Addressing America's Vulnerable Electric Grid and Workforce Shortfalls

This essay is part of the Pathfinder series, a coproduction between Breaking Defense and the Center for a New American Security. Click here to find out more.

America's electricity grid faces a dual threat that extends beyond cyberattacks. While cybersecurity frequently dominates discussions on grid vulnerability, a silent crisis looms concerning the infrastructure's backbone — large power transformers (LPTs) and the dwindling workforce needed to maintain them. These massive machines are integral yet irreplaceable in short timeframes, and their failure could lead to prolonged outages affecting essential services like healthcare and communications.

Potential attacks on LPTs aren't mere speculation. Evidence of vulnerability was seen in December 2022, when substation assaults in Moore County, North Carolina, left 45,000 residents without power for nearly a week. In February 2023, there was a foiled plot to target multiple Baltimore-area substations, intending to create urban chaos. Such threats are not only low-cost but also offer adversaries a blueprint for disruption. Furthermore, countries like China, Russia, and Iran have the capability to target several high-voltage transformers simultaneously, leading to a recovery period spanning years.

A Critical Dependency on Transformer Imports

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency highlights 16 critical infrastructure sectors, where the energy sector stands out because of its essential components like transformers. The current reliance on imported LPTs, primarily from South Korea, Germany, and China, poses an external risk, as any disruption to this supply chain could have national implications. LPTs are not only hefty, weighing up to 400 tons, but their manufacture can take almost two years. The 2023 GAO report emphasizes that some utilities now report delivery delays extending to four years.

The Challenge of a Dwindling Workforce

The security of LPTs predominantly depends on a skilled labor force, which is shrinking. The electric utility workforce is aging, with a median age surpassing 50, and a significant portion poised for retirement in the next decade. As demand for new workers surges, projections suggest a need for 105,000 new skilled workers by 2030, while current training programs fall woefully short.

Job vacancies persist, particularly in rural zones, leaving utilities grappling with training limitations and the physical demands of the work, which carries elevated safety risks. Without an adequate talent pool to maintain and repair infrastructure, the threat of prolonged outages remains, jeopardizing national security and public trust.

Policy Initiatives to Strengthen Grid Resilience

Transformers and the skilled workforce they rely on should be prioritized as strategic national assets. To ensure grid resilience, a two-pronged approach is necessary. Firstly, the establishment of a Strategic Transformer Reserve (STR) is crucial. This initiative would operate similarly to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, positioning LPTs in regional hubs, thereby reducing reliance on imports and ensuring availability post-disruption.

Secondly, boosting workforce capacity through a national apprenticeship surge, facilitated by partnerships with unions and community colleges, is essential. This model, already supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, would create jobs and fortify the grid's operational capability. By co-funding these initiatives, Congress and private utilities can ensure a sustainable approach to national grid security.

As history has shown, infrastructure initiatives like interstate highways and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve have been foundational to America's security and economic strength. In modern times, a similar commitment to transformers and skilled labor is paramount for sustaining national resilience and stability.

Juliana Fleming is a congressional staffer focused on foreign affairs, defense, and trade policy. She is pursuing a master’s degree in security policy studies at George Washington University’s Elliott School, concentrating on US national security. Her background spans FEMA disaster response, AmeriCorps leadership, and public service roles dedicated to strengthening America’s security and community preparedness.