The State of Energy Storage: What You Need to Know
The story of artificial intelligence (“AI”) is one of technological promise and societal challenge, and its impact on the U.S. electric power grid is fast becoming a pivotal chapter. The promise is compelling. AI could...more
As part of the Biden Administration’s efforts to align energy cybersecurity efforts across the country, the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) has funded the release of a set of energy distribution cybersecurity baselines for...more
As discussed previously in this blog, physical attacks against substations have been on the rise. However, the U.S. power grid is also vulnerable to cyberattacks from U.S. adversaries, which includes hostile foreign...more
Over the past several years, the energy sector has become a prime target for hacking and ransomware attacks, with over 40 attacks on the industry since 2017. Cyber attacks have only continued to rise, with a record high of...more
Shortly before Thanksgiving, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a request for public comment on Version 2.0 of its Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2), which DOE released in July 2021 to help organizations...more
On April 22, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) called for public comments on policies that the Administration should pursue to secure the U.S. electric grid from exploitation and attack by foreign adversaries. The DOE...more
The February 2021 hack into Oldsmar, Florida’s water treatment system is a frightening reminder that critical infrastructure systems can be vulnerable to cyberattacks and that cyberattacks can jeopardize health and safety. In...more
Bottom Line Up Front: The Department of Energy (DOE) will implement new cybersecurity programs to enhance energy sector resilience. DOE’s announcement coincides with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s support...more
The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently completed and published a study on electricity grid cybersecurity that concluded that the Department of Energy (DOE) needs to ensure its plans fully address...more
According to media reports, ransomware attacks against the manufacturing industry have more than tripled compared with last year. This dramatic rise in cyberattacks poses serious concerns about the vulnerability of critical...more
Editors’ Note: This is the first in our fifth-annual end-of-year series examining important trends in data privacy and cybersecurity in the coming year. The Growing Threat of Ransomware - According to media reports,...more
Exxon Mobil: Doubling Down While Facing Peak Oil Demand - "With most competitors pivoting away from upstream growth, Exxon continues to press ahead with investments despite very challenging current price environment for...more
President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 139201 on May 1, 2020, declaring a national emergency in order to secure the nation's bulk-power system. The president's order explains that such systems are threatened by foreign...more
The United States Government Accounting Office (GAO) recently issued a report on the cybersecurity risks facing the electric grid. The GAO reviewed the cybersecurity of the electric grid to determine the risks and challenges...more
The United States Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced in an October 15th news release the availability of up to $46 million in research funding to: . . . advance holistic solutions that provide grid operators the...more
On Tuesday, July 31, 2018, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hosted a National Cybersecurity Summit, featuring the nation's top homeland, national security and law enforcement officials. The event featured Vice...more
On May 30, 2018, the White House released a key report, entitled "Assessment of Electricity Disruption Incident Response Capabilities," which was required by the May 2017 White House Cybersecurity Executive Order 13800...more
House Hearing on DOE Budget - On April 12, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on “The Fiscal Year 2019 Department of Energy Budget” with testimony from Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. The...more
The President’s FY 19 Proposed Budget, issued on Feb. 12, 2018, featured a heavy focus on the cybersecurity risks to the nation’s critical infrastructure and included budget increases for cyber specific missions within...more
On December 21, 2017, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) unanimously voted to direct the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to modify existing CIP Reliability Standard (CIP-008-5)...more
Pushing through a record hurricane season has tested the resiliency of the human spirit, as well as that of the energy infrastructure we so heavily rely upon. In the last month, we have seen efforts on multiple fronts with a...more
On July 20, 2017, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released a report directing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop solutions...more
On December 7, 2016, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued proposed procedures that would govern emergency orders issued by the Secretary of DOE, following the president’s declaration of a Grid Security Emergency. These...more
The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that it will invest $34M to the University of Arkansas and the University of Illinois for two projects designed to “improve and enhance” the protection of the U.S. electric grid,...more
A Note from the Editors - Our September edition of Energy Technology Connections brings you recent industry highlights, the latest news from Capitol Hill, and a list of upcoming energy industry events. In Leaders in the...more