Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting Nashville Energy Facility Attack

Skyler Philippi, a 24-year-old from Columbia, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to destroy an energy facility near Nashville, specifically targeting an electrical substation with a drone equipped with explosives. Motivated by white supremacist and accelerationist ideologies, Philippi initially planned a mass shooting and later shifted focus to attacking the power grid to incite civil unrest, believing such an attack would "shock the system." The FBI began investigating him in June 2024 after a confidential source reported his intentions, ultimately arresting him in September 2024 as he prepared to execute the attack following a Nordic ritual. Court records confirm he faces up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine, with sentencing scheduled for January 8, 2026. Authorities emphasized the seriousness of the plot and praised the FBI and prosecutors for preventing what could have been a devastating attack on critical infrastructure serving thousands of residents and vital facilities like hospitals. Philippi shared his manifesto and previous ties to white nationalist groups with undercover agents during the investigation, highlighting the ideological motivations behind the planned attack.