CESER January Newsletter
Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER)
DOE CESER secures the U.S. energy sector from all threats and hazards – manmade or natural.
The Latest From CESER
CESER Looks Back at 2023 and Ahead to 2024
Throughout 2023, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) stayed agile and relevant towards our vision of a secure, reliable, and resilient energy sector for the American people. As we move into 2024, that dedication will not change. In a new web article, we take a look back at some of the most important work CESER accomplished in 2023, and we nod to the year ahead which promises to be equally impactful.
Last Call to Register for the Grid Modernization and Energy Transition Summit
The star-studded speaker and keynote list is now available for the Energy Transition Summit to be hosted by the DOE Grid Modernization Initiative (GMI) and CESER in Arlington, Virginia, February 5-8, 2024.
The summit will feature speakers from the White House Office of the National Cyber Director, DOE, the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and industry leaders. Sessions will focus on the two summit themes: the DOE Grid Modernization Initiative and Clean Energy Cybersecurity. You can view the full conference agenda online here.
DOE Announces $30 Million Funding for Next Generation Cybersecurity Tools to Protect Clean Energy Infrastructure
As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, DOE has announced an initiative to ensure cybersecurity is integrated into the development of clean energy solutions. These investments, made possible by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will be provided through a $30 million funding opportunity to support the research, development, and demonstration of next generation tools to protect clean energy delivery infrastructure from cyber attacks.
Practicing Defense and Resilience at Liberty Eclipse
As our energy systems transition to become cleaner and more sustainable, they must remain resilient and secure so they can not only withstand disruptions, but also recover from them without issue. The need for better, smarter, and stronger cybersecurity measures that support these new technologies and interconnected networks rises in tandem with this transition. Preparedness exercises, like the Liberty Eclipse Full-Scale Exercise, help ensure that our systems, our technology, and most importantly, our people are ready for anything. A new article on the CESER website provides a recap of the most recent Liberty Eclipse exercise.
DOE Announces Up to $70 Million to Strengthen Energy Sector Against Physical and Cyber Hazards
DOE has announced up to $70 million in funding to support research into technologies designed to increase resilience and reduce risks to energy delivery infrastructure from a variety of hazards, including cyber and physical threats, natural disasters, and climate-change fueled extreme weather events. This new competitive funding opportunity will be available to public and private sector stakeholders, universities, and DOE’s National Laboratories and will help advance next-generation innovations that strengthen the resilience of America’s energy systems, which include the power grid, electric utilities, pipelines, and renewable energy generation sources like wind or solar.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Office of Petroleum Reserves Announces New Solicitations and Contract Awards
In the past several weeks, the Office of Petroleum Reserves has issued several solicitations and contract awards related to the acquisition of crude oil for the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. You can find each of the recent announcements linked below..
December 26, 2023 - Biden-Harris Administration Continues to Secure a Good Deal for Taxpayers as Replenishment of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Progresses Further
January 3, 2024 - U.S. Department of Energy Announces a Solicitation to Purchase Oil for Strategic Petroleum Reserve Replenishment
January 12, 2024 - U.S. Department of Energy Announces a Solicitation to Purchase Oil for Strategic Petroleum Reserve Replenishment
January 19, 2024 - Biden-Harris Administration Continues to Secure a Good Deal for Taxpayers as Replenishment of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Progresses Further
Useful Resources
The CESER-NARUC CPET Training: Cybersecurity Knowledge for State Utility Regulators
CESER and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) have partnered to develop an online training module for state regulators. The Cybersecurity Preparedness Evaluation Tool (CPET) Training will provide strategies, tools, and expertise to engage in discussions about cybersecurity preparedness, response and recovery planning, policies, and practices.
News From Around DOE
Many offices within the Department of Energy offer regular or periodic newsletters. Each month, CESER will share information with you about another office and how you can sign up to receive news from around DOE.
This month, we’re featuring “The Manufacturing Moment” from the Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO). This monthly newsletter provides updates on events and news highlights from this important technology office nestled within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at DOE.
In Case You Missed It
Five Numbers to Know: CESER's 2023 Emergency Response Wrap-Up
When an emergency strikes, reliable power couldn’t be more important; it allows hospitals to provide urgent healthcare, keeps communities safe and sheltered, and enables communication. 2023 brought many energy emergencies, but the Department of Energy's (DOE) Emergency Support Function #12 operation was up to the task drawing on strong relationships with local and state energy officials across the U.S. and a robust team of dedicated volunteers to assist during emergencies. In a new blog, CESER has five numbers you need to know about the energy response efforts in 2023.
If you liked this newsletter, check out CESER's other mailing lists to stay up-to-date on our Office's latest initiatives, upcoming funding opportunities, and requests for information. Subscribe here.