Pinehurst Today

U.S. Representative Richard Hudson has emphasized his commitment to improving grid resilience in light of the two-year anniversary of the Moore County grid attack. The incident left 45,000 residents without power for several days.

Hudson stated, "Two years ago, our community suffered a reprehensible attack, leaving 45,000 of Moore County residents without power for days. An attack like this could have devastated our community, and we didn’t go without our struggles, but I am so proud of the strength our community showed."

Since then, Hudson has been active in pushing legislation and securing federal funding aimed at enhancing grid resilience and fortifying the energy supply chain. He remarked on the complexity of these issues, saying they require ongoing focus and attention.

Key actions by Hudson include:

- In December 2022, he toured a Duke Energy power substation affected by the attack.

- In January 2023, he organized a classified FBI briefing for Congress on electrical infrastructure attacks.

- By February 2023, he urged the Department of Energy to consider North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives' application for a grant competition.

- March 2023 saw him cosponsoring H.R. 1 to lower energy costs.

- In May 2023, he reintroduced bipartisan legislation called the WORKER Act focused on boosting America's energy workforce through grants prioritizing education and training.

- June 2023 involved introducing legislation to limit the Department of Energy's authority over distribution transformer standards and participating in discussions about electricity sector security.

Throughout these months and into subsequent years, Hudson continued his legislative efforts with various acts aimed at safeguarding America's electric infrastructure.

Hudson concluded by highlighting his success in securing $1.6 billion for grid security within broader appropriations legislation.