Post by papaof2 on Apr 25, 2020 6:40:08 GMT -6
While doing some research on micro-hydro power, I came across this website with power outage reports from past years. I thought this item was of special interest.
www.nooutage.com/2015.htm
Threat to US Power Grid now forcing NORAD back into Cheyenne Mountain
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) now considers the EMP threat by enemies of the United States to be credible. And so Commander Admiral William Gortney on April 7 revealed that NORAD is moving back into its previous Cheyenne Mountain underground bunker. The bunker was originally designed to withstand a Soviet nuclear attack. But because of the way it is built, it is also hardened against an electromagnetic pulse, or EMP. A nuclear weapon detonated at the right altitude above the US could produce an EMP capable of shutting down the US power grid for months or years and would fry most electronics. North Korea and possibly Iran already have nuclear-armed missiles with this capability. An additional concern is an attack from the south, such as a Scud launched from a freighter in the Gulf of Mexico. Since the focus in the past has been to detect missiles coming over the north pole, this type of attack could be a problem with little or no warning.
--various news reports such as WSJ Yahoo FoxNews TheNewAmerican, May 2015
NSA Director: Yes, China Can Shut Down Our Power Grid
According to Adm. Michael Rogers, director of the National Security Agency and head of U.S. Cyber Command, China and "one or two" other countries are capable of mounting cyber attacks that would shut down the electric grid and other critical systems in parts of the United States. This was disclosed at a hearing of the House Intelligence Committee on November 20. He said that U.S. adversaries are regularly performing electronic "reconnaissance" so that they can be in a position to disrupt the control systems at any time. "All of that leads me to believe it is only a matter of when, not if, we are going to see something dramatic," he said.
--various news reports, November 20, 2014
You might also be interested in the calculator and some charts from the micro-hydro site:
www.nooutage.com/hydroele.htm#How much power
Remember that we had Hurricane Irma in 2017?
www.nooutage.com/2017.htm
16+ million without power, 142 mph winds, Irma many new records
Hurricane Irma sets many new records. Add the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and the number reaches 17 million. 16 million people are without power in the southeast US. This number far exceeds Hurricane Sandy. 142 mph was the peak gust recorded in the US (Naples FL). Hurricane Irma sustained winds of at least 180 mph for 37 hours, longer than any storm on earth, on record.
--various news reports such as The Washington Post, September 12, 2017
See why I like the idea of having property with a spring-fed pond? With enough water flow to get a continuous 20 amps from a 12 volt alternator or generator (20 amps * 14 volts = 280 watts which would need at least a 6 foot drop and 100 gallons/minute and more drop would mean fewer gpm), the existing solar panels and battery bank would provide adequate power for everything except central air and an electric clothes dryer - that includes fridge, freezer, clothes and dish washers (NOT at the same time), a 5000BTU window air conditioner for the bedroom overnight and NOT with either washer, even the igniter for the gas oven and limited use of the microwave oven. Not that I've found that property a reasonable distance from our various medical providers. One place that I found and liked is 100 miles away - not exactly where we need it to be so we're still where we've been for a number of years.
www.nooutage.com/2015.htm
Threat to US Power Grid now forcing NORAD back into Cheyenne Mountain
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) now considers the EMP threat by enemies of the United States to be credible. And so Commander Admiral William Gortney on April 7 revealed that NORAD is moving back into its previous Cheyenne Mountain underground bunker. The bunker was originally designed to withstand a Soviet nuclear attack. But because of the way it is built, it is also hardened against an electromagnetic pulse, or EMP. A nuclear weapon detonated at the right altitude above the US could produce an EMP capable of shutting down the US power grid for months or years and would fry most electronics. North Korea and possibly Iran already have nuclear-armed missiles with this capability. An additional concern is an attack from the south, such as a Scud launched from a freighter in the Gulf of Mexico. Since the focus in the past has been to detect missiles coming over the north pole, this type of attack could be a problem with little or no warning.
--various news reports such as WSJ Yahoo FoxNews TheNewAmerican, May 2015
NSA Director: Yes, China Can Shut Down Our Power Grid
According to Adm. Michael Rogers, director of the National Security Agency and head of U.S. Cyber Command, China and "one or two" other countries are capable of mounting cyber attacks that would shut down the electric grid and other critical systems in parts of the United States. This was disclosed at a hearing of the House Intelligence Committee on November 20. He said that U.S. adversaries are regularly performing electronic "reconnaissance" so that they can be in a position to disrupt the control systems at any time. "All of that leads me to believe it is only a matter of when, not if, we are going to see something dramatic," he said.
--various news reports, November 20, 2014
You might also be interested in the calculator and some charts from the micro-hydro site:
www.nooutage.com/hydroele.htm#How much power
Remember that we had Hurricane Irma in 2017?
www.nooutage.com/2017.htm
16+ million without power, 142 mph winds, Irma many new records
Hurricane Irma sets many new records. Add the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and the number reaches 17 million. 16 million people are without power in the southeast US. This number far exceeds Hurricane Sandy. 142 mph was the peak gust recorded in the US (Naples FL). Hurricane Irma sustained winds of at least 180 mph for 37 hours, longer than any storm on earth, on record.
--various news reports such as The Washington Post, September 12, 2017
See why I like the idea of having property with a spring-fed pond? With enough water flow to get a continuous 20 amps from a 12 volt alternator or generator (20 amps * 14 volts = 280 watts which would need at least a 6 foot drop and 100 gallons/minute and more drop would mean fewer gpm), the existing solar panels and battery bank would provide adequate power for everything except central air and an electric clothes dryer - that includes fridge, freezer, clothes and dish washers (NOT at the same time), a 5000BTU window air conditioner for the bedroom overnight and NOT with either washer, even the igniter for the gas oven and limited use of the microwave oven. Not that I've found that property a reasonable distance from our various medical providers. One place that I found and liked is 100 miles away - not exactly where we need it to be so we're still where we've been for a number of years.