Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war’

A group of individuals with sniper rifles disabled 17 giant transformers in Silicon Valley in April — an attack labeled as “the most significant incident of domestic terrorism involving the grid that has ever occurred.”

No one has been charged with the April 16 attack on PG&E Corp.’s PCG Metcalf transmission substation, which suffered almost a month’s work of damage, according to the Wall Street Journal.

For almost 20 minutes, the snipers took out the grid before disappearing into the darkness.


Read more: Snipers' attack on Silicon Valley power stations a 'preparation for an act of war' - Washington Times
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter


I heard about this a couple of days ago but didn't remember seeing it here and was unable to find in search.

Shouldn't we have known about this sooner??

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

BTW: This happen 2 days after the Boston bombing so, I wonder if the authorities thought they were connected?

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

WCH said:

A group of individuals with sniper rifles disabled 17 giant transformers in Silicon Valley in April — an attack labeled as “the most significant incident of domestic terrorism involving the grid that has ever occurred.”

No one has been charged with the April 16 attack on PG&E Corp.’s PCG Metcalf transmission substation, which suffered almost a month’s work of damage, according to the Wall Street Journal.

For almost 20 minutes, the snipers took out the grid before disappearing into the darkness.


Read more: Snipers' attack on Silicon Valley power stations a 'preparation for an act of war' - Washington Times
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter


I heard about this a couple of days ago but didn't remember seeing it here and was unable to find in search.

Shouldn't we have known about this sooner??

Click to expand...

The lack of the press knowing or printing this is disturbing. Why did it take 9 months to come out? Certainly whomever was brought in to investigate this by the government - state or federal, knew this wasn't a couple HS kids - this was a coordinated attack. Even now, hardly anyone knows about this and even when they do, it's like "meh". Given the amount of time, the breadth of this attack, that it's being framed as "domestic terrorism" yet the story is amazingly brief, lacking detail, lacks scope or any sort of additional information like, how many snipers? What caliber of bullets and how many were fired over the 20 minutes? Who is investigating this by the FBI, and is there an expectation of more attacks? This is being treated like a fender bender at the local convenience store when in reality, it's a significant and terrifying story.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

Ockham said:

The lack of the press knowing or printing this is disturbing. Why did it take 9 months to come out? Certainly whomever was brought in to investigate this by the government - state or federal, knew this wasn't a couple HS kids - this was a coordinated attack. Even now, hardly anyone knows about this and even when they do, it's like "meh". Given the amount of time, the breadth of this attack, that it's being framed as "domestic terrorism" yet the story is amazingly brief, lacking detail, lacks scope or any sort of additional information like, how many snipers? What caliber of bullets and how many were fired over the 20 minutes? Who is investigating this by the FBI, and is there an expectation of more attacks? This is being treated like a fender bender at the local convenience store when in reality, it's a significant and terrifying story.

Click to expand...

This was way too easy to do.

We had a buzzard sit atop a brand new power pole, spread it's wings and catch on fire, knocking out power for blocks around. Not sure a lot of thought went into that design.

Our infrastructure is wide open to attack.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

WCH said:

This was way too easy to do.

We had a buzzard sit atop a brand new power pole, spread it's wings and catch on fire, knocking out power for blocks around. Not sure a lot of thought went into that design.

Our infrastructure is wide open to attack.

Click to expand...

Power grid, water supply, food supply... a biological attack - this winter we're seeing all these outbreaks on cruise ships of sickness, the latest one in a NY resort which had to be closed down. What do you think would happen with a biological attack at a major airport say, Hartsfield, or O'Hara, or Laguardia. The contaigen would spread all over the country which is why there have been so many horror / thriller / zombie movies made. Lastly, we're 100% unprepared for any of it.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

Ockham said:

Power grid, water supply, food supply... a biological attack - this winter we're seeing all these outbreaks on cruise ships of sickness, the latest one in a NY resort which had to be closed down. What do you think would happen with a biological attack at a major airport say, Hartsfield, or O'Hara, or Laguardia. The contagion would spread all over the country which is why there have been so many horror / thriller / zombie movies made. Lastly, we're 100% unprepared for any of it.

Click to expand...

And I thought you weren't a gloom and doom kind of a guy?? LOL!

I completely agree.

The power grid going down alone would have a deep psychological affect on everyone who is addicted to their smart phones.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

I would imagine that details have been slow to come because the feds locked that crime scene down tight. Would not be surprised if there was some ... convincing journalistic outlets to keep the story quiet.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

WCH said:

And I thought you weren't a gloom and doom kind of a guy?? LOL!

Click to expand...

Ultimately I'm a realist, but I'm very curious why this was apparently kept under wraps. Too bad no one is asking that question and the skill of investigative reporting is extinct.

