Solar Activity Threatens America’s Electric Grid

In September 1859, a powerful geomagnetic storm, known as the Carrington Event, caused chaos for telegraph operators as solar flares induced currents in their equipment. Today, the sun’s cycle peaks, raising concerns about modern vulnerabilities; recent flares have already disrupted communications. A similar event could devastate the electric grid, leading to massive economic losses and infrastructure failures. Cost-effective solutions, like Neutral Blocking Devices, exist to protect transformers, but utility companies remain hesitant to implement them.

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