FERC commissioners dispute DOE claims, promote cybersecurity mandate for gas pipelines

The Trump administration claim that coal and nuclear power are needed to improve the resilience of the energy grid -- including from cyber attacks -- is unfounded, Republican commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission testified during a Senate hearing Tuesday.

“This intervention could potentially blow up the markets and result in significant rate increases without any corresponding reliability, resilience, or cybersecurity benefits,” said Republican Commissioner Robert Powelson before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Powelson was referring to...