Texas Recognizes that EMPs are the Ultimate “American Assassin”

I have been asked many times, “Why am I so passionate and persistent about protecting our electric grid from both natural and man-made threats?” The answer is really simple, electricity is the second most important thing to sustaining life as we know it today. Only air is more important.

We will live longer without food and water than we will without electricity. Because, without electricity there will be no water, fuel, food, or anything else that you do not already have readily available. And, protecting our electric grid is 100 percent non-partisan. If the lights go out, there is no discrimination. They will be out for everyone.

With TV and movies prolifically demonstrating the catastrophic effects an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) would have on our society, you do not have to use a lot of imagination to see how our lives would be plunged into a world reliant on outdated technology should an EMP be deployed in real life. Protecting against EMPs, whether natural or man-made, is crucial for safeguarding the critical infrastructure and technological systems that are integral to modern society. An EMP has the potential to disrupt or completely disable electronic devices by overloading electrical circuits, rendering essential services like communication, transportation, and health care vulnerable. Furthermore, Communist China has openly admitted their intent to disrupt the lives of Americans in every way possible. An EMP would do more than that; it would take down all unprotected systems, and the resulting deaths would be catastrophic due to the length of time to recover.  Replacement of the thousands of large power transformers would take years.

While man-made EMPs, often associated with high-altitude nuclear explosions, can be intentionally deployed as weapons, natural EMPs, such as those caused by solar weather, can occur unpredictably. The statistical likelihood of a major solar storm devastating our grid is a near certainty – we just don’t know when it will happen. Therefore, EMP protection is vital for national security and economic stability. A large-scale EMP event could cripple power grids, telecommunications, and financial systems, creating widespread chaos and hindering the response to other emergencies. In addition to the immediate effects, the long-term recovery could be prolonged, costing trillions of dollars and affecting hundreds of millions of people. It is vital that all sectors and industries prepare for EMP events, as the consequences would be far and long-reaching, especially in an increasingly digitized world.

That is the bad news, but there is good news on the way. Namely, three major changes that take us closer to protecting Texas critical infrastructures:

  • First, we have learned that research programs at Texas universities are deeply involved in EMP research and mitigation strategies;
  • Second, Governor Abbott issued an executive order, GA-49, to establish a Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) task force to begin to assess these threats and establish a mitigation plan for EMP and cyber threats; and
  • Third, Senate Bill 75 (SB 75), with the purpose of establishing the Texas Grid Security Commission, was recently passed unanimously, 31 to 0, by the Texas Senate.

Shortly before the 89th Legislative Session began, I was honored to be included in a visit to Texas Tech University and see firsthand their Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics (P3E) and the Global Laboratory for Energy Asset Management and Manufacturing (GLEAMM), which have a long history in EMP and related research. The P3E Center was established in 1966 and has since been in continuous operation in service to the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Energy and associated industry partners. The projects are deeply involved in Department of Defense EMP research and their simulators serve as state-of-the-art EMP qualification facilities across the nation. GLEAMM is a one-of-a-kind megawatt-class microgrid facility dedicated to studying and advancing power flow control and threat mitigation.

Then, last November, we were blessed with much needed reassurance that Texas leadership is now fully aware of the inevitability of EMP threats. Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA-49, calling on the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to devise strategies to enhance the state’s resilience against critical infrastructure threats, including EMPs and cyber-attacks. This vital executive order directed state agencies to assess and improve the protection of essential infrastructure—such as energy, water, and communication systems—against both natural and man-made threats. The executive order emphasized the importance of strengthening cybersecurity measures, conducting regular risk assessments, and ensuring the readiness of critical sectors to respond to and recover from EMP or cyber disruptions. The order also called for coordinated efforts between state agencies, private sector partners, and federal entities to fortify the state’s infrastructure and minimize vulnerabilities.

Fast forward to TDEM’s initial response to GA-49, a report issued January 2025, in which TDEM formally recognized the importance of working to protect our critical infrastructure from these world threats:

“The risk of an EMP event or attack has been acknowledged as a threat at the national level (see, for example, the 2014 hearing before the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies in the US House of Representatives). In 2019, the Trump administration issued the Presidential “Executive Order on Coordinating National Resilience to Electromagnetic Pulses,” which specifically identified the EMP threat and the need to safeguard critical infrastructure. Within the State of Texas, Governor Abbott’s GA-49, Relating to the Protection of Critical Infrastructure identifies the need to safeguard critical infrastructure from any and all possible threats, and specifically indicates the People’s Republic of China as an aggressor that could target critical infrastructure.” (p.3)

To mitigate these risks, investing in EMP-resistant technologies, hardening infrastructure, and developing contingency plans are necessary steps to ensure resilience against both natural and man-made EMP threats. Proactive measures can help minimize the impact and maintain the functionality of vital systems during an EMP event.

