Penalties for Attacks on Electric Grid Would Be Increased Under This RI Bill
Monday, February 13, 2023
Legislation has been introduced in Rhode Island that would increase the criminal penalties for damages to electric and cellular communication lines, in the wake of several attacks on transformer stations and cell phone towers around the nation.
The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled Tuesday to hear testimony on the bill (2023-H 5364) introduced by Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown) which would increase penalties from $3,000 to $50,000; imprisonment from two years to 10 years, or both and would require restitution for economic harm.
“Attacks against the electrical grid are at an all-time high nationwide,” said Fogarty. “Neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other right-wing groups are planning and executing these attacks, as well as encouraging others to do the same in an effort to destroy the communications infrastructure and hasten the demise of the federal government."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe meeting will take place Tuesday, February 14, at the rise of the House (about 4:30 p.m.) in Room 101 on the first floor of the State House.
Attacks Around Country
According to Department of Energy statistics, human attacks were responsible for 171 “electric disturbance incidents” around the country in 2022, compared with 99 in 2021.
Last December, a hailstorm of bullets struck a power station in North Carolina, leaving tens of thousands without power.
Four substations in the Pacific Northwest were attacked in the past three months.
In Kern County, in southern California, someone fired a gun into a PG&E substation last July, leaving 1,100 customers without power and causing $3 million to $5 million in damage.
“Domestic terrorism is evolving, and we need to take action to make an attack on our infrastructure an unpopular crime,” said Fogarty. “These so called ‘accelerationist’ groups theorize that chaos and destabilizing violence will bring about societal collapse and cause a race war; and they consider these substations to be easy targets, since many of them are remote and unguarded.”
The legislation would also increase imprisonment for damage resulting from contamination of public water supply systems from five to 10 years and require restitution for economic harm.
The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket), Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), Teresa Tanzi (D-Dist. 34 South Kingstown, Narragansett), Raymond A. Hull (D-Dist. 6 Providence, North Providence), Justine A. Caldwell (D-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich) and Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston).
Related Articles
- George Wiley Center Organizes Against RI Energy’s Proposed Massive Rate Increases
- Baker, Raimondo and Other New England Govs Call for Modernization of Regional Electricity System
- Linden Place Mansion Receives $25K Grant to Upgrade Electrical Systems
- Two Providence Streets Just Paved Are Being Ripped Up a Month Later By RI Energy
- DEAL DONE: National Grid Sold to PPL—to be Rebranded “RI Energy”
- McKee to Propose Bill to Protect Consumers Working with Alternate Electric Suppliers
- RI Energy Seeking Bids to Supply 600 to 1,000 MW of Offshore Wind - Enough for 700,000 Homes
- U.S. Dept. of Energy National Laboratory Makes History by Achieving Fusion Ignition
- Enough Electric Rate Rhetoric - Guest MINDSETTER™ Handy
- Biden Fails to Exploit the Geopolitics of Energy - Mackubin Owens
- Robert Whitcomb: ‘All-Electric’ Future; Worcester Better Run? Genocidal Columbus? Another Religious
- First-in-the-Country Agreement Will Save 9 RI Housing Authorities 40% of Their Energy Costs
- Winter Energy Costs in Rhode Island May Be Far Worse Than Expected
- UK inflation to Hit 18% Next Year Due to Energy Cost Increases, Warns Citi
- Fixing America’s Incoherent Energy Policy - Gary Sasse
- McKee Testifies Before PUC, Calls for Action to Limit Impact of RI Energy’s Proposed 47% Rate Hike
- McKee Unveils New Website Connecting Rhode Islanders to State Energy Assistance Programs
