The U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 13, titled Protecting America’s Energy Infrastructure in Today’s Cyber and Physical Threat Landscape. Dairyland VP & CIO Nate Melby testified on behalf of both Dairyland and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). 

“Safeguarding our nation’s energy infrastructure is vital to providing affordable and reliable power while protecting American communities,” said Congressman Brett Guthrie (Ky.), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; and Congressman Bob Latta (Ohio), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy. “Right now, the energy infrastructure in the United States faces numerous cyber and physical threats from sophisticated nation-state actors as well as criminals or ideologically driven hackers."

The legislative hearing focused on solutions for the energy infrastructure that would help strengthen collaboration between the government and the private/independent sector, detect cybersecurity threats and increase physical security.

During his testimony, Nate discussed the need to defend critical infrastructure in rural America, the importance of the Rural Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Program (RMUC), unlocking the full potential of the RMUC and strengthening the broader energy security landscape.   

If you were unable to view the livestream yesterday, click here for a link to the hearing. Click here for coverage of the hearing and here to scroll down for the full written testimony submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy. 

About NRECA: NRECA is the national trade association representing Dairyland and nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. Electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape.