How to solve the NSA’s energy crisis:

Ever since and even before 2000 there have been reports that the National Security Agency (NSA), America’s largest and most secretive intelligence agency, has chronic problems in powering its computers. In early 2000, most of the NSA’s computing infrastructure was down for four days (January 24-28). As a result, collected intelligence data was not processed. Michael Hayden, the director at the time, blames “software anomaly” and a “complex network running near capacity” for the outage As the amount of communications data grew over the years, the NSA required more and more processing capacity and hence more electricity. In 2006 the Baltimore Sun reported that the agency is at the brink of having its power demands exceeding supplies. According to the article, the agency cannot install new systems “for fear of blowing out the electrical infrastructure”. The Sun also reports that power problems have plagued the agency since the late 90s. In January 2007, Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee called the NSA’s electricity crisis “"sort of a national catastrophe". In summer 2007, the Baltimore Sun again reports severe power shortages at NSA's Fort Meade headquarters.

Help the NSA fend of impending power outages by sending them your used or unused batteries! Although they might not contain enough electricity to power your flashlight, digital camera or radio, there is still some energy stored in them. And every little bit counts! So gather your old batteries and send them to the address below along with this letter. Put this sticker on your battery recycling bin.


National Security Agency (NSA)
Lieutenant General Keith B. Alexander
Fort George G. Meade MD, 20755