Energy Bills Relief Act

This Act may be cited as the Energy Bills Relief Act.

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Subchapter A of chapter 5 of subtitle A of title VII of Public Law 119–21 is hereby repealed.

Each provision of law amended by such subchapter is amended to read as such provision would read if such subchapter had never been enacted.

Each amendment made by subsection (b) shall take effect as if included in the provision of such subchapter to which such amendment relates.

(a) The Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Transportation may not terminate a Federal award in part or its entirety, require a renegotiation or rescoping of the Federal award, or decide not to fund a future budget period of a Federal award on the basis that the Federal award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities, including pursuant to section 200.340(a)(4) of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations.

(b) Any Federal award that was terminated, renegotiated, rescoped, or not progressed to future budget periods by the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, or the Department of Transportation after January 19, 2025, for no longer effectuating the program goals or agency priorities, including pursuant to section 200.340(a)(4) of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, shall be reinstated by such agency or entity under its previous terms and conditions.

The Council on Environmental Quality, in consultation with all applicable Federal agencies, shall ensure, via subsection (b), that the processing of applications, authorizations, or related approvals as well as denials and the activities referenced in subsection (g) for wind, solar, storage, or related electric transmission projects on Federal and non-Federal land and waters is not subject to more restrictive or burdensome procedural requirements than those applied to applications for oil, gas, or coal projects on Federal and non-Federal land and waters and does not bias Federal decision making in favor of oil, gas, or coal projects, including—

(1) requirements for elevated or discretionary review by the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, other political appointees, or career employees;

(2) additional documentation or review not required for oil, gas, or coal projects;

(3) withholding, delaying, or reversing decisions by local or regional entities for wind, solar, storage, or related electric transmission projects for reasons not applied to oil, gas or coal projects; and

(4) denial of routine administrative approvals, such as testing permits or cost recovery agreements, or notices to proceed once all criteria have been met for approval, based on underlying technology.

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Council on Environmental Quality, in consultation with all applicable Federal agencies, shall—

(A) review all applicable regulations, guidance documents, policy manuals, departmental directives, Secretarial orders, and other procedures regarding energy development; and

(B) identify any provision of such regulations, documents, manuals, directives, orders, and procedures not otherwise required in statute that do not comply with the requirements in subsection (a).

Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this section, the applicable Secretary or Administrator shall rescind or amend as necessary any provision identified under subsection (a).

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on actions taken by all applicable Federal agencies related to permitting for energy projects, which shall include—

(1) an analysis of the procedures used by all applicable Federal agencies for processing applications, authorizations, or approvals for wind, solar, storage, or related electric transmission projects on Federal and non-Federal land and waters and how those procedures compare to those used for oil, gas, or coal projects;

(2) an analysis of the number of days applicable Federal agencies took during the previous calendar year to process applications, authorizations or approvals for wind, solar, storage, or related electric transmission projects on Federal and non-Federal land and waters compared to the number of days to process applications, authorizations or approvals for oil, gas, or coal projects; and

(3) an assessment of whether applicable Federal agencies treated wind, solar, storage, or related electric transmission projects the same as oil, gas, or coal projects during the previous calendar year.

Beginning on the date of enactment of this Act—

(A) the Secretary of the Interior may not approve a permit to extract coal or to drill on an onshore oil or gas lease on Federal land unless an approval for onshore wind or solar development has been issued during the 120-day period ending on the date of the issuance of the approval for oil or gas development; and

(B) the Secretary of the Interior may not approve a permit to drill on an offshore oil or gas lease on the Outer Continental Shelf under section 2(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331(a)) unless an approval for offshore wind development on the Outer Continental Shelf of similar scope has been issued during the 120-day period ending on the date of the issuance of the approval for oil or gas development.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the Secretary to approve applications for a permit to drill for onshore or offshore oil or gas development or a permit to extract coal.

With respect to any proposed wind, solar, storage, or related electric transmission development on Federal land or waters, including the Outer Continental Shelf, requiring an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Secretary shall complete such environmental impact statement or environmental assessment within the deadlines established under section 107(g) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336a(g)).

