Homeland Security Protects New York City's Bright Lights

With Project Hydra Secure Super Grid

"They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway. They say there's always magic in the air." -- The Drifters, 1963

MSN reports that three distinct entities will be working together to make sure the lights on Broadway and the rest of New York City's electricity is secure: American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Consolidated Edison (Con Ed).

On May 21, 2007, AMSC announced that it signed a contract with Con Ed to develop and implement a new high temperature superconductor (HTS) power grid, a "Secure Super Grid," in midtown Manhattan.

Jay M. Cohen, the DHS' Under Secretary for Science and Technology is taking his responsibility to protect our nation's infrastructure seriously. He said, "The U.S. power grid is one of our most valuable assets, and we are taking the steps necessary - through the use of our most advanced technologies - to ensure its safety. As we saw with the August 2003 blackout and in incidents since, disruptions to the power grid have far-reaching effects and a tremendous economic impact."

Pursuant to this goal, the DHS is expected to invest about $25 million in Secure Super Grids throughout the United States. The Grids will use HTS technology to deliver more power while simultaneously suppressing power surges that cause power outages due to severe weather, accidents, terrorist attacks and other unforeseen events.

The DHS has a fitting codename for its Secure Super Grid endeavor, "Project Hydra." According to the Encyclopedia Mythica and Greek mythology, Hydra was a monster with the body of a serpent and many heads. If one head was cut off, one, or some believe two, heads would grow back in its place. Project Hydra will have multiple paths of electricity flow to ensure delivery if power is disrupted in an effort to prevent blackouts.