Approved by the Energy, Environment, and Water Policy Committee on April 21, 2026 
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on June 10, 2026
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 21, 2026

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports the continued funding and commitment to energy research and development (R&D) to advance a safe, secure, reliable, affordable, and resilient U.S. energy system. 

Specifically, ASCE supports:

  • Enhancing R&D for energy generation, production, conservation, efficiency, transmission, storage, and resilience to maintain a balanced national energy portfolio.
  • Creating a cohesive, long-term R&D vision and growth strategy for U.S. energy resources.
  • Investigating energy resource impacts on human health and the environment.
  • Developing innovative engineering standards and guidelines in the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of energy infrastructure.
  • Identifying and addressing market and regulatory barriers that hinder the development of new and existing old energy technologies that improve reliability and performance of the U.S. energy grid.

Issue

The U.S. is experiencing accelerated energy demands due to the advent of data centers to power generative artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging tools. Additionally, population growth and economic development are contributing to increasing energy demands. Conservation and efficiency, as well as development of new energy resources, are essential strategies for meeting energy needs. 

Acceleration in demand due to aging infrastructure, and natural and anthropogenic hazards, threaten energy security, highlighting the continued need for grid resilience. Engineers must understand these hazards and create and develop standards, guidelines, and best practices to protect energy infrastructure against these threats.

Sustainability goals are driving a transition toward lower-carbon energy sources. However, all energy generation sources present tradeoffs across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Managing these tradeoffs while maintaining reliability, resiliency, affordability, safety, and security presents ongoing challenges. Diversifying our energy system will require research, development, and innovation.

Additionally, ongoing challenges related to existing energy assets must also be simultaneously explored and addressed.

Rationale

Energy infrastructure supports many other critical infrastructure systems, and it is essential in the day-to-day lives of most people. ASCE recognizes the importance of a balanced, resilient, sustainable, and affordable energy portfolio. This includes the continued development and deployment of clean and renewable energy sources, as well as increased energy conservation and efficiency. 

Research to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deploy innovative energy sources and new technology can reduce environmental impacts and promote more economical and reliable sources of energy for the future. 

Given civil engineers’ role in advancing engineering standards, infrastructure planning, and resilient system design, the prudent management of U.S. national energy resources and the timely development of new energy technologies are public policy issues of concern to ASCE. 

ASCE Policy Statement 567
First Approved in 2023