Not later than 180 days after completion of the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, as applicable, for wind, solar, storage, or related electric transmission development on Federal land or waters, including the Outer Continental Shelf, the Secretary shall issue a right-of-way, except in the event that a no action alternative is selected.

If a Federal agency suspends construction or operations of a wind, solar, storage, or related electric transmission project, or otherwise prevents a wind, solar, storage, or related electric transmission project from commencing and completing construction, operation, or related ancillary activities, including by revoking, rescinding, withdrawing, terminating, suspending, amending, altering, or otherwise rendering ineffective any authorization for a project or the final environmental document the authorization relies on, shall be considered final agency action subject to judicial review under chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code.

A person seeking judicial review for an action described in subparagraph (A) shall obtain review of such action in the United States Court of Appeals for any circuit wherein the project is located.

For any claim brought regarding an action in paragraph (A), the court of competent jurisdiction shall issue a decision for such challenge—

(A) as expeditiously as practicable; and

(B) not later than the date that is 30 days after the date on which the civil action is filed, unless the court determines that additional time is required in the interests of justice.

This section shall apply to any actions in paragraph (1) that occurred after January 19, 2025.

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 is amended—

(A) in section 103(c) (43 U.S.C. 1702(c)), by striking historical values; and inserting historical values, including the generation, transmission, and storage of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal energy;; and

(B) in section 302 (43 U.S.C. 1732), by inserting at the end (e) The Secretary shall manage the public lands to facilitate the generation, transmission, and storage of renewable energy resources, consistent with the principles of multiple use and sustained yield under this Act. For the purposes of this Act, such activities are deemed to be consistent with multiple-use management..

Section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)) is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:

The Secretary shall ensure that any activity under this subsection is carried out in a manner that provides for a balance of—

(A) safety;

(B) the protection of the environment;

(C) the prevention of waste;

(D) the conservation of the natural resources of the outer Continental Shelf;

(E) coordination with relevant Federal agencies and Tribal, State, and local governments;

(F) the protection of the national security interests of the United States, including energy security;

(G) the protection of correlative rights in the outer Continental Shelf, including the energy generation potential of other offshore renewable energy leases;

(H) a fair return to the United States for any lease, easement, or right-of-way under this subsection;

(I) prevention of unreasonable interference with other uses of the exclusive economic zone, the high seas, and the territorial seas, as determined by the Secretary;

(J) consideration of—

(i) the location of, and any schedule relating to, a lease, easement, or right-of-way for an area of the outer Continental Shelf; and

(ii) any other use of the sea or seabed, including use for a fishery or fishery survey, a sealane, a regional coastal observing system or other scientific observation platform such as a buoy, a potential site of a deepwater port, or navigation;

(K) public notice and comment on any proposal submitted for a lease, easement, or right-of-way under this subsection;

(L) the oversight, inspection, research, monitoring, and enforcement relating to a lease, easement, or right-of-way under this subsection; and

(M) the consideration of any applicable Federal, Tribal, and State renewable energy mandates, targets, and goals.

Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824a) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) by striking Commission after During the continuance of any war in which the United States is engaged, or whenever the and inserting Secretary of Energy (referred to in this subsection as the Secretary);

(B) by striking exists after determines that an emergency and inserting currently exists or will occur within 6 months;

(C) by striking Commission after or other causes, the and inserting Secretary;

(D) by inserting As part of the order, the Secretary shall explain why such order best meets the emergency and serves the public interest. after serve the public interest.; and

(E) by striking Commission after carrying out such order, the and inserting Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (referred to in this subsection as the Commission);

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) by striking Commission after law or regulation, the and inserting Secretary; and

(B) by adding at the end the following: The Secretary shall state in such orders—.

(A) that are in effect for 96 or fewer hours, the specific hours that are necessary to meet the emergency and serve the public interest; or

(B) that are in effect for more than 96 hours, the specific methodology by which such hours that are necessary to meet the emergency and serve the public interest were determined.

