Sens. Gardner, Bennet introduce legislation to protect energy grid from cyberattacks

U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) recently introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to protect the U.S. energy grid from cyberattacks.

The Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act would authorize the Department of Energy (DOE) to provide financial assistance to states to develop or revise a State Energy Security Plan.

The Enhancing Grid Security through Public-Private Partnerships Act would authorize DOE to provide physical and cyber security assistance to electric utilities that have fewer resources available.

“Colorado and states across the country need to secure our energy grids and be better prepared against cyber-attacks that threaten our critical infrastructure,” Gardner said. “I’ve worked with Senator Bennet on these bipartisan pieces of legislation because we both know the risk cyber-attacks pose to our country and the need for leadership on these issues. This legislation will help shore up our electric grid’s vulnerabilities. I look forward to working with my colleagues to gather more bipartisan support and see these bills signed into law.”

The Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act outlines the contents of a State Security Plan, which would assess a state’s existing circumstances and propose methods to strengthen the state’s ability to protect its energy grids from threats. The bill would authorize DOE $90 million annually for Fiscal Years 2018-2022 to assist states to develop and update their plans.

Support from DOE under the Enhancing Grid Security through Public-Private Partnerships Act could include providing tools for self-assessment, assisting with threat assessment and training and improving the sharing of best practices and data collection.

“We have our work cut out for us to protect the electric grid across rural and urban America, and these bills are a good starting point,” Bennet said. “We’ve worked with Coloradans and national energy organizations to ensure the legislation provides the technical assistance they need to safeguard their communities from cyberattacks.”