Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid Act; SECURE Grid Act
Summary
The SECURE Grid Act amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to enhance the security and resilience of local energy distribution systems. It mandates states to include considerations for physical security, cybersecurity, and resilience of local distribution systems in their state energy security plans. The bill emphasizes addressing potential hazards, including weather-related threats, physical attacks, supply chain risks, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Expected Effects
This act will likely lead to increased investment in the security and resilience of local energy grids. States will be required to develop and implement strategies to mitigate risks to these systems. This includes addressing both physical and cyber threats, potentially reducing the vulnerability of the energy infrastructure.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced security of local energy distribution systems.
- Improved resilience against physical and cyber threats.
- Increased reliability of energy supply during emergencies.
- Better preparedness for weather-related disruptions.
- Strengthened supply chains for energy equipment.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential increase in energy costs due to security upgrades.
- Increased regulatory burden on states.
- Possible delays in energy projects due to new security requirements.
- Potential for federal overreach into state energy planning.
- Risk of unintended consequences from new regulations.
Constitutional Alignment
The SECURE Grid Act appears to align with the Constitution's broad goals of providing for the common defense and promoting the general welfare, as outlined in the Preamble. Specifically, it relates to Congress's power to regulate commerce among the several states (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3), as energy infrastructure impacts interstate commerce. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, and this act could be viewed as potentially infringing on state authority over energy planning, depending on its implementation.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).