(3) in paragraph (4)—

(A) by striking Commission wherever it appears and inserting Secretary;

(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking that may result in a conflict with a requirement of any Federal, State, or local environmental law or regulation;

(C) in subparagraph (B)—

(i) by inserting that may result in a conflict with a requirement of any Federal, State, or local environmental law or regulation after In renewing or reissuing an order under subparagraph (A); and

(ii) by inserting The Secretary shall make available to the public the primary Federal agency consulted. after practicable.; and

(D) by adding at the end—; and

(C) Before renewing or reissuing an order under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall undertake a robust study of available alternatives that would reduce the net costs as compared to renewing or reissuing the order.

(D) In the event the Secretary issues a renewed or reissued order under this paragraph, a petition for judicial review of such renewed or reissued order may be filed under section 313(b) without filing a request for rehearing or otherwise complying with any requirements of section 313(a).

(4) by adding at the end the following:

(A) Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary issues an order under paragraph (1), the Commission shall publish—

(i) estimates of the costs that are expected to be incurred by any electric utility and customers of such electric utility as a result of the order; and

(ii) other expected impacts of the order.

(B) Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary issues an order under paragraph (1), an electric utility that has been, or is expected to be, affected as a result of the order, including any electric utility described in subparagraph (A)(i), shall provide in writing to customers of the electric utility a description of the costs incurred due to the order, or costs expected to be incurred as a result of the order, including any information relevant to the electric utility and the customers of the electric utility published under subparagraph (A).

Section 2602 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) by striking section 2607A) and inserting section 2604(e), 2605(u), 2607A, 2607B, or 2607C); and

(B) by striking $2,000,000,000 and all that follows and inserting such sums as may be necessary, including such sums as may be necessary to enable the States to assist all households that meet the eligibility requirements established under this title and to enable States to implement home energy affordability measures described in section 2605(b)(3).;

(2) in subsection (e), in the first sentence—

(A) by striking in each fiscal year;

(B) by striking $600,000,000 and inserting $2,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, and $2,000,000,000 plus such additional sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter,; and

(C) by inserting, or arising from a major disaster, as defined in section 2604(e)(1) before the period at the end; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(f) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 2607C, including making grants under that section, $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, and $1,000,000,000 plus such additional sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.

Section 2603 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8622) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6), (7) through (10), and (11), as paragraphs (6) through (8), (10) through (13), and (15), respectively;

(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

(4) The terms extreme heat and extreme cold, used with respect to a period, means a period in which there is an increased risk of—

(A) heat-related or cold-related, respectively, illness, hospitalization, or death; or

(B) failures or energy shutoffs of home cooling or heating, respectively.

(5) The term HEAP coordinator means an employee—

(A) who administers a program funded under section 2602(b); and

(B) whose salary is paid, partly or wholly, with funds made available under that section.

(3) by inserting after paragraph (8), as so redesignated, the following:; and

(9) The term local coordinating agency means any local organization or local office that receives funds under section 2602(b) to perform customer intake, or approval of benefits, on behalf of the State agency.

(4) by inserting after paragraph (13), as so redesignated, the following:

(14) The term State agency means any State agency that administers the program funded under section 2602(b).

Section 2604 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8623) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by striking section 2605(b)(9)(B) and inserting section 2605(b)(10)(B); and

(2) in subsection (e)—

(A) by striking (e) and inserting the following:

(1) In this subsection:

(A) The term covered household means an eligible household in an area where the President, or the Secretary, as the case may be, has declared or determined the occurrence of a natural disaster, emergency, or major disaster.

(B) The term major disaster means—

(i) a major disaster or emergency declared under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191);

(ii) a public health emergency determined under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); or

(iii) a period of extreme heat or extreme cold, as determined by the Secretary.

(B) in paragraph (2), as so designated, by striking natural disaster or other emergency involved and inserting natural disaster, emergency, or major disaster involved; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

(3) Upon a declaration or a determination of a natural disaster, emergency, or major disaster, for an area, the Secretary and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall, to the extent practicable, provide heating or cooling assistance through such an allotment to a State for covered households in that area.

