We Dodged a Solar Bullet, But Must Secure the Grid

The headline in a British tabloid yesterday read, “A HUGE solar storm is heading towards Earth which could leave us without mobile phones, satellite TV and even electricity.” Fortunately for us, the headline was wrong.

Just because we dodged the sun’s bullet this time, however, doesn’t alter the fact that such a space weather forecast is in our future. Roughly every 150 years, the sun unleashes towards earth an extremely intense “geomagnetic disturbance.” The last time was 157 years ago.

So, we are in the zone.

Unless electric and electronic devices are protected against such enormous energy loads, they will likely be destroyed. And, for the most part, ours are not protected – including those essential to the functioning of our electric grid, which is essential for most of our lives.

We have to secure the grid. Now.