New Policies Needed for Protecting U.S. Energy Assets

Sept. 29, 2010 - PRLog -- Phoenix, AZ - The risk of attack against U.S. energy infrastructure presents a major challenge to industry and government. As the energy infrastructure becomes more advanced, it must meet and address cybersecurity challenges along the way according to “Securing Energy Assets and Infrastructure,” a new report released by Energy Business Reports (http://energybusinessreports.com/shop/Securing-Energy-Assets-and-Infrastructure.html?v=1&itemid=3303&ref=prl).

New energy policies must address these challenges head-on, with strategies for expanding the supply and delivery infrastructure, adding storage reserves, and defining and addressing vulnerabilities, Protecting energy assets, including transmission grids and the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure, has become a priority for the industry and government. Strategies for enhancing U.S. energy security continue to evolve, yet questions remain as to how the U.S. could defend against a terrorist attack on its energy grid.

The report, “Securing Energy Assets and Infrastructure,” examines possible threat scenarios, and how the industry and government can prepare for and respond to those threats effectively. The 222-page report, in addition to offering a detailed look at the challenges and solutions faced by the energy industry today, includes an analysis of cyber-terrorism, and strategies for protecting control systems.

U.S. energy security is a complex issue, and sound policy calls for a strategy that starts on the supply side, with adequate storage and a robust delivery infrastructure, according to this report. “The development of technologies that can provide defense-in-depth cybersecurity solutions, and increased insight from private-public collaborations, will allow us to better protect the nation's energy delivery systems that keep our lights on and the power flowing," according to U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu in an announcement of $30 million government investment for projects that will address cybersecurity issues facing the nation's electric grid.

A U.S. energy grid attack is not just theoretical. Planned attacks on the energy grid have taken place long before September 11, such as the 1975 New World Liberation Front bombing of Pacific Gas & Electric; and conspiracies orchestrated by the Ku Klux Klan and San Joaquin Militia to attack the U.S. energy grid.

More recent acts of terrorism require greater awareness and action on the part of the energy industry, and a coherent strategy for creating a broad-based U.S. energy security policy. The vulnerability of U.S. energy sources is evident. The report examines the current state of U.S. energy security, and offers insight into how the energy infrastructure can be better protected in case of attack. The report provides policy suggestions and ideas on how the country can prepare for those attacks, and how energy facilities can be made safer. It also looks at how contingency plans may help to protect the energy grid and the American public, and what types of policies would be appropriate for enhancing U.S. energy security.  

The comprehensive report, which sells for $697, includes a detailed risk assessment, an analysis of efforts to protect the U.S. energy grid, and recommendations for both protection and recovery from attack. View full details at http://energybusinessreports.com/shop/Securing-Energy-Ass...


About Energy Business Reports:
Energy Business Reports is an energy industry think tank and leading source for energy industry information and research products. Details on all reports can be found at EnergyBusinessReports.com

Press Contact:
Energy  Business Reports
Barbara Drazga, Publisher
Tel: 800-304-0345
Publisher (at) realpublishing.com
www.energybusinessreports.com

# # #

Energy Business Reports publishes cutting-edge business research and analysis reports in the global energy industry including power, oil and gas, and renewables markets.