Power Lines Are The Soft EMP Target.

Problem:

If an EMP event happened, the power lines would act like a huge antennae for the impulse, and this would travel down the lines, collecting at transformers and switch gear, and would literally fry everything these lines are connected to. 

EMP threats raise grave concerns about the ability of the modern U.S. power grid to successfully recover from the effects of a major geomagnetic event. Since the last occurrence of a major geomagnetic storm in 1921, the Nation’s high voltage (HV) and extra high voltage (EHV) systems have increased in size over tenfold. Longer transmission lines that span greater surface potentials act as conductors for the geomagnetically induced current (GIC) that can devastate the electrical grid.

https://www.ferc.gov/industries/electric/indus-act/reliability/cybersecurity/ferc_executive_summary.pdf

The amount of upgrades to EMP or Geomagnetic Storm proof these systems is astronomical. 

Solution:

More people making power from their homes. We could reduce the need for such large and expensive infrastructure if we just started making more power from our own homes. It’s already happening. People are waking up to the fact you can sell power to your neighbors too.

While having your own off grid system is the ultimate solution, it’s still pretty expensive up front. Good Energy, a new company in England, has a potential solution to taking the control of energy giants out of their hands, and putting the people in charge of who supplies their energy. 

The following program is really interesting in how when people can get control of their own supply of energy, they started changing how they use it, especially big businesses where this can make a big difference to their bottom lines.