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Lamar University Project Aims to Defend Energy Infrastructure

A bill in Congress would fund the development of data analytics tools to improve cybersecurity for Texas' energy systems, in partnership with local governments, the ports of Beaumont and Port Arthur and local industry.

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(TNS) — Lamar University could receive $2 million for a project aimed to help ensure Texas always has access to the energy supply it needs.

The U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies in late June gave the funding its first necessary approval before making it to the school's coffers.

But the project isn't a certainty yet.

Next, the process has to be approved by the full Appropriations Committee, which could make changes to the action taken by the subcommittee.

If the bill is passed by the full committee, it will be scheduled for floor consideration where the entire Congress can weigh in.

If Congress approves the bill, it will be forwarded to the Senate.

Both chambers will work to reconcile the differences between their respective versions since both have identical appropriations committee and subcommittee structures.

The next fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and the process is expected to be finished prior to that date.

According to a news release from U.S. District 14 Rep. Randy Weber, the project would boost regional economic development, create high-paying jobs and enhance the long-term sustainability of the country and its global energy supply.

"By utilizing data analytics tools to improve cybersecurity, this project ensures that Texas will continue to lead the nation in reliable energy production," the release said.

In an April letter sent from Weber to Committee on Appropriations Chair Rose DeLauro, D-Connecticut, and Ranking Member Kay Granger, R-Texas, more project details.

The project is intended to build on the accomplishments of Lamar's existing centers — Center for Resiliency, Center for Midstream Management and Sciences and the Center for Advances in Port Management — by developing data analytics tools to enhance Texas' energy and petrochemical cybersecurity in order to "achieve safer, resilient and economically viable operations in both physical and virtual space."

The project would include working with the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Committee, the ports of Beaumont and Port Arthur and local industry.

"The Texas energy and petrochemical industry depends on reliable transfer of feedstocks and products through millions of miles of gas, liquid and oil pipelines as well as the shipping and logistics operations at the ports of Houston, Beaumont and Port Arthur," the letter read.

Frequent natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes were noted in the letter as a reason to establish a networking center and data collaborative for "improved multi-disaster resiliency."

"If we receive that support, we will work very closely with our congressional delegate to develop a Center of Excellence," said Lamar University Associate Provost for Research and Sponsored Programs and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies Jerry Lin. "This Center of Excellence will have multiple components that includes research, education and outreach."

Though the project may not ultimately receive funding when the budget process concludes, Lin said it's important nonetheless for Texas' strengths to be publicized.

"In Southeast Texas, particularly the Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange area, the collective industrial operations represent a critical (part of) the clean energy and resiliency initiative as well as energy security for the nation and also to the global community," he said. "Lamar University will be able to contribute positively in this bigger global initiative."

©2022 the Beaumont Enterprise (Beaumont, Texas). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.