Journal of Critical Infrastructure Policy
An investment of $ 21 billion would significantly increase the resilience of the U . S . electric grid . It is important to observe that the grid ’ s communications system is not its only vulnerable element . Therefore , we do not propose that this investment will provide comprehensive protection ; instead , we assert this targeted investment would provide protection that has a low cost relative to the increase in resilience .
National Security Implications
Investing in EMP protection and long-term backup power for the electric grid ’ s communication system is necessary to buttress national security . Military installations , law enforcement facilities , intelligence agencies , border control , and critical data processing facilities based in the continental United States depend on the commercial electric grid .
A robust , resilient communication system is also essential to expedite restoration of critical , lifeline services and diminish adverse health consequences for millions of Americans . Fuel , clean drinking water , wastewater services , food processing , emergency medical services , transportation , financial services — all lifeline services — and other sectors of the critical infrastructure rely on the electric grid . Lacking electricity , wastewater systems would shut down ; sewers would backup into buildings and residences . Sewage contamination of rivers and drinking water could cause epidemics .
Electricity is required to manufacture medical supplies such as masks , gloves , protective clothing , syringes , catheters , and saline solutions . It is also required to produce and store vaccines and injectable medicines . Without electricity , existing inventories would spoil ; production of new supplies would cease , precisely when most needed . Like vaccines , insulin also requires refrigeration . Lacking electricity , about six million Americans could die from the lack of this life-sustaining medicine ( American Diabetes Association , 2015 ).
Medical facilities rely on electricity to refrigerate blood supplies and power diagnostic , purification , and sterilization equipment . Without these systems , life-saving surgeries would be difficult and dangerous to conduct . Without electricity , the lives of 468,000 Americans on dialysis would be at risk ( NIH , 2016 ).
Annual GDP for the U . S . in 2020 was approximately $ 20 trillion or $ 1.7 trillion per month . We might assume that 90 % of GDP is lost during a blackout or $ 1.5 trillion per month . By investing $ 21 billion to fortify the electric grid telecommunications system , it may be possible to accelerate the electric grid ’ s recovery by
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