Powerless by Tim Washburn Read Free Book Online

sir, it’s what will happen. The geomagnetic storm will produce power spikes—enormous amperage—that will basically melt the transformers. The longer the length of the high-voltage lines, the more vulnerable we are. Unfortunately, our country has thousands and thousands of miles of high-voltage wire.”
    â€œWhy can’t we just replace the transformers and resume electrical service?”
    â€œI’m not an expert on electrical power, Mr. President, but from the reading I’ve done, there may only be a few extra transformers in the whole country. We’re talking huge, expensive, and complicated equipment. It takes anywhere from fifteen months or longer to manufacture just one. Not only that, but just transporting the massive devices is a long-term process. Increase that one to hundreds or even thousands, and it would take years to rebuild the electrical infrastructure.”
    The President turns his attention to the FEMA director. “Don, why don’t the electrical companies maintain a supply of these transformers?”
    â€œWe’ll need to ask them, sir, but I believe the issue is economics. As Dr. Blake said, these transformers are extremely expensive, and unfortunately our grid is so diverse most of the parts aren’t interchangeable between systems.”
    â€œWhat if we force the power companies to switch off all power, at least until the worst of the storm passes?”
    The secretary of commerce says, “Mr. President, even the loss of a few hours of electrical power would cause the loss of billions of dollars to our economy.”
    â€œIf that’s the toll for a few hours, Ed, what do you think the economic impact will be after a year or more without electricity?” the President snaps.
    â€œSir, if I may,” Major Garcia says. “As Director Carter said, the electrical companies have already suggested a switched-off system may be no less vulnerable, but I would err on the side of caution and force them to hit the off switch. But I believe, regardless of the effects on the electrical grid, our primary focus should be activating the National Guard. We’re looking at chaos on an unimaginable scale.”

C HAPTER 13
    Aura Hydroelectric Power Station
Sunndalsøra, Møre og Romsdal, Norway
Wednesday, September 29, 10:37 A.M .
    Â 
    H ard against the southern shore of the Sunndal fjord in northwest Norway lies one of the country’s most advanced hydroelectric plants. A majority of Norway’s power is generated by water, and most of the power plants are dug in along the coastline of the Norwegian Sea. Their distance from the more habitable southern portions of the country results in the need for long runs of high-voltage electrical lines to reach the more populous areas.
    Engineers Lise Brekken and Baldor Amundsen are a couple of hours into their shift manning the minimalist control room of the massive power-generating plant when a flurry of alarms begins blaring. Lise, thirty-two, is a tall and athletic woman who has the Nordic features of her ancestors—well-defined facial structures with a square jaw, icy blue eyes, and long blond hair twisted into a ponytail. Her face tightens with concern.
    â€œWhat the hell?” Baldor shouts over the noise. Lise glances at him and shrugs. She turns her focus to the keyboard in front of her, searching for the source of the alarms. Baldor, whose hairline only stopped receding when it ran out of real estate, picks up the phone to notify the plant director, then joins in the search on his own computer.
    There had been an occasional alarm during their tenure, especially during periods of increased solar activity, but nothing like this.
    They both glance up when their boss bursts through the door. Alrek Dahlmen, a short man who is nearly as tall as he is wide, hurries to where the two engineers are sitting and looks over their shoulders as the alarms continue.
    â€œShut it down,” he shouts.