Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advances energy infrastructure cybersecurity bill

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) recently advanced the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act, which would develop solutions to defend the U.S. energy grid against cyber attacks.

The bill would create a two-year pilot program within the National Laboratories in partnership with industry to develop strategies that use engineering concepts to simplify and isolate automated systems and remove vulnerabilities.

A 2015 incident involving a cyber attack on the electric grid in Ukraine helped to inspire the bill. Although the attack left more than 225,000 people without electric power, it’s severity was limited by Ukraine’s use of less complex technology.

U.S. Sens. Angus King (I-ME) and Jim Risch (R-ID), members of both the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced the bill.

“There is a clear, demonstrable need to develop techniques and technologies to better secure our grid from cyber vulnerabilities,” Risch said. “As we re-examine our infrastructure security, this bipartisan approach would utilize the unique assets and expertise of our National Laboratories to drive innovation. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee has taken an important step forward today and I trust the full Senate will follow suit soon.”

The Securing Energy Infrastructure Act was included as part of the Intelligence Committee’s markup of the Fiscal Year 2018 Intelligence Authorization Act, which is currently awaiting consideration before the full Senate.