House subcommittee discusses energy security at hearing
The House Subcommittee on Energy met with the Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response (CESER) Karen Evans to discuss cybersecurity, hurricane response, and other related matters.
“I’d like to learn today what other pieces are necessary to ensure the new Office can fully carry out DOE’s responsibilities. One important area concerns the Department’s role as a sector specific agency for energy-related emergencies, including cybersecurity threats to our energy systems,” Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) said.
Upton asked Evans about the effectiveness of CESER’s response to Hurricane Florence.
“I know that the lessons learned were done from Puerto Rico and I’ve seen how they’ve actually applied those lessons through this response, and we’ve heard those lessons being actually implemented by both industry and government as we were going through the response this go around,” Evans said.
Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Greg Walden (R-OR) asked about cybersecurity efforts in the energy sector.
“It’s the expertise of the Department as a whole, as well as the ability to leverage the knowledge that’s out at the national labs,” Evans said. “And so, those are some of the smartest people in the world and they work on multiple problem sets as they relate to the energy sector. They’re always thinking about what’s over the horizon, what’s next, and also trying to fix what’s happening today. I believe the way that the Secretary’s priorities are set up, the experience that is there at DOE, and leveraging what is happening at the national labs – that is why you trust us to be the sector specific agency in this area and that’s why we’re providing that leadership.”