TDEM further acknowledged in their January report:

“Importantly, several adversary nations have communicated their intention to exploit the HEMP effect in the event of a conflict with the United States.” (p.2)

“The State of Texas should invest in EMP hardening critical systems and the facilities needed to qualify EMP resiliency.” (p. 2)

“Mitigation of the E1 threat can be achieved via the hardening of critical systems and components. This includes the selection of hardened electrical components, that are less vulnerable to burn-out, the application of transient voltage suppressors, the use of shielded enclosures, careful consideration of conductor/cable geometries and layouts.” (p.2)

“Mitigation [for E3 pulse would include]: Application of specialized devices to reduce the effect of GICs [geomagnetically induced currents], real-time monitoring and detection of E3 pulse and E3-like events and isolation of networks (sequestering systems to microgrids). Utilization of components (transformers, insulators, etc.) capable of withstanding the excess stresses induced by the E3 pulse. Additionally, using modern and hardened power transformer alternatives can help seamlessly ride through E3 pulse events.” (p.3)

 

The TDEM report also discusses the current EMP work and research projects at various universities, including the aforementioned Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and the research team at Texas A&M University, that are working on defense threat reduction, EMP test facilities, microgrid research, and GIC level analysis.  It was heartening to learn that Texas A&M is also “actively working with ERCOT [the Electric Reliability Council of Texas] to perform an EMP simulation on the Texas electric grid.” (p.5)

Experts are working to ensure these simulations will be run at levels that would actually protect the grid. For example, the current North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standard for HEMP and GMD E3 protection in Texas is 100 times too low. The existing standard allows for a level of 0.8 volts per kilometer (V/km), but leading experts, believe that it should be 85 V/km based on an unclassified report from the Congressional EMP Commission published by the Department of Defense (DoD) in 2018.

Additionally, a new international standard (IEC 61000-2-9) being developed suggests the protection level should be 100 V/km. The current NERC/FERC protection levels are much weaker than what is considered necessary to safeguard electrical systems. So, it is important that simulations be modeled at the higher and more realistic threat levels.

While this will be an ongoing, coordinated effort, the first report from TDEM is indicative that Texas is finally taking these possible threats seriously and initiating the needed steps to protect our critical infrastructure and systems.

Lastly for now, I am proud to announce that my Senate Bill 75 (SB 75) was unanimously passed by the full Senate, 31-0, on April 16, 2025. This legislation would codify Governor Abbott’s November Executive Order, formally naming the task force as the “Texas Grid Security Commission” (TGSC) under the direction of TDEM. This Commission, consisting of representatives from TDEM, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC), the Railroad Commission (RRC), the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and stakeholders from power industries, would be tasked formally to:

  • evaluate all hazards to the ERCOT electric grid and vulnerabilities of essential services and critical infrastructure for municipalities in seven essential areas (emergency services, communications systems, water and sewer services, health care systems, financial services, energy systems, and transportation systems,)
  • recommend a plan to harden critical infrastructure in the state by evaluating current protection standards,
  • create a statewide plan for protection and mitigation from threats that would cause catastrophic power loss,
  • develop resiliency standards and certification for micro-grids,
  • develop a timeline to implement the plan for the protection of all hazards and resiliency standards for municipalities, and
  • require the Public Utility Commission, ERCOT, and the Railroad Commission to oversee the implementation of the plan by validating the Commission’s recommendations and begin tracking compliance within six months of the plan being submitted to the legislature.

With over 1,000 people moving to Texas daily and the rapid expansion of sectors like artificial intelligence, data mining, manufacturing, and electric vehicles, the strain on the state’s power grid has reached unprecedented levels. Our state leadership recognizes that while increasing grid capacity is crucial, it is equally important to address its vulnerabilities. Strengthening market incentives and regulatory frameworks also encourages electric utilities to prioritize grid security.

Most importantly, solutions to harden the grid, once thought to be too expensive to consider, are now being implemented at a fraction of the cost due to technological advances. For these investments to be truly effective, both public and private infrastructure must be modernized, ensuring that public confidence in the grid’s resilience remains strong. Texas knows that a secure and reliable grid will not only support economic growth but also attract new businesses to Texas.

Through the efforts of the Texas Grid Security Commission, the development of a comprehensive statewide resilience plan will provide significant long-term economic benefits, far surpassing the conventional economic incentives offered through tax abatements for business attraction. I am grateful to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, my fellow senators (28 are joint authors), and Governor Abbott for supporting and moving this initiative forward.  We look forward to collaborating with our Texas House members to get SB 75 finally passed and another step further to protecting Texas’ critical infrastructure.

 

 

Sources:

Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-49, https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/EO-GA-49_Protecting_Critical_Infrastructure_FINAL_11-19-2024.pdf

Senate Bill 75, 89 Regular Session, https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB75

Congressional EMP Commission Unclassified Reports,

http://www.firstempcommission.org/

Presidential Executive Order 13865, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/03/29/2019-06325/coordinating-national-resilience-to-electromagnetic-pulses

 

 

Previous CHRs on grid resiliency: