Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz

DOE News:

• Topics and Locations for First Six Meetings Also Announced

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Energy released information on the first six public meetings to collect stakeholder input into the Quadrennial Energy Review (QER).

As the Secretariat for the QER Task Force, DOE will hold a series of meetings to discuss and receive comments on issues related to the development of a comprehensive strategy for the infrastructure needed to transport, transmit and deliver energy to consumers.

The first of these meetings is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 11, at the U.S. Capital Visitor’s Center in the Congressional Auditorium. The meeting will focus on infrastructure resilience and vulnerabilities, including cyber and physical threats, climate, and interdependencies.

The Federal Register Notice, which contains additional information about the meetings and other ways to submit public comment, can be found at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/03/28/2014-06941/quadrennial-energy-review-notice-of-public-meeting.

“The QER, announced as part of the President’s Climate action Plan, will provide a roadmap to modernize our energy infrastructure in ways that will support the Nation’s economic competitiveness and energy security, and enable us to move toward a low-carbon future,” Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said. “Most of our energy infrastructure is owned by the private sector and states and regions have enormous responsibilities and equities in these vast energy networks. Participation and input from across the spectrum — federal agencies, state and local governments, industry, academia, civil society and other non-governmental groups — is critical to ensuring that the QER’s recommendations can be translated into concrete actions.”

Other federal agencies will also join these meetings. The QER, officially launched by President Obama in January, is co-chaired by the White House Domestic Policy Council and Office of Science and Technology Policy, and includes representation from other executive departments and agencies. DOE is playing a key role in development of the QER by providing policy analysis and modeling, and coordinating stakeholder engagement.

The QER is intended to serve as a roadmap to help address issues and challenges to the nation’s infrastructure, which include changes in energy supply, markets, patterns of use, capacity, ageing, climate change, and cyber and physical threats.

Details for the next five QER stakeholder public meetings are still being finalized, but will include  meetings on infrastructures constraints in New England, to be held in Hartford, Conn.; infrastructure constraints related to Bakken, to be held in North Dakota; electricity transmission storage and distribution in the west, to be held in Portland, Ore.; petroleum product transmission and distribution, including carbon dioxide and enhanced oil recovery, to be held in Louisiana; and rail, barge and truck transportation, to be held in Chicago.