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As a peak in the cycle of solar flares approaches in 2013, U.S. electricity regulators are...

  • Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 10:54 AM ET
    As a peak in the cycle of solar flares approaches in 2013, U.S. electricity regulators are considering options for protecting the power grid, including new equipment standards and retrofits, while controlling costs. An extreme storm could cause blackouts lasting weeks or months, John Kappenman says, leaving some cities temporarily uninhabitable and taking a huge economic toll.
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This news story has 8 comments:

  •  
    We've been hearing the solar-flare-blackout baloney for decades. Try a new scare tactic.
    15 May 2012, 10:55 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Let me get this straight, this is dire and this is beginning in 7 months. A retrofit will take years if not decades. There is no money to pay for it and we are just now "thinking" about getting seriously prepared. When it comes to planning by the Utilities and the Government, we are not getting our money's worth.
    15 May 2012, 11:01 AM Reply Like
  •  
    It's all pure BS.
    15 May 2012, 11:03 AM Reply Like
  •  
    One like this would do a tad more than scramble your cell phone reception.

    http://bit.ly/Jt1H3Z

    That said, it's way too late to do much of anything for a peak that's going to occur in 2013. The upgrades and hardening the power system would need would take years if not decades and cost billions to do. Which is why it won't ever get done. So, if we have another Carrington Event, well, it would be a very good time to have your survivalist skills honed.
    15 May 2012, 11:31 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Thanks for the link. Yeah, s*$% happens, and we are usually not ready for it. Tack - yes - lot's of crying wolf around - but mother nature ain't as sweet as we would like her to be.
    15 May 2012, 11:54 AM Reply Like
  •  
    OM:

    I'm just hoping that they'll inspire some panic attack in utility shares, so I can load up on another beaten-down sector. I already did it once to enormous gains after the Enron hysteria. Happy to have a reprise.
    15 May 2012, 12:00 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Ahhh, How about we get our defense department to finally get real with the threat of an E.M.P. from rouge actors like Iran and North Korea!

    Iran goes out to the middle of no where in the ocean and launches a missile straight up!
    We mistakenly say, oh look it was a failure!
    While the Iranians are perfecting their EMP delivery for our coasts!

    God help us
    15 May 2012, 11:58 AM Reply Like
  •  
    More on solar flares if anyone is interested:

    http://bit.ly/Jy7nYB
    17 May 2012, 10:58 AM Reply Like
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