‘‘(8) evaluate and understand the potential con-
sequences of practices used to maintain the cyberse-
curity of information systems and intelligent elec-
tronic devices; 
‘‘(9) develop or expand the capabilities of exist-
ing cybersecurity test beds to simulate impacts of 
cyber attacks and combined cyber-physical attacks 
on information systems and electronic devices, in-
cluding by increasing access to existing and emerg-
ing test beds for cooperative utilities, utilities owned 
by a political subdivision of a State, such as munici-
pally owned electric utilities, and other relevant 
stakeholders; and 
‘‘(10) develop technologies that reduce the cost 
of implementing effective cybersecurity technologies 
and tools, including updates to these technologies 
and tools, in the energy sector. 
‘‘(c) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—The Na-
tional Science Foundation, in coordination with other Fed-
eral agencies as appropriate, shall through its cybersecu-
rity research and development programs— 
‘‘(1) support basic research to advance knowl-
edge, 
applications, 
technologies, 
and 
tools 
to 
strengthen the cybersecurity of information systems 
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that support the electric grid and energy systems, 
including interdisciplinary research in— 
‘‘(A) evolutionary systems, theories, mathe-
matics, and models; 
‘‘(B) economic and financial theories, 
mathematics, and models; and 
‘‘(C) big data analytical methods, mathe-
matics, computer coding, and algorithms; and 
‘‘(2) support cybersecurity education and train-
ing focused on information systems for the electric 
grid and energy workforce, including through the 
Advanced Technological Education program, the 
Cybercorps program, graduate research fellowships, 
and other appropriate programs. 
‘‘(d) 
DEPARTMENT
OF
HOMELAND
SECURITY 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE.—The Science 
and Technology Directorate of the Department of Home-
land Security shall coordinate with the Department of En-
ergy, the private sector, and other relevant stakeholders, 
to research existing cybersecurity technologies and tools 
used in the defense industry in order to— 
‘‘(1) identify technologies and tools that may 
meet civilian energy sector cybersecurity needs; 
‘‘(2) develop a research strategy that incor-
porates human factors research findings to guide the 
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modification of defense industry cybersecurity tools 
for use in the civilian sector; 
‘‘(3) develop a strategy to accelerate efforts to 
bring modified defense industry cybersecurity tools 
to the civilian market; and 
‘‘(4) carry out other activities the Secretary of 
Homeland Security considers appropriate to meet 
the goals of this subsection. 
‘‘SEC. 8014. GRID RESILIENCE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the enactment of the Grid Security Research and Develop-
ment Act, the Secretary shall establish a research, devel-
opment, and demonstration program to enhance resilience 
and strengthen emergency response and management per-
taining to the energy sector. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall award grants to 
eligible entities under subsection (d) on a competitive basis 
to conduct research and development with the purpose of 
improving the resilience and reliability of the electric grid 
by— 
‘‘(1) developing methods to improve community 
and governmental preparation for and emergency re-
sponse to large-area, long-duration electricity inter-
ruptions, including through the use of energy effi-
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ciency, storage, and distributed generation tech-
nologies; 
‘‘(2) developing tools to help utilities and com-
munities ensure the continuous delivery of electricity 
to critical facilities; 
‘‘(3) developing tools to improve coordination 
between utilities and relevant Federal agencies to 
enable communication, information-sharing, and sit-
uational awareness in the event of a physical or 
cyber-attack on the electric grid; 
‘‘(4) developing technologies and capabilities to 
withstand and address the current and projected im-
pact of the changing climate on energy sector infra-
structure, including extreme weather events, other 
natural disasters, and wildfires; 
‘‘(5) developing technologies capable of early 
detection of malfunctioning electrical equipment on 
the transmission and distribution grid, including de-
tection of spark ignition causing wildfires and risks 
of vegetation contact; 
‘‘(6) assessing upgrades and additions needed 
to energy sector infrastructure due to projected 
changes in the energy generation mix and energy de-
mand; 
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‘‘(7) upgrading tools used to estimate the costs 
of outages longer than 24 hours; and 
‘‘(8) developing tools and technologies to assist 
with the planning, safe execution of, and safe and 
timely restoration of power after cyber and physical 
attacks, natural disasters, and emergency power 
shut offs, such as those conducted to reduce risks of 
wildfires started by grid infrastructure. 
‘‘(c) CONCURRENT AND CO-LOCATED DISASTERS.— 
In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall support research and development on tools, 
techniques, and technologies for improving electric grid 
and energy sector safety and resilience in the event of mul-
tiple simultaneous or co-located weather or climate events 
leading to extreme conditions, such as extreme wind, 
wildfires, extreme cold, and extreme heat. 
