‘‘(C) electric vehicles and electric vehicle 
charging stations; and 
‘‘(D) other technologies and devices that 
connect to the electric grid; 
‘‘(2) recommended cybersecurity designs and 
technical requirements that can be used by the private 
sector to design and build interoperable cybersecurity 
features into technologies that connect to the electric 
grid, including networked devices and components on 
distribution systems; and 
‘‘(3) technical analysis that can be used by the 
private sector in developing best practices for test beds 
and test bed methodologies that will enable reproduc-
ible testing of cybersecurity protections for informa-
tion systems, electronic devices, and other relevant 
components, software, and hardware across test beds. 
‘‘(c) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—None of the activities 
authorized in this section shall be construed to authorize 
regulatory actions. Additionally, the voluntary standards 
developed under this section shall not duplicate or conflict 
with mandatory reliability standards. 
‘‘SEC. 1313. VULNERABILITY TESTING AND TECHNICAL AS-
SISTANCE TO IMPROVE CYBERSECURITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
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‘‘(1) coordinate with energy sector asset owners 
and operators, leveraging the research facilities and 
expertise of the National Laboratories, to assist enti-
ties in developing testing capabilities by— 
‘‘(A) utilizing a range of methods to iden-
tify vulnerabilities in physical and cyber sys-
tems; 
‘‘(B) developing cybersecurity risk assess-
ment tools and providing analyses and rec-
ommendations to participating stakeholders; and 
‘‘(C) working with stakeholders to develop 
methods to share anonymized and aggregated test 
results to assist relevant stakeholders in the en-
ergy sector, researchers, and the private sector to 
advance cybersecurity efforts, technologies, and 
tools; 
‘‘(2) collaborate with relevant stakeholders, in-
cluding public utility commissions, to— 
‘‘(A) identify information, research, staff 
training, and analytical tools needed to evaluate 
cybersecurity issues and challenges in the energy 
sector; and 
‘‘(B) facilitate the sharing of information 
and the development of tools identified under 
subparagraph (A); 
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‘‘(3) collaborate with tribal governments to iden-
tify information, research, and analysis tools needed 
by tribal governments to increase the cybersecurity of 
energy assets within their jurisdiction. 
‘‘SEC. 1314. EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING RE-
SEARCH AND STANDARDS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall support the 
development of a cybersecurity workforce through a pro-
gram that— 
‘‘(1) facilitates collaboration between under-
graduate and graduate students, researchers at the 
National Laboratories, and the private sector; 
‘‘(2) prioritizes science and technology in areas 
relevant to the mission of the Department of Energy 
through the design and application of cybersecurity 
technologies; 
‘‘(3) develops, or facilitates private sector devel-
opment of, voluntary cybersecurity training and re-
training standards, lessons, and recommendations for 
the energy sector that minimize duplication of 
cybersecurity compliance training programs; and 
‘‘(4) 
maintains 
a 
public 
database 
of 
cybersecurity education, training, and certification 
programs. 
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‘‘(b) GRID RESILIENCE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING.—The 
Secretary shall support the development of the grid work-
force through a training program that prioritizes activities 
that enhance the resilience of the electric grid and energy 
sector infrastructure, including training on the use of tools, 
technologies, and methods developed under the grant pro-
gram established in section 1311(b). 
‘‘(c) COLLABORATION.—In carrying out the program 
authorized in subsection (a) and (b), the Secretary shall le-
verage programs and activities carried out across the De-
partment of Energy, other relevant Federal agencies, insti-
tutions of higher education, and other appropriate entities 
best suited to provide national leadership on cybersecurity 
and grid resilience-related issues. 
‘‘SEC. 1315. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND STRATEGIC 
PLAN FOR ENERGY SECTOR CYBERSECURITY 
RESEARCH. 
‘‘(a) DUTIES.—The Secretary, in coordination with 
the Energy Sector Government Coordinating Council, 
shall— 
‘‘(1) review the most recent versions of the Road-
map 
to 
Achieve 
Energy 
Delivery 
Systems 
Cybersecurity and the Multi-Year Program Plan for 
Energy Sector Cybersecurity to identify crosscutting 
energy sector cybersecurity research needs and oppor-
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tunities for collaboration among Federal agencies and 
other relevant stakeholders; 
‘‘(2) identify interdisciplinary research, tech-
nology, and tools that can be applied to cybersecurity 
challenges in the energy sector; 
‘‘(3) identify technology transfer opportunities to 
accelerate the development and commercial applica-
tion of novel cybersecurity technologies, systems, and 
processes in the energy sector; and 
‘‘(4) develop a coordinated Interagency Strategic 
Plan for research to advance cybersecurity capabili-
ties used in the energy sector that builds on the Road-
map to Achieve Energy Delivery Systems in 
Cybersecurity and the Multi-Year Program Plan for 
Energy Sector Cybersecurity. 
