Oregon and Washington have had at least 6 attacks on the power grid since mid-November.

String of electrical grid attacks in Pacific Northwest is unsolved - OPB

 

Can we get back to the grid? Remember the grid? What the thread topic actually is.

Yes, the grid.
A large infrastructure of interconnected generating stations, transformer substations, and transmission lines that powers our country which is very vulnerable to being attacked by a bunch of wingnuts, who are encouraged by right-wing, neo-fascist extremists (declared patriots of course), to attack our country, and perhaps create some kind of civil war so their views can be incorporated into law.
The grid is very difficult to protect, so we are rather at their mercy at the moment.

I don't know that much else pertinent can be said on the subject.

 

Actually that is wrong.

The majority of people who voted FOR Trump were voting Against Hillary.

 

Not to mention the natural gas, oil, and water pipeline infrastructure.

 

The majority of people who voted FOR Trump were voting Against Hillary.

So, they were voting for Trump, right? That's how voting works. That's how decisions are made. Which would I prefer more, which would I dislike more?
I'm guessing half the people voting for Hillary were voting against Trump. Get it?

 

Not to mention the natural gas, oil, and water pipeline infrastructure.

+1

You don't need a gun to disrupt the infrastructure.
https://www.cnn.com/2014/04/17/us/oregon-teen-urinates-into-water-supply/index.html
Portland water supply to be flushed after teen urinates into reservoir

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2011/06/man_caught_urinating_in_mt_tab.html
Man caught urinating in Mount Tabor reservoir prompts Portland to shift water supply

• Updated: Jun. 15, 2011, 6:24 p.m.|

 

+1

You don't need a gun to disrupt the infrastructure.
https://www.cnn.com/2014/04/17/us/oregon-teen-urinates-into-water-supply/index.html
Portland water supply to be flushed after teen urinates into reservoir

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2011/06/man_caught_urinating_in_mt_tab.html
Man caught urinating in Mount Tabor reservoir prompts Portland to shift water supply

• Updated: Jun. 15, 2011, 6:24 p.m.|

What the hell?
What about bird poop? Mosquito larvae?

Gnat lands in lake, lake to be flushed with recycled sewage treated with chlorine and fluoride to make it safe to drink again at $600k cost to taxpayers.

 

I don't know that much else pertinent can be said on the subject

Lots more can be said on the subject, if you know what to look for:

​

 

Not to mention the natural gas, oil, and water pipeline infrastructure.

More things right on target. Most of which are scary. Large above ground natural gas regulators just sitting in the open.

Thank You
Ron

 

MOD NOTE: The TS has specifically requested that the thread return to the subject, which is the vulnerability of the power grid. Please honor that request and leave the politics out of it. Anyone that can't control themselves and refuses to do so will be banned from further participation in this thread.

 

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/18/us/florida-iguana-power-outage-trnd/index.html

An iguana caused “a large-scale outage” in Lake Worth Beach, Florida earlier this month – the third iguana-triggered outage in the city this year.
...
“Every utility agency in Florida deals with this. It’s a nightmare,” Kerr said about the animal-caused outages. “It’s happened three times this year because of iguanas” in Lake Worth Beach, he said. “That’s down 50% from last year.”

Kerr attributed the reduction in the incidents to added safety measures at substations. He said the city is actively working on improvement projects to mitigate the iguana outages.

 

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/18/us/florida-iguana-power-outage-trnd/index.html

Yon know, you’d think they’d have developed a defense against this by now. It’s very costly to have outages but I suppose the lack so defense means it is still cheaper than something effective.

 

Yon know, you’d think they’d have developed a defense against this by now. It’s very costly to have outages but I suppose the lack so defense means it is still cheaper than something effective.

That would be my guess. Our power company is First Energy. Years ago they did a major cut of linemen. First Energy also serves NY. When hurricane sandy was forecasted as a perfect storm in advance they sent all available linemen to NY. That went well till sandy blew through PA and put us in the cold and dark here in Ohio.

As to sub stations being shot up? The cost of those big transformers isn't exactly inexpensive. Not to mention getting them in place.

Ron

 

Yon know, you’d think they’d have developed a defense against this by now. It’s very costly to have outages but I suppose the lack so defense means it is still cheaper than something effective.

The upcoming cold snap in Florida might be a temporary countermeasure to reduce grid outages from the iguana.
https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/falling-iguanas-likely-in-florida-this-cold-christmas-weekend
Falling iguanas likely in Florida this cold Christmas weekend

 

Iguanas in Fla-la-la land and squirrels everywhere else. Even with squirrel guards attached in place they still commit suicide!

 

Iguanas in Fla-la-la land and squirrels everywhere else. Even with squirrel guards attached in place they still commit suicide!

One could say that Iguana's are Florida's Green Squirrels ... !?

 

One could say that Iguana's are Florida's Green Squirrels ... !?

Chicken of the tree.

 

So, with this iguana what-about-ism, are we supposed to stop worrying about people shooting transformers and substation infrastructure until the inept Florida team fixes their iguana problem?

That's like saying we should stop trying to find a cure for cancer until we have a cure for heart disease?
Or if we focus on children in the US, it's like saying we should stop looking for a cure for cancer until we find a cure for murder.

Well, now that I write it, I guess people would rather talk about why solutions are impossible rather than solving.

 

Worrying never solved a single problem...ever.

I made the terrorguana comment as "levity" where inappropriate humor is used as a coping mechanism.

What else should I worry about...global warming, homeless people and kitty cats, nuclear war. Covid?

My mother told me to do something about the things I can control, and not worry about the rest.

(yes, I am making fun of your choice of words)

 

I wonder just how many Iguana/squirrel events there are per year compared to someone shooting a substation. Most Iguana/squirrel events cause little damage other than a blown fuse or tripped breaker compared to a bullet piercing the oil coolant jacket and damaging the windings which likely causes a fire and further damage.