‘‘(d) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The entities eligible to 
receive grants under this section include— 
‘‘(1) an institution of higher education, includ-
ing a historically Black college or university or a mi-
nority-serving institution; 
‘‘(2) a nonprofit organization; 
‘‘(3) a National Laboratory; 
‘‘(4) a unit of State, local, or tribal government; 
‘‘(5) an electric utility or electric cooperative; 
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‘‘(6) a retail service provider of electricity; 
‘‘(7) a private commercial entity; 
‘‘(8) a partnership or consortium of 2 or more 
entities described in paragraphs (1) through (7); and 
‘‘(9) any other entities the Secretary deems ap-
propriate. 
‘‘(e) RELEVANT ACTIVITIES.—Grants awarded under 
subsection (b) shall include funding for research and de-
velopment activities related to the purpose described in 
subsection (b), such as— 
‘‘(1) development of technologies to use distrib-
uted energy resources, such as solar photovoltaics, 
energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and micro-
grids, to improve grid and critical end-user resil-
ience; 
‘‘(2) analysis of non-technical barriers to great-
er integration and use of technologies on the dis-
tribution grid; 
‘‘(3) analysis of past large-area, long-duration 
electricity interruptions to identify common elements 
and best practices for electricity restoration, mitiga-
tion, and prevention of future disruptions; 
‘‘(4) development of— 
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‘‘(A) advanced monitoring, analytics, oper-
ation, and controls of electric grid systems to 
improve electric grid resilience; and 
‘‘(B) independent verification and valida-
tion methodologies, in coordination with the 
National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology, to address the potential cybersecurity 
vulnerabilities of the technologies identified in 
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; 
‘‘(5) analysis of technologies, methods, and con-
cepts that can improve community resilience and 
survivability of frequent or long-duration power out-
ages; 
‘‘(6) development of methodologies to maintain 
cybersecurity during restoration of energy sector in-
frastructure and operation; 
‘‘(7) development of advanced power flow con-
trol systems and components to improve electric grid 
resilience; and 
‘‘(8) any other relevant activities determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
technical assistance to eligible entities for the com-
mercial application of technologies to improve the re-
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silience of the electric grid and commercial applica-
tion of technologies to help entities develop plans for 
preventing and recovering from various power out-
age scenarios at the local, regional, and State level. 
‘‘(2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—The 
commercial application technical assistance program 
established in paragraph (1) shall include assistance 
to eligible entities for— 
‘‘(A) the commercial application of tech-
nologies developed from the grant program es-
tablished in subsection (b), including coopera-
tive utilities and utilities owned by a political 
subdivision of a State, such as municipally 
owned electric utilities; 
‘‘(B) the development of methods to 
strengthen or otherwise mitigate adverse im-
pacts on electric grid infrastructure against 
natural hazards; 
‘‘(C) the use of Department data and mod-
eling tools for various purposes; 
‘‘(D) a resource assessment and analysis of 
future demand and distribution requirements, 
including development of advanced grid archi-
tectures and risk analysis; 
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‘‘(E) the development of tools and tech-
nologies to coordinate data across relevant enti-
ties to promote resilience and wildfire preven-
tion in the planning, design, construction, oper-
ation, and maintenance of transmission infra-
structure; 
‘‘(F) analysis to predict the likelihood of 
extreme weather events to inform the planning, 
design, construction, operation, and mainte-
nance of transmission infrastructure in con-
sultation with the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration; and 
‘‘(G) the commercial application of rel-
evant technologies, such as distributed energy 
resources, microgrids, or other energy tech-
nologies, to establish backup power for users or 
facilities affected by emergency power shutoffs. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The entities eligible 
to receive technical assistance for commercial appli-
cation of technologies under this subsection in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) representatives of all sectors of the 
electric power industry, including electric utili-
ties, trade organizations, and transmission and 
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distribution system organizations, owners, and 
operators; 
‘‘(B) State and local governments and reg-
ulatory authorities, including public utility com-
missions; 
‘‘(C) tribal and Alaska Native govern-
mental entities; 
‘‘(D) partnerships among entities under 
subparagraphs (A) through (C); 
‘‘(E) regional partnerships; and 
‘‘(F) any other entities the Secretary 
deems appropriate. 
‘‘(4) AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this subsection 
shall authorize the Secretary to require any entity to 
adopt any model, tool, technology, plan, analysis, or 
assessment. 
‘‘SEC. 8015. BEST PRACTICES AND GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS 
FOR ENERGY SECTOR CYBERSECURITY RE-
SEARCH. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordination 
with appropriate Federal agencies, the Electricity Sub-
sector Coordinating Council, standards development orga-
nizations, State, tribal, local, and territorial governments, 
the private sector, public utility commissions, and other 
relevant stakeholders, shall coordinate the development of 
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