Published: September 21, 2008 01:01 am      

System would protect power grid in event of electromagnetic pulse

CUMBERLAND — No longer just part of the rush in Hollywood films, the Allegany County commissioners were asked to protect their turf in the event of an electromagnetic pulse.

Charles “Chuck” Manto, president of Instant Access Networks LLC in Frostburg, told the commissioners during a work session Thursday that the county’s remoteness and location outside of the predicated Baltimore-Washington-Richmond blast zone suits it to serve as a back-up facility for emergency communications as well as vital infrastructure including the power grid.

Manto said that by taking action now, local governments could save a lot of money so “critical infrastructure would still work” whereas the damage to the power grid might not be repaired for up to two years.

“It may make a lot of sense if you take an all-active approach” in the event of a super-solar storm, “which will happen sooner or later.”

It’s either an act of nature or an attack on the U.S., Manto said, that could cause an EMP, and “you have to have your own power. These are low-probable events that have catastrophic consequences.”

He said enemies of the U.S. could cause an EMP for about $20 million to $40 million — with “trillions and trillions of dollars of damage.”

Manto said people today spend money to have their computer information backed up. This takes that backup to the next level. Manto’s idea is to manufacture mass-produced mobile rooms that would be shielded from an EMP. He works closely with Frostburg State University, he said, and the school “plans to match our investment” in future projects through a memorandum of understanding.

Commissioner Bob Hutcheson questioned whether other governments would be afforded the opportunity. He was concerned that Allegany County might have the ability to talk with others — but have no one to talk with.

“Let’s get your friends to do this, too,” Manto said, adding other governments in Maryland, at least one medical facility and “another unit of local government” are interested.

“We have a unique opportunity to offer massive data (center),” Manto said. “It’d be very unique if we could actually pull this off.”

Hutcheson asked when the last solar interruption was. Manto said Quebec suffered a minor solar flare in recent years when it lost power for about four hours but the last major event was “in the 1800s.”

“Big ones haven’t happened since we have a substantial power grid like we do now,” Manto said — all the more reason to invest in its protection.

“This is something really important,” Commissioner Jim Stakem said. “This is really scary ... when you talk about what could happen to this country.”

The commissioners asked Manto how much it would cost the county to buy in to the project. Manto did not provide a figure.

Manto said the EMP initiative doubles as an argument for alternative sources of energy, such as wind energy, because they would be impacted less by an EMP than the current power grid.

Since Gov. Martin O’Malley “is very interested,” Manto said he hopes to bend O’Malley’s ear when he’s in Cumberland Oct. 10, the day the Queen City is “Capital for a Day.”

Until then, the commissioners asked Manto to speak with Gary Moore, director of the Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.