For years pundits have talked about the dangers of terrorists infiltrating our electrical grid or infrastructure.  The major fear was that everyone who relies on utilities for power would be unable to use anything electrical within their homes.  Any utilities other utilities that use electricity to provide water, phone service, or other vital services would also be affected.

Today appears to be that day or at least the day that we found out about it.  According to Reuters, cyberspies from around the world including China and Russia have already infiltrated the electrical grid and left behind software that could shut down or destroy the grid at some point in the future.

This espionage has been going on for years.  Luckily,we aren’t at war with the  countries that have penetrated our electrical systems from coast to coast.  Every power company has apparently been infiltrated and software remains behind that if triggered, would destroy all components of the various companies.

China holds most of our debt and apparently has technology that could shut down America if we ever decide to push too hard on any issue or inadvertently anger them to the point of war.  Not only would our homes, businesses and schools shut down, but imagine how much of our infrastructure outside of the power companies this would affect.

Traffic signals would not work. Water pumps, and sanitation facilities would be affected as would our entire communication system. Gas pumps would not work sidelining most vehicles. We would have to go back to washing our clothes in streams or in human powered small washers.  Relying on generators won’t work since most of them require gas to run.

News like this should motivate more people and businesses to implement alternative energy plans.  Solar, wind, hydro and wave power are not only renewable and clean, they can’t be infiltrated or disrupted except by Mother Nature.  With batteries to store excess energy harvested, green energy could power homes, businesses, hospitals, and government both day and night.

For do-it-yourselfers there are books on the Internet and in bookstores that take you step by step through the process of building solar panels and windmills for under $200 each.  For the rest of us, there are companies more than willing to supply the products and labor necessary to go off grid.

The new renewable energy incentives are out there.  Now is the time to use them.  Who knows who else might be snooping in our utilities.

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Entry was posted on Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 at 10:56 am under Crime, Green Technology, Security.

Read more entries by Susan Wilson.
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