Short Takes – 12-7-22

After a Shaky Start, Airborne Wind Energy Is Slowly Taking Off. E360.Yale.edu article. Older article but see HR 9432. Pull quote: “But some experts say those massive turbines aren’t always the best solution — they can be expensive or logistically impossible to install in remote locations or deep waters, and just can’t reach the lofty heights where the wind blows hardest. To harvest these spots, the key may be to fly a kite. Dozens of companies and a handful of academic institutions are now investigating a plethora of airborne options.”

FLASH ALERT: INCREASED RISK TO POWER SUBSTATIONS FOLLOWING ATTACKS IN NORTH CAROLINA. CounterTerrorismGroup.com article. A little over the top. Pull quote: “The outage will likely reduce US military readiness. US Army installation Fort Bragg is next to Moore County, and military personnel who reside there will likely need to take time off to address concerns related to the outage, like lack of childcare for students unable to go to school. This will likely reduce the number of military personnel able to respond immediately to emergencies and national security events and will likely delay deployments.”

North Carolina attack underscores vulnerability of power grid. TheHill.com article. More conventional analysis. Pull quote: ““If we turn to transmission and distribution lines, the wires, and we turn to substations, they are very easy to attack,” said Baldick, whose research has included work on vulnerability of electric grids to terrorist attacks.”

House delays action on defense bill as Black Caucus presses for voting rights. TheHill.com article. More horse trading. Pull quote: “But the plan hit a wall when members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), led by Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), demanded simultaneous action on a separate bill to enhance the 1965 Voting Rights Act.” Not sure if this will mean a change in the substitute language.

Renewable Power’s Growth Is Being Turbocharged as Countries Seek Energy Security. HomelandSecurityNewswire.com article. Pull quote: “The war in Ukraine is a decisive moment for renewables in Europe where governments and businesses are looking to rapidly replace Russian gas with alternatives. The amount of renewable power capacity added in Europe in the 2022-27 period is forecast to be twice as high as in the previous five-year period, driven by a combination of energy security concerns and climate ambitions.”