ARLINGTON, Va. — NEMA applauds the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for advancing the bipartisan SECURE Grid Act.

“The power grid is the backbone of the U.S. economy, and modernizing our nation’s distribution infrastructure is essential to delivering the reliable power that supports economic growth and meets rising electricity demand,” said NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips. “The SECURE Grid Act takes a comprehensive approach to ensuring states adopt durable distribution planning that reflects today’s evolving cyber, physical, and supply chain risks. By strengthening that proactive planning, this bipartisan bill will accelerate deployment of grid-hardening equipment, distributed energy resources behind-the-meter technologies, and the other innovations needed to modernize and protect America’s electric distribution system.”  

The SECURE Grid Act, led by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), would require states to account for supply chain, weather-related, cybersecurity, and other emerging risks in their State Energy Security Plans — and to coordinate directly with the manufacturers that build critical grid equipment. 

The legislation would help states identify vulnerabilities and develop strategies to address emerging threats before they disrupt communities, businesses, and critical services. 

“NEMA commends the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for advancing this legislation,” said Phillips. “We encourage Congress to pass this legislation quickly and send to the President for his signature. A secure electrical supply chain is the foundation of American energy security and economic competitiveness. This bill would help build it.”