013)
“For all the wonders of the digital revolution, there is a turbulent and largely hidden underside of theft and disruption that grows by the day; the losses are often not counted in stacks of $20 bills but rather in millions of dollars of intellectual property stolen or compromised. Computer networks are vital to American capitalism and society but remain surprisingly vulnerable to hijack and hijinks.” More worryingly, the electric grid and much of the public infrastructure is also vulnerable. The U.S. needs to “erect better defenses” against cyberattack.
Tags: Computer networks, Cyberattack, Digital revolution, Disruption, Electric grid, Infrastructure, Intellectual property, Losses, U.S.