‘‘(b) INTERAGENCY STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) SUBMITTAL.—The Interagency Strategic 
Plan developed under subsection (a)(4) shall be sub-
mitted to Congress and made public within 12 
months after the date of enactment of the Grid Secu-
rity Research and Development Act. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The Interagency Strategic 
Plan shall include— 
‘‘(A) 
an 
analysis 
of 
how 
existing 
cybersecurity research efforts across the Federal 
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Government are advancing the goals of the Road-
map to Achieve Energy Delivery Systems 
Cybersecurity and the Multi-Year Program Plan 
for Energy Sector Cybersecurity; 
‘‘(B) recommendations for research areas 
that may advance the cybersecurity of the energy 
sector; 
‘‘(C) an overview of existing and proposed 
public and private sector research efforts that ad-
dress the topics outlined in paragraph (3); and 
‘‘(D) an overview of needed support for 
workforce training in cybersecurity for the en-
ergy sector. 
‘‘(3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the Inter-
agency Strategic Plan, the Secretary, in coordination 
with the Energy Sector Government Coordinating 
Council, shall consider— 
‘‘(A) opportunities for human factors re-
search to improve the design and effectiveness of 
cybersecurity devices, technologies, tools, proc-
esses, and training programs; 
‘‘(B) contributions of other disciplines to the 
development of innovative cybersecurity proce-
dures, devices, components, technologies, and 
tools; 
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‘‘(C) opportunities for technology transfer 
programs to facilitate private sector development 
of cybersecurity procedures, devices, components, 
technologies, and tools for the energy sector; 
‘‘(D) broader applications of the work done 
by relevant Federal agencies to advance the 
cybersecurity of information systems and data 
analytics systems for the energy sector; and 
‘‘(E) activities called for in the Federal 
cybersecurity research and development strategic 
plan required by section 201(a)(1) of the 
Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 (15 
U.S.C. 7431(a)(1)). 
‘‘(c) PARTICIPATION.—For the purposes of carrying 
out this section, the Energy Sector Government Coordi-
nating Council shall include representatives from Federal 
agencies with expertise in the energy sector, information 
systems, data analytics, cyber and physical systems, engi-
neering, human factors research, human-machine inter-
faces, high performance computing, big data and data ana-
lytics, or other disciplines considered appropriate by the 
Council Chair. 
‘‘SEC. 1316. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
‘‘(a) BALANCING RISKS, INCREASING SECURITY, AND 
IMPROVING MODERNIZATION.— 
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‘‘(1) STUDY.—The Secretary, in collaboration 
with the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology, other Federal agencies, and energy sector 
stakeholders, in order to provide recommendations for 
additional research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application activities, shall— 
‘‘(A) analyze physical and cyber attacks on 
energy sector infrastructure and information sys-
tems and identify cost-effective opportunities to 
improve physical and cyber security; and 
‘‘(B) examine the risks associated with in-
creasing penetration of digital technologies in 
grid networks, particularly on the distribution 
grid. 
‘‘(2) CONTENT.—The study shall— 
‘‘(A) analyze processes, operational proce-
dures, and other factors common among cyber 
attacks; 
‘‘(B) identify areas where human behavior 
plays a critical role in maintaining or compro-
mising the security of a system; 
‘‘(C) recommend— 
‘‘(i) changes to the design of devices, 
human-machine 
interfaces, 
technologies, 
tools, processes, or procedures to optimize 
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security that do not require a change in 
human behavior; and 
‘‘(ii) training techniques to increase 
the capacity of employees to actively iden-
tify, prevent, or neutralize the impact of 
cyber attacks; 
‘‘(D) evaluate existing engineering and tech-
nical design criteria and guidelines that incor-
porate human factors research findings, and rec-
ommend criteria and guidelines for cybersecurity 
tools that can be used to develop display systems 
for cybersecurity monitoring, such as alarms, 
user-friendly displays, and layouts; 
‘‘(E) evaluate the cybersecurity risks and 
benefits of various design and architecture op-
tions for energy sector systems, networked grid 
systems and components, and automation sys-
tems, including consideration of— 
‘‘(i) designs that include both digital 
and analog control devices and technologies; 
‘‘(ii) different communication tech-
nologies used to transfer information and 
data between control system devices, tech-
nologies, and system operators; 
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‘‘(iii) automated and human-in-the- 
loop devices and technologies; 
‘‘(iv) 
programmable 
versus 
non-
programmable devices and technologies; 
‘‘(v) increased redundancy using dis-
similar cybersecurity technologies; and 
‘‘(vi) grid architectures that use auton-
omous 
functions 
to 
limit 
control 
vulnerabilities; and 
‘‘(F) recommend methods or metrics to doc-
ument changes in risks associated with system 
designs and architectures. 
‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study, 
the Secretary shall consult with energy sector stake-
holders, academic researchers, the private sector, and 
other relevant stakeholders. 
‘‘(4) REPORT.—Not later than 24 months after 
the date of enactment of the Grid Security Research 
and Development Act, the Secretary shall submit the 
study to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Sen-
ate. 
‘‘SEC. 1317. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this title: 
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