Scientists from NASA and NOAA warn that, in the next five years, the most solar flares in decades may occur, which could cause major disruptions to energy grids. Solar radiation can interfere with cell phones and GPS satellites to shut down communications networks and cause physical damage to the energy grid by frying transformers. Quebec Canada went dark in 1989 as a result of an explosion of the sun.
Experts advise that to prevent the devastation of grid shut down from solar flares, policy to support funding better forecasting is needed so the grid can be shut down before a strike occurs. Transitioning the United States power grid to a more interconnected system and upgrading the grid could help displace the impacts of solar flares when they do strike. NBCnews,USGAO, NOAA