(4) To receive assistance under this subsection, the State that has jurisdiction over the covered households shall provide assurances to the Secretary that the State—

(A) will not preclude a household that receives heating assistance or cooling assistance under this title during a calendar year, on the basis of obtaining that assistance, from receiving cooling assistance or heating assistance, respectively, under this title during that year;

(B) will not require a household to indicate that a household member has a medical need for assistance under this title, to be eligible for that assistance; and

(C) will allow use of such assistance for purposes for which heating or cooling assistance is available under the program funded under section 2602(b), including for providing energy-efficient air conditioners, and other equipment needed for home cooling, to eligible households.

Section 2605 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking paragraph (5) and inserting paragraph (6);

(B) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting, subject to subsection (c)(1)(A), after only;

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking (B) and all that follows through clause (ii) and inserting the following:; and

(B) households with incomes which do not exceed the greater of—

(i) an amount equal to 250 percent of the poverty level; or

(ii) an amount equal to 80 percent of the State median income,

(iii) in the matter following subparagraph (B)—

(I) by striking may give and inserting shall give; and

(II) by inserting before the semicolon the following:, and the State may not exclude a household from eligibility on the basis of citizenship of 1 or more of the household members;

(C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (16) as paragraphs (4) through (17), respectively;

(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:; and

To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall work with States using funding under section 2602(b) (supplemented by funding available through State-level energy programs, utility affordability initiatives, or other mechanisms as determined by the State in consultation with the Secretary) to implement home energy affordability measures—

(A) to ensure that no household eligible under paragraph (2) experiences an energy burden for which the expenditures of the household for home energy exceed 3 percent of household income; and

(B) to prioritize the further reduction of energy burdens for such eligible households with the lowest incomes.

(E) in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (10), as so redesignated, by striking paragraph (16) and inserting paragraph (17);

(2) in subsection (c)(1)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking assistance to be provided under this title, including criteria and inserting assistance to be provided under this title, including—;

(i) certifying that the State and local coordinating agencies in the State—

(I) shall, to the greatest extent possible, use data sharing agreements with Federal and State low-income assistance programs, including the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the Medicaid program established under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), and the supplemental security income program established under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), to verify eligibility;

(II) shall implement simplified re-enrollment procedures for households with fixed incomes or households already determined to be eligible under other Federal and State low-income assistance programs, to reduce administrative burdens on applicants and agencies;

(III) shall not require applicants to submit proof of citizenship to establish status as an eligible household; and

(IV) if neither the verification process described in subclause (I) nor the re-enrollment process described in subclause (II) apply to a household, shall allow applicants to self-attest that the applicants meet the criteria established under this title for an eligible household, to the extent necessary to facilitate access to assistance and prevent undue hardship for applicants; and

(ii) describing criteria.

(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking paragraph (5) and inserting paragraph (6); and

(C) in subparagraph (F), by striking clauses (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (10), (12), (13), and (15) of subsection (b) and inserting paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (11), (13), (14), and (16) of subsection (b);

(3) in subsection (e), by striking subsection (b)(10) and inserting subsection (b)(11);

(4) in subsection (f), by adding at the end the following:; and

(3) For purposes of section 401(c), and the remainder of title IV, of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611(a), 1601 et seq.), assistance under this title shall not be considered to be a Federal public benefit.

(5) in subsection (j), by striking the State may apply and inserting the State may, subject to subsection (c)(1)(A)(i), apply.

Section 2605 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1)(C), by inserting before the semicolon the following:, using toxics-free materials that do not contain asthmagens or respiratory sensitizers, giving priority in the use of those funds under this subparagraph, to the greatest extent practicable, to supporting emergency home repairs that foster energy efficiency, decarbonization, and household resilience, including through beneficial electrification of heating and cooling;

(B) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated—

(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking and at the end; and

(ii) by adding at the end the following:; and

(E) ensure that—

(i) the home energy supplier will not charge late fees for any payment, by a household receiving assistance through the program funded under section 2602(b), during the period beginning 6 months before and ending 6 months after a date on which the supplier receives funds through the program for the household; and

(ii) if the supplier receives funds through the program for such a household and charged such late fees during that period, the supplier shall refund the fees to the household not later than 7 days after the date the supplier receives the funds;

(F) ensure that the home energy supplier will not shut off home energy from a household that received assistance through the program funded under section 2602(b), within the 2-year period beginning on the date the household received the assistance;