WCH said:

The power grid going down alone would have a deep psychological affect on everyone who is addicted to their smart phones.

Click to expand...

Well, they have those solar powered chargers and battery operated chargers. What will really pinch the conically addicted to mobile devices is if their data service is interrupted. Maybe THEN outrage would force some sort of response by those investigating it - otherwise I'm afraid it's a ho-hum affair.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

Thank you for printing this here. I would like to know much more about this.

as an aside, after 911 and all the attention to air travel and security, it amazed me that low tech terrorism would be much much more difficult to fight and stop and the damage could be far more devastating and widespread. Imagine what five pairs of terrorist could do with a moderate supply of gasoline and matches in our national park system some summer. You could literally burn them to the ground especially if you coordinated many attacks at once. There has to be other easy targets like that also and perhaps this story about the power grid is one such example.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

after 9/11 the U.S. government saw it as an opportunity to spy on the American people and expand its ability to track it's own citizens. I pretty much gave up on expecting the government to actually do anything meaningful about terrorism.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

haymarket said:

Thank you for printing this here. I would like to know much more about this.

as an aside, after 911 and all the attention to air travel and security, it amazed me that low tech terrorism would be much much more difficult to fight and stop and the damage could be far more devastating and widespread. Imagine what five pairs of terrorist could do with a moderate supply of gasoline and matches in our national park system some summer. You could literally burn them to the ground especially if you coordinated many attacks at once. There has to be other easy targets like that also and perhaps this story about the power grid is one such example.

Click to expand...

I don't doubt that some of the massive wildfires that have occurred here and elsewhere in the world were intentionally set.

I remember wondering as a kid what would happen if someone threw a hand full of metal coat hangers or several spools of wire into a power sub-station. It seemed way too easy even then.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

I heard a congress critter talking this weekend about it, and mentioning that initially it would take about $2 Billion to harden our grid. Politicians piss that much away during breakfast these days, what have they been doing?

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

j-mac said:

I heard a congress critter talking this weekend about it, and mentioning that initially it would take about $2 Billion to harden our grid. Politicians piss that much away during breakfast these days, what have they been doing?

Click to expand...

Waiting for the 'terrorists' to make their move so they (the Pols) can finish off our rights and freedoms.

How about some sort of advisories about "if you see people shooting at power lines or sub-stations" please contact authorities.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

WCH said:

Waiting for the 'terrorists' to make their move so they (the Pols) can finish off our rights and freedoms.

Click to expand...

Oh I agree....The story's headline already sets up to guide us exactly into that direction....When in the story they describe this as an act of "domestic terrorism", then you look at the head line and see "preparation for an act of war" they clearly are planting the seed of thought of the possibility of the US military at war with its own citizens.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

j-mac said:

I heard a congress critter talking this weekend about it, and mentioning that initially it would take about $2 Billion to harden our grid. Politicians piss that much away during breakfast these days, what have they been doing?

Click to expand...

Just why do "we" need a $2 billion (at least) federal solution to a breaking news "terrorist" problem that happened last April in one CA location? Since spending ZERO has apparently "prevented" this from happening before (or after) that single incident then why not try that for another decade or so?

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

ttwtt78640 said:

Just why do "we" need a $2 billion (at least) federal solution to a breaking news "terrorist" problem that happened last April in one CA location? Since spending ZERO has apparently "prevented" this from happening before (or after) that single incident then why not try that for another decade or so?

Click to expand...

Look at my example of the buzzard knocking out the power. Someone is putting out BS equipment and pocketing the extra money.

We're on an electric CO-OP here, we expect better.

And no I'm not suggesting the FedGov get involved.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

ttwtt78640 said:

Just why do "we" need a $2 billion (at least) federal solution to a breaking news "terrorist" problem that happened last April in one CA location? Since spending ZERO has apparently "prevented" this from happening before (or after) that single incident then why not try that for another decade or so?

Click to expand...

Back in the early nineties some high tension wire guys told me the grid was vulnerable.

According to them, simply throwing metal conduit over the fence could "kill" a substation.

So the REAL question is why it hasn't been addressed.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

WCH said:

Look at my example of the buzzard knocking out the power. Someone is putting out BS equipment and pocketing the extra money.

We're on an electric CO-OP here, we expect better.

And no I'm not suggesting the FedGov get involved.

Click to expand...

Making transformers bullet proof, or placing them under constant guard, is not in the same league as having working breakers installed to prevent damage from short circuits. Perhaps we can simply make "gun free zones" around the transformers, arresting any that happen to drive/walk by them (within 1000 feet?) while armed - after all, that keeps our schools safe.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

What if...? said:

Back in the early nineties some high tension wire guys told me the grid was vulnerable.

According to them, simply throwing metal conduit over the fence could "kill" a substation.

So the REAL question is why it hasn't been addressed.

