'Dumb' grids better than smart grids

By John Siciliano, John Siciliano

Published December 20, 2015

A "dumb" grid is the smartest way to go to keep would-be hackers from bringing down power plants.

That's the message that solar energy proponents are planning to convey to senators ahead of the Senate taking up a major cybersecurity bill, expected next week.

The bill, which would push cooperation between the government and the private sector on cybersecurity issues, is backed by the utility industry, but a host of amendments are being proposed that they want kept out of the measure. Meanwhile, renewable energy proponents don't want anything added to the bill that could make the nation's electric grid more vulnerable.

Scott Sklar, a long-time renewable energy expert and head of the Global Solar Initiative, said he is using the bill to educate lawmakers on the very real threat of cyber attacks that are not always associated with keeping the lights on or with integrating more renewables.

Sklar's main point is that making the grid "smarter" isn't the best route when considering threats coming from the Internet.