DOE urges state, territorial governments to prioritize vaccination of critical energy infrastructure workers

In an open letter, U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette urged state and territorial governments to move critical energy infrastructure workers further up the priority chain for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

This, he urged, should apply to public and private sector alike, be they workers of investor-owned utilities, municipal-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, the oil and natural gas industry, or the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Power Marketing Administrations and National Nuclear Security Administration sites. It marks the third time Brouillette has attempted to convince governors to prioritize such workers, be it for personal protective equipment or vaccines.

“The energy sector provides around-the-clock electricity and ensures the free flow of energy products, necessary for the health and safety of all Americans,” Brouillette said. “These critical energy workers support and preserve the infrastructure and operation centers critical to maintaining the backbone of the energy system. By prioritizing their health and safety for vaccine distribution alongside other frontline workers, we assure continuous distribution of energy to the Nation’s rural and urban communities.”

Additionally, by guaranteeing the safe distribution of energy, Brouillette said, the economy could only benefit, at a time when hits to it keep piling up.