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TopEnergy Infrastructure Security
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS, 2015), the energy infrastructure is divided into three interrelated segments, including: electricity, petroleum, and natural gas. The U.S. electricity segment contains more than 6,413 power plants (this includes 3,273 traditional electric utilities and 1,738 nonutility power producers) with approximately 1,075 gigawatts of installed generation. Approximately 48 percent of electricity is produced by combusting coal (primarily transported by rail), 20 percent in nuclear power plants, and 22 percent by combusting natural gas. The remaining generation is provided by hydroelectric plants (6 percent), oil (1 percent), and renewable sources (solar, wind, and geothermal) (3 percent). The heavy reliance on pipelines to distribute products across the nation highlights the interdependencies between the Energy and Transportation Systems Sector. The reliance of virtually all industries on electric power and fuels means that all sectors have some dependence on the Energy Sector. The Energy Sector is well aware of its vulnerabilities and is leading a significant voluntary effort to increase its planning and preparedness. Cooperation through industry groups has resulted in substantial information sharing of best practices across the sector. Many sector owners and operators have extensive experience abroad with infrastructure protection and have more recently focused their attention on cyber-security.
The definition of national security can be regarded as “…the protection or the safety of a country’s secrets and its citizens…” (Macmillan Dictionary, 2015). Therefore, the national security depends on the government and its parliaments to protect the state and its citizens against all kind of national crises. The common elements of national security are military security, political security, economic security, environmental security, security of energy and natural resources, cyber-security, empowerment of women (Romm, 1993; Paleri, 2008; Lippmann, 1943; Buzan, Wver & Wilde, 1997;Diamond, 2010; Rollins, John, and Henning, 2009; Lemmon, 2013; Devanny & Harris, 2014; Davis, 2010; Taylor, 1974; US NATO Military Terminology Group,2010; Obama, 2010). Energy security is the central part between national security and the accessibility of natural resources for energy consumption.