(G) ensure that the home energy supplier, in return for receiving funds through the program funded under section 2602(b)—

(i) will provide to the State data on households that have not paid their home energy bills, to enable the State and the supplier to carry out coordinated outreach concerning assistance available through the program funded under section 2602(b); and

(ii) will, when sending a notice of late payments to such households, include information on such assistance, on how to access such assistance through the program, and on eligibility criteria for the program; and

(H) ensure that the home energy supplier will, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Energy Bills Relief Act, in return for receiving assistance under the program funded under section 2602(b) and through a partnership with the State, offer a low-income energy affordability payment program;

(C) in paragraph (10), as so redesignated—

(i) in subparagraph (A)—

(I) by striking 10 percent and inserting 15 percent; and

(II) by striking and at the end; and

(ii) by adding at the end the following:

(C) in planning and administering that program, the State shall use the portion of the amount described in subparagraph (A), that exceeds 10 percent of the funds described in subparagraph (A), to expand the State program funded under section 2602(b) so that the State operates the program on a year-round basis; and

(D) in planning and administering that program, the State—

(i) shall make technological changes to allow, not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the Energy Bills Relief Act, for online submission of applications for assistance through that program; and

(ii) shall, to the extent practicable—

(I) conduct outreach activities, including activities to increase enrollment as described in subsection (p);

(II) ensure that all HEAP coordinators in the State receive wages, for administration funded under section 2602(b), at not less than the greater of $15 per hour or the applicable Federal, State, or local minimum wage rate;

(III) conduct training for HEAP coordinators, State agency staff, and community partners on best practices for outreach, application processing, and assisting eligible households;

(IV) as needed, conduct outreach relating to the program funded under section 2602(b) to rural electric cooperatives, home energy suppliers owned by a political subdivision of a State, such as a municipally owned electric utility, and home energy suppliers owned by any agency, authority, corporation, or instrumentality of a political subdivision of a State; and

(V) ensure autoenrollment of eligible households into the program funded under section 2602(b), and in the process document any potential barriers to autoenrollment that need to be clarified or otherwise addressed at the Federal level;

(2) in subsection (c)(1)—

(A) in subparagraph (G), by striking and at the end;

(B) by redesignating subparagraph (H) as subparagraph (I); and

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the following:; and

(H) describes how the State will expand the State program funded under section 2602(b) so that the State operates the program on a year-round basis in accordance with subsection (b)(10)(C) and the measures the State has taken so far to carry out that expansion; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(m) The Secretary shall allow, to the greatest extent possible, eligible households to obtain assistance with minimal administrative burden, by carrying out subsection (c)(1)(A)(i).

(n) The Secretary shall, by grant or contract, provide for a study that examines the rates of home energy shutoffs and assessments of late fees among eligible households, relative to those rates for households that are not eligible households, over a period of several years.

(o) The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to States to support partnerships described in subsection (b)(8)(H).

(1) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall issue guidance for use of funds for administrative activities described in subsection (b)(10) to increase, through partnerships with elementary schools, secondary schools, and local educational agencies, enrollment in the program funded under section 2602(b) among eligible households that include children and that have high energy burdens.

(2) The Secretary shall issue guidance for use by States on outreach relating to assistance through the program funded under section 2602(b) to high-risk individuals, with relevant medical conditions, that benefit from the use of medical equipment that requires electricity, including a ventilator, an oxygen concentrator, or another medical device that requires electricity.

(3) The Secretary shall issue guidance for use by States on how to ensure that eligible households are aware of additional grants, tax credits, and rebates, made available under Public Law 117–169, or an amendment made by such law.

(q) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Energy Bills Relief Act, the Secretary shall require each State receiving funds under this title, including allotments under subsection (a) or (e) of section 2604, to develop and update as necessary, an action plan for a period of extreme heat, which shall describe how the State will use its allotments under this title to assist eligible households in covering cooling costs and mitigating heat-related health risks.

