Customers filling up at a Des Moines gas station are talking about the cyberattack on the east coast pipeline.”The first thing I thought of was what are the gas prices going to go up to,” said Andrew Williams, a lawn care and snow removal business owner. In business a few years, Williams says he spends about $300 dollars a week on gas.He is confident what is happening to the east coast is headed our way.”Everything that happens down there moves through the states and will get up here,” Williams said.Not everyone is on the same page.KCCI spoke with an expert who says it is not time to panic. “We are significantly energy independent,” said Dave Swenson, an Iowa State University research scientist.Swenson says the Midwest pipeline is totally separate from the pipeline supplying the east coast and eastern seaboard.”That closing of the pipeline because of the cyberattack should not affect the flow of gasoline refined petroleum products into the Midwest,” Swenson said.He cautions the bigger picture may be different.”We have been warned time and time again our infrastructure moving energy across the United States is vulnerable to a cyberattack,” Swenson said.He says it is not just about economic security but national security.
Customers filling up at a Des Moines gas station are talking about the cyberattack on the east coast pipeline.
“The first thing I thought of was what are the gas prices going to go up to,” said Andrew Williams, a lawn care and snow removal business owner.
In business a few years, Williams says he spends about $300 dollars a week on gas.
He is confident what is happening to the east coast is headed our way.
“Everything that happens down there moves through the states and will get up here,” Williams said.
Not everyone is on the same page.
KCCI spoke with an expert who says it is not time to panic.
“We are significantly energy independent,” said Dave Swenson, an Iowa State University research scientist.
Swenson says the Midwest pipeline is totally separate from the pipeline supplying the east coast and eastern seaboard.
“That closing of the pipeline because of the cyberattack should not affect the flow of gasoline refined petroleum products into the Midwest,” Swenson said.
He cautions the bigger picture may be different.
“We have been warned time and time again our infrastructure moving energy across the United States is vulnerable to a cyberattack,” Swenson said.
He says it is not just about economic security but national security.