Congress must pass the SECURE Grid Act

OPINION:

This year, Ohio and communities across the country have faced a wave of extreme weather tornadoes, severe windstorms, hurricanes, and deep freezes that have tested the reliability of our electric grid. When disasters strike, families do what they can to prepare like stocking up on essentials in case the power goes out. But Americans shouldn’t have to rely on backup plans to keep the lights on. They should be able to count on a resilient, reliable electric grid that withstands these challenges from the start.

In Ohio and across the Midwest, we have seen firsthand how prolonged outages can shutter small businesses, disrupt hospital operations, close schools and leave families without heat in the dead of winter. These are not just inconveniences. They are serious threats to public safety, economic stability and daily life.

Additionally, growing geopolitical threats require us to safeguard our grid from cyberattacks by foreign adversaries. These natural and man-made risks demand a proactive, coordinated response. That’s why Congress must pass my legislation, the Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid Act, or the SECURE Grid Act, to ensure states are fully equipped to prevent, withstand and respond to threats to our electric infrastructure.

I introduced this bill with Rep. Doris Matsui of California, my Democratic colleague who serves on the Energy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. As chairman of the Energy Subcommittee, I have long maintained that strengthening our grid must be a bipartisan priority grounded in reliability, resilience and forward-looking policy.

Just last month, the Senate introduced its version of the SECURE Grid Act, led by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. Their leadership underscores that this is both a bipartisan and bicameral effort. Congress must come together to support this legislation and move it across the finish line.

Each year, states must submit a State Energy Security Plan (SESP) to access funding through the State Energy Program. In these plans, states must consider all energy sources and energy providers, provide a state energy profile and provide a risk assessment and risk mitigation approach. The SECURE Grid Act builds on this existing framework by requiring states to take a more comprehensive approach to grid security. Future plans need to account for a wider range of threats, including supply chain disruptions, extreme weather vulnerabilities and the risk of physical attacks on critical infrastructure.

By evaluating these risks upfront, states will be better positioned to identify weaknesses and strengthen their energy systems before disruptions occur. The legislation also promotes stronger coordination between states and manufacturers of critical grid components, ensuring a clearer understanding of potential vulnerabilities and a more proactive approach to safeguarding our energy infrastructure.

Just as importantly, this legislation recognizes that energy security is national security. A more resilient grid not only protects American households, it strengthens our economy, supports job creation, and ensures that the United States can compete and lead in a rapidly evolving global energy landscape.

The United States does not just need more energy, we need energy that is resilient, reliable, and capable of withstanding the challenges ahead. The SECURE Grid Act would do exactly that. The SECURE Grid Act passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously last month, and I am hopeful it will soon be brought to the House floor for a vote.

Congress has a critical opportunity to act before the next crisis, not in its aftermath. Strengthening our grid now will save lives, protect communities and prevent costly disruptions in the future. The sooner this bill becomes law, the sooner we can strengthen our grid and better prepare for the challenges ahead.

• Rep. Bob Latta is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he serves as chairman of the Energy Subcommittee. He is also a member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee and the Environment Subcommittee and serves as co-chair of the Grid Innovation Caucus.