Upton highlights bipartisan success in energy security measures

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) recently highlighted legislative efforts to shore up energy and infrastructure security, and he called for bipartisan support moving forward.

Being able to respond to large-scale energy infrastructure damage resulting from natural disasters, aging infrastructure or cyber attacks are key provisions of energy security, Upton, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, wrote in an op-ed appearing in The Hill on Sept. 6.

The House approved the Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2017, H.R. 3050, in July with bipartisan support. The bill would enable states to use federal resources and knowledge to build public and private partnerships that shore up energy security.

“As Hurricane Harvey has taught us, making sure our energy resources are safe, secure and plentiful should not be a partisan issue. It’s an issue we can’t afford to wait on. If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the bill would provide federal financial help to states such as Michigan to implement energy security plans, including a greater focus on cybersecurity.

Upton cited the federal Department of Homeland Security’s Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team recording 290 cyber attacks that allowed hackers to access critical power and communications systems. And recently the former CEO of PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest grid operator, reported that there were as many as 4,000 cyberattacks per month at that company alone.

“There’s no reason to think that the pace of attacks won’t continue to accelerate,” Upton said.

Energy infrastructure failures or disruptions can cripple the economy, Upton wrote, leaving gas stations without power and fuel for vehicles, factories without electricity to operate machinery, and families without electricity to charge electronic devices.

“Michigan has an energy security plan in place, and is working to improve it to respond to current and emerging threats,” Upton said. “However, energy threats don’t stop at a state’s borders. Officials need to be confident that their neighbors are in a strong position to react to storms, infrastructure malfunctions and other threats to avoid problems that can cascade throughout a region.”

“That’s why it’s imperative we all work together — in Congress and at the state level — to make sure our energy infrastructure is reliable and resilient.”