Click to expand...

Cost/benefit analysis. You can have fairly reliable power at the current rates or much more reliable power at much higher rates.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

WCH said:

A group of individuals with sniper rifles disabled 17 giant transformers in Silicon Valley in April — an attack labeled as “the most significant incident of domestic terrorism involving the grid that has ever occurred.” No one has been charged with the April 16 attack on PG&E Corp.’s PCG Metcalf transmission substation, which suffered almost a month’s work of damage, according to the Wall Street Journal. For almost 20 minutes, the snipers took out the grid before disappearing into the darkness. I heard about this a couple of days ago but didn't remember seeing it here and was unable to find in search. Shouldn't we have known about this sooner??

Click to expand...

It was Maggie that brought this in a few days ago, IIRC.

It is sometimes amazing to read what self proclaimed fire arms enthusiasts say about an incident. Even more to read those with apparently NO fire arms experience making claims about who can be responsible. Mark Johnson, the retired VP, has abso-freakin-lutely NO clue about what he is claiming.

There is a video out there showing the muzzle blast of one of the firearms used. The distinctive streaks are a dead give-a-way the weapon isn't a 'sniper' rifle. My money is on no rifle at all but a pistol. If you have ever attended/worked a real tacti-cool night fire you's know the muzzle flash is very subdued- no streaks of burning powder. Pistol and shot gun yes, a well designed 'sniper' rifle HAIL NO!

Next the time line. 17 big assed targets in roughly 20 minutes. NO self respecting 'sniper' is that slow. To give an example of grace under a timeline. I shoot 22 rounds in under 20 minutes at a 3" circle 6 football fields away, and half that time is for the target to be lowered and scored between rounds. It takes quite a gust of wind for me to miss wider than a man's chest. A 'sniper' would limit his exposure as much as possible- 5 minutes tops from first to last round.

Perhaps the biggest reason 'we' didn't hear about this is it didn't cause any 'suffering' on the consumer's part. Redundancy in the grid system has come along way babay....

SO..... while a very big act of vandalism it is just that, vandalism. I suppose the perps can be charged with domestic terrorism, the net gets cast wide at times, but this isn't an act or war, unless the perps have a hard-on for the power companies- a far better bet in my book. eace

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

ttwtt78640 said:

Cost/benefit analysis. You can have fairly reliable power at the current rates or much more reliable power at much higher rates.

Click to expand...

j-mac said:

Oh I agree....The story's headline already sets up to guide us exactly into that direction....When in the story they describe this as an act of "domestic terrorism", then you look at the head line and see "preparation for an act of war" they clearly are planting the seed of thought of the possibility of the US military at war with its own citizens.

Click to expand...

Since this is the private sector - yet the need for power is and can be quickly assumed an issue of "national security". I think ttwtt hit the nail on the head... the CBA of hardening an infrastructure needs to be recognized first and one sub station hit won't pass the red face test of spending even a paltry 2 billion. We need dozens of these things to happen, at least tens of thousands of people sickened by a biological threat to justify expenditures, whereas, we blow ten times that amount of money on wasteful government pork projects every year with no justification. Why be proactive when reactive gets more votes.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

ttwtt78640 said:

Cost/benefit analysis. You can have fairly reliable power at the current rates or much more reliable power at much higher rates.

Click to expand...

With a population of 300 million, 2 billion is like $7 each.

Not so much really.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

Ockham said:

Since this is the private sector - yet the need for power is and can be quickly assumed an issue of "national security". I think ttwtt hit the nail on the head... the CBA of hardening an infrastructure needs to be recognized first and one sub station hit won't pass the red face test of spending even a paltry 2 billion. We need dozens of these things to happen, at least tens of thousands of people sickened by a biological threat to justify expenditures, whereas, we blow ten times that amount of money on wasteful government pork projects every year with no justification. Why be proactive when reactive gets more votes.

Click to expand...

Our congress critters mainly care about two things; getting campaign cash and getting re-elected. Unless hardening the grid gets them added campaign cash or not doing so costs them votes then it will not happen.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

When I first heard of this I thought it was probably kids doing what kids sometimes do but when I read that the casings were wiped free of prints I changed my mind. Sounds like terrorist to me.

Re: Snipers’ attack on Silicon Valley power stations a ‘preparation for an act of war

ttwtt78640 said:

Making transformers bullet proof, or placing them under constant guard, is not in the same league as having working breakers installed to prevent damage from short circuits. Perhaps we can simply make "gun free zones" around the transformers, arresting any that happen to drive/walk by them (within 1000 feet?) while armed - after all, that keeps our schools safe.

Click to expand...

I've actually done realtime testing on the effects of shooting some this equipment will a shotgun. It's too easy to destroy bu tree, if it survives jt's good enough in many instances.

And please no more gun-free zones