Energy (Electric Grid) in United States

in committee · United States · House Nov 20, 2025

HR 6177: Grid Research and Development Act

The Grid Research and Development Act (HR 6177) requires transmission utilities and grid operators to report standardized data to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on transmission projects, including costs, project timelines, system performance, and interconnection expenses. FERC must create a public, searchable data repository and an Interconnection Data Dashboard displaying real-time queue data, project statuses, and system costs to improve transparency. The Department of Energy will use this data to research transmission cost drivers, efficiency, and affordability, publishing annual reports on grid investment impacts. These requirements directly affect transmission utilities, grid operators, and ratepayers by standardizing reporting and enabling public analysis of grid investments.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Energy Efficiency Transmission

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 31, 2025

S 2593: PROTECT the Grid Act

S 2593, the PROTECT the Grid Act, requires the Secretary of Commerce to report on national security risks posed by smart home appliances (like EV chargers and smart thermostats) controlled by foreign adversaries. The bill focuses on devices exceeding 500 watts that could be remotely manipulated via foreign-controlled applications to disrupt the electric grid. The report must assess deployment levels, vulnerabilities, and recommend security measures - such as restricting federal procurement of affected devices or requiring safety certifications. It does not ban specific products but mandates a government assessment to prevent grid instability from coordinated attacks.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Electric Vehicles Energy Resilience

in committee · United States · House Aug 15, 2025

HR 4990: Wildfire Grid Resiliency Act

The Wildfire Grid Resiliency Act establishes a $10 million annual demonstration program (2026-2029) to fund National Laboratories developing innovative technologies that improve electric grid resilience during wildfires. It specifically supports projects focused on better vegetation monitoring near power lines and enhanced safety tools for first responders during grid emergencies. The program directly affects National Laboratories by providing federal funding for these demonstration projects, with the goal of testing new solutions before broader adoption. The bill does not mandate changes to existing grid operations but creates a structured process to evaluate and advance wildfire-resilience technologies.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Energy Resilience Cybersecurity

in committee · United States · Senate Apr 10, 2025

S 1429: POWER Act of 2025

The POWER Act of 2025 amends the Stafford Act to help electric utilities recover from disasters more effectively. It allows utilities to combine hazard mitigation (like hardening infrastructure) with emergency power restoration efforts using federal disaster funds, and ensures that receiving emergency restoration aid doesn't block them from later qualifying for hazard mitigation assistance. This directly affects electric utilities that receive federal disaster relief under Section 403 of the Stafford Act. The changes apply only to funds appropriated after the bill's enactment.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Energy Resilience Tags Emergency Management

passed · United States · House Mar 25, 2025

HR 1326: DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act

HR 1326, the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act, requires the Energy and Agriculture Secretaries to jointly conduct collaborative research focused on shared priorities like sustainable energy, agriculture, and climate resilience. It mandates a competitive grant process for federal agencies, universities, and nonprofits to fund projects in areas such as AI for farming/energy systems, biofuels, grid security, and rural technology development. The bill also requires a report to Congress within two years detailing research coordination, achievements, and future collaboration opportunities. This legislation directly affects federal agencies, research institutions, and agricultural/energy sectors through new funding mechanisms and joint projects, without altering existing regulations or creating new mandates for the public.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Climate Change Forestry Artificial Intelligence Tags Agriculture Rural Communities

in committee · United States · House Nov 7, 2025

HR 5964: Integrated Resource Planning Modernization Act

HR 5964, the Integrated Resource Planning Modernization Act, requires the Secretary of Energy to develop and publish federal guidelines for how electric utilities plan for future electricity needs. These guidelines mandate modern approaches to resource planning, including modeling capacity expansion with diverse options (like storage and distributed energy), integrating transmission planning, using probabilistic analysis for weather and reliability risks, and creating scorecards to weigh costs and benefits. The bill directly affects states, utility commissions, and electric utilities (including cooperatives and municipal systems) by requiring them to align their planning with these federal guidelines. To support implementation, the bill creates a grant program for states to update regulations or coordinate planning efforts, along with technical assistance and a requirement for states to report progress.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Energy Resilience Transmission

in committee · United States · Senate Jan 22, 2025

S 182: Northwest Energy Security Act

This bill requires federal agencies managing the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) to operate it according to the 2020 environmental review's "reasonable and prudent alternative." It allows limited changes to that review only for public safety, grid reliability, or if specific requirements are no longer needed, while prohibiting any new restrictions on hydroelectric power generation or Snake River navigation in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho without new federal law. The bill preserves routine operations and maintenance but mandates that structural changes or studies affecting power generation or navigation must be explicitly authorized by future legislation. It directly affects how federal agencies manage dams and river access across the Pacific Northwest.

Topics ✓ Energy ✗ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Hydroelectric

in committee · United States · House Feb 26, 2026

HR 7728: Connect the Grid Act

HR 7728, the Connect the Grid Act, requires Texas' ERCOT grid to connect with neighboring power systems by repealing its special exemptions from federal grid regulations. It mandates minimum power flow capacity between ERCOT and other grids (SPP, MISO, and the Western Interconnection) ranging from 2.5 to 12.6 gigawatts, with specific deadlines for new transmission projects by 2037. The bill directs grid operators to prioritize using existing infrastructure, degraded land sites, renewable energy access, and community engagement - including environmental justice and Tribal communities - in planning new transmission. It also increases federal funding for transmission projects and requires a study on benefits of connecting with Mexico’s grid.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Energy Resilience Transmission Environmental Justice

in committee · United States · Senate May 1, 2025

S 1566: Preventing Power Outages Act

This bill amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to change how federal grants for grid resilience are awarded. It requires the Department of Energy and states/tribes to give priority to entities with higher historical outage metrics (measured by SAIDI, SAIFI, and CAIDI scores), meaning areas with more frequent or longer power outages receive greater consideration for funding. The bill does not create new programs but modifies existing grant criteria to prioritize communities with poorer grid reliability. It also clarifies that grant applications addressing multiple grid improvement types cannot be penalized or given preference solely for doing so. The changes apply to grants funded through the program, with adjusted funding availability periods.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Energy Resilience Transmission

in committee · United States · Senate Apr 15, 2026

S 465: GRID Power Act

This bill directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to create new rules improving how new "dispatchable power" projects (like natural gas plants or battery storage that can be turned on when needed) connect to the grid. Transmission providers (utilities, grid operators) must propose prioritizing these projects in the interconnection queue to boost grid reliability and resilience, demonstrating how this improves service and allowing public input before submitting proposals. FERC must complete this rulemaking within 180 days of the bill's enactment, with regular updates every five years. The bill directly affects transmission providers and developers of new power projects by changing interconnection procedures to speed up reliable grid upgrades.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Energy Resilience Transmission

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