Under Secretary of Energy for Infrastructure

Under Secretary of Energy for Infrastructure
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Name	Under Secretary of Energy for Infrastructure
Incumbent	(vacant)
Department	United States Department of Energy
Reports to	United States Secretary of Energy
Appointed by	President of the United States
Formation	2022

Under Secretary of Energy for Infrastructure The Under Secretary of Energy for Infrastructure is a senior executive position within the United States Department of Energy responsible for strategic oversight of national energy infrastructure programs, critical energy grid modernization, and resilience projects. The office coordinates with federal entities such as the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Department of Defense as well as with state authorities, private sector utilities like Exelon, Duke Energy, and NextEra Energy, and research institutions including National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

Overview

The office sits beneath the United States Secretary of Energy and alongside other Under Secretaries such as the Under Secretary of Energy for Science and Innovation and the Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security. Its portfolio encompasses transmission, distribution, storage, and resilience of energy assets, coordinating interagency efforts with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, North American Electric Reliability Corporation, and agencies involved in critical infrastructure protection like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The role engages with international partners including the International Energy Agency, G7, and bilateral energy dialogues with European Commission, Japan, and Canada.

Responsibilities and Functions

The Under Secretary guides implementation of statutory authorities under laws including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Energy Act of 2020, and statutes governing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Duties include policy execution for electrical transmission upgrades, energy storage deployment, grid resilience against threats exemplified by events such as the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack and natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy. The office manages interagency coordination with the Department of Transportation for siting of energy corridors, the Environmental Protection Agency for permitting and National Environmental Policy Act compliance, and liaison with state public utility commissions and regional transmission organizations such as PJM Interconnection and California Independent System Operator.

Office History and Formation

The position was created as part of organizational reforms reflecting congressional priorities in the 117th United States Congress and the Biden Administration’s infrastructure agenda following policy responses to supply chain disruptions and cyber incidents. Its creation built upon predecessor roles within DOE that handled energy reliability and emergency response, drawing lineage from officials involved after historic events including the Northeast Blackout of 2003 and the federal response to energy crises like the 1973 oil crisis. The formation formalized responsibilities that had been dispersed across offices such as the Office of Electricity and the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response.

Organizational Structure and Staff

The Under Secretary supervises deputy under secretaries and office directors responsible for directorates such as Transmission and Permitting, Energy Storage and Distribution, Grid Resilience, and Emergency Response. Key components include program offices that coordinate with national laboratories like Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory, and with independent entities including Electric Power Research Institute and North American Transmission Forum. The office employs senior policy advisors, technical program managers, legal counsel familiar with the Federal Power Act, and liaison officers to the Office of Management and Budget and congressional committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Notable Officeholders and Tenure

Early officeholders have typically been drawn from backgrounds in utility management, federal energy policy, and national laboratory leadership. Appointees often previously served in roles at Department of Energy offices, with career paths intersecting organizations like American Public Power Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute. Nominees undergo Senate confirmation hearings before committees including the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; hearings have referenced incidents like the 2019 Camp Fire and policy frameworks from the Clean Power Plan era.

Major Initiatives and Programs

The office leads major initiatives to upgrade transmission capacity under programs financed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, accelerate deployment of long-duration energy storage technologies in partnership with Department of Defense research programs and national laboratories, and advance resilient microgrid projects in collaboration with tribal governments and agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Programs target electrification infrastructure for transportation tied to Federal Highway Administration coordination and grant programs executed with Economic Development Administration and Rural Utilities Service. It also oversees grant and loan authorities working alongside Department of the Treasury tools and Export-Import Bank considerations for cross-border projects.

Congressional Oversight and Budgetary Role

Congressional oversight is exercised by committees including the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Appropriations, and authorizing committees such as the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Under Secretary prepares budget justifications submitted to the Office of Management and Budget and participates in hearings on appropriations, program performance, and statutory compliance with measures like the Buy American Act provisions in infrastructure awards. Budgetary execution coordinates with Treasury, the Government Accountability Office, and inspectors general such as the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General to ensure fiscal stewardship and auditability.

Category:United States Department of Energy offices Category:Energy policy of the United States