Biden administration to address cybersecurity of energy assets: Secretary Granholm

US President Joe Biden's administration will address the vulnerability of the nation's pipelines and other energy assets in the wake of the Colonial Pipeline hacking attack, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said May 13.

"These pipes are carrying energy to all Americans," said Granholm, speaking remotely to the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference. "There is a particular concern that some don't have sufficient cyber protection on their systems. The administration is going to have more to say about this."

Colonial Pipeline said it initiated the restart process late on May 12 that will take several days to restore full fuel transportation to much of the US South and East Coast.

Related coverage

Colonial Pipeline to deliver products to all markets by midday

US pipelines wake up to cyberthreats after Colonial shutdown exposes vulnerabilities

Spot tankers with Jones Act voyage options fail amid Colonial Pipeline restart

Colonial had halted all pipeline operations on May 7 because of a ransomware attack, restricting the primary artery for gasoline and refined products from delivering more than 100 million gal/d of fuels.

Colonial stretches more than 5,500 miles from the Houston refining hub to New York Harbor, supplying about 45% of all the gasoline and diesel fuel consumed on the East Coast.

"Suffice it to say that we all need to harden our defenses against these malevolent actors, whether they are rogue or state sponsored criminals," Granholm said.