Engaging State and Local Communities on Energy Security to Strengthen the Nation — Highlights from 2018

Through the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), the U.S. Department of Energy addresses the emerging threats of tomorrow while protecting the reliableflow of energy to Americans today. An important part of CESER’s critical energy infrastructure security mission is its engagement with State, Local, Tribal, and Territory (SLTT) officials and industry partners. 

CESER maintains strong relationships with state and local communities to build and sustain capacity and preparedness. Through technical assistance, development of tools, risk analysis, education, and exercises, CESER is able to help facilitate response in times of energy disruption. CESER also partners with state and local organizations in support of these efforts. By encouraging risk-based, operationally focused, and cross-jurisdictional energy security planning, CESER builds SLTT capacity to serve national security interests for cybersecurity, energy security, and emergency response. The office also enhances government and private sector decision making by sharing understanding of risks and hazards with and facilitating relationships across SLTT governments and agencies.

The State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Energy Assurance – 2018 Year in Review  highlights a few key accomplishments under the SLTT Program’s three overarching goals:

1. Enhancing the understanding of risks and improving information sharing across the sector;
2. Clarifying industry and government roles in cybersecurity; and
3. Building energy security capacity across government and industry and improving workforce development opportunities.

In 2019, CESER continues to encourage holistic energy security planning and strengthen SLTT partners’ preparedness and response capabilities to better prepare the nation for energy emergencies.