FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Blockchain and Energy Infrastructure

Original title: THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF BLOCKCHAIN AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES AND THE CYBERSECURITY POSSIBILITIES OF SUCH TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENERGY INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS

January 1, 2019

blockchain energy infrastructure cybersecurity technology energy grid

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing explored the potential integration of into the national energy grid, which could influence future federal policies regarding energy security, grid modernization, and technology standards.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Energy Industry

The industry is the subject of potential technological shifts in grid management and cybersecurity protocols discussed in the hearing.

Federal Energy Regulators

These agencies are responsible for evaluating the policy implications of adopting new technologies like blockchain in critical infrastructure.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on August 21, 2018, to examine how technology could impact energy infrastructure and cybersecurity. The discussion focused on the potential for these technologies to transform the energy grid and the technical realities behind their implementation.

Key Facts

The hearing took place on August 21, 2018, in Room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
The primary objective was to evaluate the energy efficiency and cybersecurity potential of blockchain technology within the energy industry.
The committee heard testimony from experts representing national laboratories, research institutes, and academia.
The hearing established a formal record including written testimony and responses to questions for the record from five expert witnesses.
Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County submitted a statement for the record.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of this hearing?

The hearing was held to investigate whether and similar technologies could improve the energy efficiency and cybersecurity of the U.S. energy grid.

Who provided expert testimony?

Experts from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Electric Power Research Institute, Energy Web Foundation, Princeton University, and the Corporation for National Research Initiatives testified.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Early Federal Interest in Blockchain

The hearing demonstrates that the Senate was actively investigating the utility of blockchain for critical infrastructure as early as 2018.

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Connected Entities

personThomas A. Golden“Program Manager, Technology Innovation, Electric Power Research Institute”Map →

organizationCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources“U.S. Senate committee conducting the hearing”Map →

personMaria Cantwell“Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources”Map →

personLisa Murkowski“Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources”Map →

personRobert E. Kahn“President and CEO, Corporation for National Research Initiatives”Map →

personClaire Henly“Managing Director, Energy Web Foundation”Map →

personPaul Skare“Chief Cyber Security Program Manager, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory”Map →

personArvind Narayanan“Associate Professor of Computer Science, Princeton University”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance40
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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