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Superconductors as Electrical Grid Surge Suppressors

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the keeping-power-flowing dept.

securitas writes "The New York Times published a story about Intermagnetics -- a company that plans to use 'superconductors as valves on the electric-utility power grid, letting their temperature rise to choke off the flow of power,' a day before the largest blackout in North American history. The timing couldn't have been better. On the day of the blackout, Intermagnetics announced a $6 million contract from the Department of Energy to develop and install superconductor 'valve' prototypes by 2006 in the Niagara Mohawk distribution system. Considering that one of the leading theories for the cause of the cascading blackout is a surge in the Niagara Mohawk power grid, this announcement seems incredibly timely."

3 of 162 comments (clear)

  1. Is it just me, or is it a conspiracy .... by leoaugust · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Is it just me, for in this "New" world, everytime I see a coincidence, me thinks conspiracy ....

    If Pigs in Orwell's Animal Farm could start walking on two legs, and a war could be staged for Halliburton to get billions in contracts .... could a power outage have been staged ...

    please spare me the flames; I am already close to dying laughing at my own stupidity ....

    --
    To see a world in a grain of sand, and then to step back and see the beach where the sand lies ...
  2. not like it really matters by beyonddeath · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    the us is already blaming canada

  3. Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait
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    Watch!
    <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,36 04,1019996,00.html">The Gaurdian</a>

    The Gaurdian

    Whats so hard about this? Even the special school kids from Kuro5hin could manage that. Why can't you?