6 steps for a bipartisan agenda on energy security

President-elect Trump’s agenda to expand economic growth and promote energy security will require addressing serious economic vulnerabilities in a political environment fraught with division and polarization.

{mosads}Notwithstanding gaping public division on energy and climate policy, we believe there is a robust energy agenda that can win bipartisan support. Our report published by the Center for a New American Security, “Increasing Prosperity, Resource Stewardship, and National Security An Energy Policy Strategy For the Next President” details 27 such recommendations.

We call for six in the first 100 days of Trump’s administration.

First, Trump should prioritize modernization of energy infrastructure.

Aging pipelines, from long distance oil pipelines to gas distribution lines within the city gate are a commercial liability, safety risk, and environmental hazard. Inland waterways are in disrepair and threaten the resilience of our energy system.

New long distance transmission lines can wheel power from the Midwest to cities around the country, supporting employment and lowering electricity costs.

The president’s new infrastructure program should go beyond roads and bridges to include energy components and special permitting treatment to ensure energy projects can be completed on time. A one-time accelerated depreciation program to replace pipelines older than 30 years will enhance safety and employment.

Second, Trump should support U.S leadership in energy diplomacy.

Achieving the president-elect’s priorities with respect to geopolitical challenges including the Islamic State, Iran, China, and Libya will have energy policy implications. We recommend President Trump support open, secure and competitive global energy markets.

Recent liberalizing of U.S. energy exports, including crude oil and LNG, confers economic and national security benefits.

To champion U.S. energy leadership abroad, the president should appoint an assistant secretary of State for Bureau of Energy Resources to advocate for these interests, signal commitment to maritime security with Gulf partners, lead in collective security operations to protect vital sea lanes from the Gulf to markets in our hemisphere, Asia and Europe, and work with European partners to ensure our allies enjoy a diversified competitive market.

Third, Trump should launch a White House-led critical infrastructure protection program.

Our major energy systems are at risk from cyber attacks, potential military threats, and natural disasters. The administration should enhance the Department of Homeland Security National Infrastructure Protection Plan and ensure it identifies most critical areas, provides warnings, identifies protective measures and backup options.

Leaders from the president down must also clarify that threats and attacks on our most critical systems will not go unchallenged. We need a public deterrence policy against possible aggressors who target our infrastructure.

Fourth, the president should modernize and expand our electricity system.

Safe and affordable power will be the key to an American economic renaissance, especially in manufacturing.

The utility of the future will be digitized, and deal with multiple feed stocks and distributed power. Today’s utilities are vulnerable and under economic pressure. The White House should ensure federal agencies work together to mitigate physical and cyber risks and support robust research and development for a 21st century electrical grid.

Also, it must lead a national strategy for grid flexibility and electricity storage, directing the energy department to convene local and national stakeholders to develop frameworks for evaluating new grid technologies to improve reliability, affordability, and sustainability.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should lead the development of improved transmission lines and capacity.

Fifth, Trump should strengthen U.S. emergency response systems.

While global oil and gas markets are now oversupplied, low spare capacity, potential supply disruption, and two years of meager energy investment point toward an economy-crushing price spike before 2020.

President Trump should preserve our options in the event of a severe energy supply interruption by reversing Congress’ irresponsible decision to sell off the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to fill budget gaps.

The president should instead examine smaller regional oil and product reserves and formulate a strategy to ensure that storage of natural gas is safe and secure.

Sixth and last, Trump can lead the search for common ground on energy and environment.  

Trump supports “immaculate” air and water. While the debate over how to address climate change will remain controversial, putting the United States at the forefront of inventing and exporting new and clean energy technologies should not.

There can be bipartisan support for a fiscally responsible increase in federal investment in new technologies from energy storage to advanced nuclear reactors. A research program on ways to capture and monetize flared gas can stimulate demand and reduce emissions.

The United States can claim a strong place in the $28 trillion global market in new energy with its natural gas, clean energy, engineering and energy services.

Trump has the opportunity to forge bipartisan consensus on an important set of economic and energy security policies and make substantial progress on improving and protecting our energy infrastructure, bolstering our energy security, and revitalizing our global leadership.

David L. Goldwyn was a State Department Special Envoy for International Energy Affairs under President Obama. Robert McNally was Senior Director for International Energy on the National Security Council under President George W. Bush. Elizabeth Rosenberg was a Treasury Department official under President Obama and runs the Energy Program at the Center for a New American Security.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill.