This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and expands the pilot Energy Sector Operational Support for Cyber Resilience Program of the Department of Energy (DOE). The program aims to protect energy infrastructure through collaboration between the federal government and the energy sector and enhancing DOE’s emergency response capabilities.
Specifically, the bill expands the program objectives to include
enhancing collaboration between the government and the energy sector to address threats to energy systems, advancing the collective understanding of national security risks and vulnerabilities associated with the energy sector that may be exploited by adversaries, and helping the energy sector increase its understanding of tactics of adversaries that present risks to the energy sector. The bill allows DOE to establish an Energy Threat Analysis Center at one or more physical locations for program activities.
The bill also eliminates technical assistance provided under the program to small electric utilities.
Under the bill, the decision to provide assistance or information under the program to a governmental or private entity is at the sole discretion of the Secretary of Energy and is unreviewable.
The bill authorizes the Secretary to (1) enter into and perform contracts, grants, and other transactions with public agencies, private organizations, and persons to carry out the program; and (2) establish and utilize preapproved national security contracting mechanisms, model partnership agreements, and expedited review procedures for purposes of entering into such transactions.
In addition, the bill exempts the program from certain public disclosure and other transparency requirements.