Time for a stronger all-Canadian grid
The kneebone is connected to … non-contiguously, pretty much every other bone in your body. Unfortunately. But more on that later. File Canada needs its own east-west electrical grid. The […]
A recent New York Times article highlights the vulnerability of the U.S. electrical grid, noting that a coordinated attack on just nine of the country's ten major substations could cripple the entire power system. The outage could last up to 18 months, with food, water, fuel supplies degrading within days, and electronic transactions coming to a halt.
The aging infrastructure, particularly transformers, is a major concern, as replacing them can take up to five years and relies on foreign suppliers that may face trade barriers.
The article draws parallels to the 2003 Northeast Blackout, which left 50 million people without power across the Northeastern United States and Canada. This incident, caused by trees falling on transmission lines, led to a widespread power failure affecting multiple major cities. The interconnected nature of the North American electrical grid leaves it susceptible to such large-scale disruptions.
The piece suggests that Canada should consider developing its own, distinctly Canadian electrical system. With increasing geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions, having a resilient, domestically-controlled power grid could prove crucial in ensuring the nation's stability. Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the importance of Canadians taking charge of their own energy infrastructure, proposing the idea of building a unified Canadian electrical system to avoid reliance on foreign systems and protect against potential disruptions.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
