Frustrated with Washington’s inaction, at least 12 states are moving urgently to protect their electric grids from the type of devastating electromagnetic pulse — either from a solar flare or nuclear attack — that federal authorities are growing concerned about.

“Let’s start insisting that we protect the grid,” said Maine State Rep. Andrea Boland, who recently put her state first on the map of those moving to require power companies to harden their electric lines and transformers from EMP.