(r) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Energy Bills Relief Act, the Secretary shall conduct a review of eligibility criteria for assistance under this title and identify additional vulnerable populations to include under such criteria, such as pregnant women, children, and individuals with medical conditions exacerbated by a period of extreme heat.

(s) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall require State energy offices receiving Federal funds under this title to develop plans—

(1) to retrofit low-income housing stock to adapt to rising temperatures and address environmental hazards, including—

(A) deploying highly efficient cooling systems, including heat pumps;

(B) expanding weatherization and passive cooling strategies;

(C) addressing structural and health hazards, including mold, lead, asbestos, and pest infections; and

(D) ensuring that necessary electrical panel and wiring upgrades are completed to support the installation of cooling systems and energy efficiency improvements; and

(2) to assess and adapt existing (as of the date of development of the plan) shutoff policies to protect all households while considering the impact on energy affordability and energy grid reliability.

(1) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Energy Bills Relief Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall submit a report to Congress that—

(A) identifies safe residential temperature standards for federally assisted dwelling units, considering risks of periods of extreme heat and extreme cold and regional climate variations; and

(B) proposes strategies to ensure compliance with the standards, including permitting covered utility allowances to be used for cooling assistance where feasible, taking into account regional climate variations and housing stock differences.

(2) In this subsection, the term covered utility allowance means a utility allowance—

(A) applicable to public housing dwelling units under section 3 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a); or

(B) under the housing choice voucher program under section 8(o)(2)(D) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(2)(D)).

Section 2605(k) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624(k)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking 15 percent and inserting 25 percent; and

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i)—

(i) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting subparagraph (C); and

(ii) by striking the greater of 25 percent and inserting a portion equal to the greater of 35 percent;

(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:

(B) The State—

(i) shall, to the extent practicable—

(I) use the portion described in subparagraph (A) for energy-related home repair that reduces dependence on fossil fuel energy sources; and

(II) use the portion to facilitate the use of funds made available under section 2602(b) to increase the participation of eligible households in community solar programs, or to otherwise increase access to and ownership of distributed renewable energy infrastructure among eligible households; and

(ii) shall if possible give the highest priority to using the portion for home repair that replaces appliances that rely on fossil fuels with appliances that use electric heating or cooling technology, powered by renewable energy.

Section 2605 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624), as amended by subsection (e), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(A) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall develop a standardized template for States and home energy suppliers to use to track and report data on eligible households in arrears in home energy payments, including data on the related fees and disconnections for such households.

(B) The template developed under subparagraph (A) shall—

(i) include a definition of an eligible household in arrears, with respect to home energy payments, as an eligible household that has not made payment on a home energy bill for more than 60 to 90 days, as determined by the State agency or local coordinating agency, unless otherwise specified by State law;

(ii) include metrics on related disconnections, late fees, reconnections, and arrearage balances for eligible households; and

(iii) align with existing (as of the date of the development) Federal and State reporting mechanisms where applicable.

(2) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Energy Bills Relief Act, the Secretary shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, issue guidance on best practices for States (including through partnerships with home energy suppliers) to pay for home energy payment arrearages with assistance provided through the program funded under section 2602(b), including by paying for such arrearages at the time of dissemination of assistance through that program. Such guidance shall prohibit any home energy supplier receiving funds through the program from recovering arrearage assistance costs through rate increases or other charges to customers, including cost recovery mechanisms that disproportionately impact low-income households.

(3) To the extent practicable, the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy shall jointly—

(A) implement a data tracking system, aligned with the standardized reporting template developed under paragraph (1), to collect aggregate data regarding the number of eligible households in arrears and their respective energy burdens and develop recommendations to HEAP coordinators on how to minimize energy burdens for the households; and

(B) issue guidance to home energy suppliers with recommendations for working with State agencies to address home energy payment arrearages of eligible households.

(4) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, may make grants to States to assist the States in implementing data tracking and reporting requirements under this subsection.

(5) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection such sums as may be necessary.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 is amended—

(A) in section 2607A(b) (42 U.S.C. 8626a(b)), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking low-income the first place it appears; and

(B) in section 2607B(e)(2)(B)(ii) (42 U.S.C. 8626b(e)(2)(B)(ii)), by striking Low-Income.

A reference in any other Federal law (other than that Act), Executive order, rule, regulation, or delegation of authority, or any document, of or relating to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, shall be deemed to refer to the Home Energy Assistance Program.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 is amended by inserting after section 2607B (42 U.S.C. 8626b) the following:

The Secretary and the Secretary of Energy shall jointly carry out a grant program under this section. In carrying out the program, the Secretaries shall make grants for a period of 3 years to States, Tribes, and local governments to support the development and implementation of interagency plans to reduce energy burdens for eligible households with high home energy use. The plans shall promote the reduction of those burdens in a manner that supports sustained reductions in household energy costs through improved energy efficiency, reliability, and access to cost-saving technologies. The Secretaries shall make the grants for a period of 3 years.

In making the grants, the Secretary shall give a preference to States, Tribes, and local governments, who set up coordination systems—

(1) to identify eligible households, that are recipients of assistance through the program funded under section 2602(b), with high home energy use;

(2) to prioritize eligible households with the highest energy burdens and lowest incomes, in alignment with the priority provisions in paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 2605(b), to receive emergency repair, weatherization, and retrofit assistance that results in decarbonization and reductions in energy use; and

(3) to partner with entities carrying out workforce development initiatives, unions, or business enterprises owned by individuals that are socially disadvantaged to provide emergency repairs, weatherization, and retrofit assistance.

At the conclusion of the 3-year grant period, the Secretaries shall—

(1) conduct an evaluation of the program’s outcomes; and

(2) prepare and submit to Congress a report containing the results of the evaluation and policy recommendations.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.) is amended—

(1) in section 2607B(e)(2)(K) (42 U.S.C. 8626b(e)(2)(K)) by striking paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), and (14) of section 2605(b) and inserting paragraphs (2), (4), (5), (6), (8), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), and (15) of section 2605(b); and

(2) in section 2610(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 8629) by striking clauses (2), (5), (8), and (15) of section 2605(b) and inserting paragraphs (2), (6), (9), and (16) of section 2605(b).

Section 414D of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6864d) is amended by striking subsection (k).

Section 415(c)(1) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6865(c)(1)) is amended by striking $6,500 and inserting $12,000.

Section 415(c)(2) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6865(c)(2)) is amended—

(1) by striking, or under other Federal programs;

(2) by striking, may and inserting may; and

(3) by striking or under other Federal programs, or from receiving non-Federal assistance for weatherization.

Section 415(c) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6865(c)) is amended by striking paragraph (4).

The Energy Conservation and Production Act is amended by adding after section 414E (42 U.S.C. 6864e) the following section:

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a weatherization readiness program to provide grants to States, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations to implement measures to make dwelling units occupied by low-income persons ready to receive weatherization measures pursuant to the weatherization program conducted under this part by addressing structural, plumbing, roofing, and electrical issues and environmental hazards, and implementing other measures that the Secretary determines to be appropriate, to reduce the frequency of deferrals of such weatherization measures when the condition of a dwelling unit renders delivery of weatherization measures unsafe or ineffective.

Except as otherwise provided in this section, to the extent possible, the Secretary shall, in establishing the weatherization readiness program under this section—

(1) align the requirements of such weatherization readiness program with the requirements of the weatherization program conducted under this part; and

(2) seek to reduce barriers to leveraging other sources of funding for weatherization readiness measures.

The weatherization readiness program established under this section shall not include a savings-to-investment ratio requirement.

Weatherization readiness measures implemented pursuant to the weatherization readiness program established under this section shall not be considered previous weatherization for purposes of section 415(c)(2).

The Secretary shall establish, or require a State grantee to establish, a limit for expenditures for weatherization readiness measures, including labor, materials, and related matters, to be implemented with respect to a dwelling unit, on an average cost per unit basis, pursuant to the weatherization readiness program established under this section.

The Secretary shall allocate funding made available under this section to States and tribal organizations in a manner consistent with the allocation of financial assistance for weatherization assistance under the weatherization program conducted under this part.

Not sooner than October 1, 2029, the Secretary, in consultation with States and tribal organizations, may, by rule, update the method to allocate funding to States and tribal organizations under this section to more accurately reflect the relative need for funding for weatherization readiness measures among low-income persons throughout the States and Indian tribes.

Not more than an amount equal to 15 percent of any grant made by the Secretary under this section may be used for administrative purposes, except that not more than one-half of such amount may be used by any State for such purposes.

There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section.

The table of contents for the Energy Conservation and Production Act is amended by adding after the item relating to section 414E the following:

Paragraph (2) of section 422 of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6872) is amended by striking 2025 and inserting 2030.

The Secretary shall establish and carry out a program to provide rebates to eligible households for the purchase and installation of eligible cool roof products.

The amount of a rebate provided under the program established under subsection (a) shall be—

(1) with respect to an eligible cool roof product installed on a low-sloped roof—

(A) $0.25 per square foot if such eligible cool roof product has—

(i) a minimum 3-year aged solar reflectance of 0.65 and a minimum 3-year-aged thermal emittance of 0.75; or

(ii) a minimum 3-year aged Solar Reflectance Index of 78; and

(B) $0.75 per square foot if such eligible cool roof product has—

(i) a minimum 3-year aged solar reflectance of 0.75 and a minimum 3-year-aged thermal emittance of 0.75; or

(ii) a minimum 3-year aged Solar Reflectance Index of 92; and

(2) with respect to an eligible cool roof product installed on a steep-sloped roof—

(A) $0.25 per square foot if such eligible cool roof product has—

(i) a minimum 3-year aged solar reflectance of 0.25 and a minimum 3-year-aged thermal emittance of 0.75; or

(ii) a minimum 3-year aged Solar Reflectance Index of 23; and

(B) $0.75 per square foot if such eligible cool roof product has—

(i) a minimum 3-year aged solar reflectance of 0.40 and a minimum 3-year-aged thermal emittance of 0.75; or

(ii) a minimum 3-year aged Solar Reflectance Index of 43.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an eligible household from receiving any other grant, rebate, or other financial assistance with respect to the same eligible cool roof product for which a rebate is provided under the program established under subsection (a).

In implementing this section, the Secretary shall ensure that not less that 40 percent of total incremental energy savings achieved under this program in a given year shall accrue to households that in the determination of the Secretary are low-income or experience a disproportionately high energy burden.

Each State and each retail electricity supplier shall publish on an annual basis an impact statement that disaggregates participation under this section by income and demographic characteristics, savings, and health outcomes.

The program established under subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2030.

Not later than 6 months after the program established under subsection (a) terminates, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing, for each program participant—

(1) whether the participant used the rebate to help retrofit an old roof or install a new roof;

(2) if the participant retrofitted an old roof, which older roof product the new eligible cool roof product replaced or covered; and

(3) what eligible cool roof product the participant purchased using the rebate.

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

In this Act:

The term 3-year aged means, with respect to solar reflectance or thermal emittance of an eligible cool roof product, the solar reflectance or thermal emittance is tested after completing 3 years of field exposure, or tested after laboratory exposure that has replicated the effects of 3 years of natural exposure if the eligible cool roof product has begun but not yet completed field exposure, in accordance with the most recent standard issued by the American National Standard Institute and Cool Roof Rating Council, S100–2021.

The term eligible cool roof product means a product that has a rating from the Cool Roof Rating Council.

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term eligible household means an individual or family—

(i) residing in a single-family or multi-family building;

(ii) the total annual income of which is less than 200 percent of the median income of the ZIP Code in which the individual or family resides (as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development); and

(iii) residing in a ZIP Code Tabulation Area that is in the 75th percentile or higher of the Heat and Health Index of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With respect to an individual or family residing in Alaska, Hawaii, or a territory of the United States, until the date that their respective State or territory is added to the Heat and Health Index of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the term eligible household means that such individual or family—

(i) resides in a single-family or multi-family building; and

(ii) has a total annual income that is less than 200 percent of the median income of the ZIP Code in which the individual or family resides (as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development).

The term incident solar flux means the solar power per unit area that strikes a surface.

The term low-sloped roof means a roof with a slope (ratio of rise to run) of 2:12 or less.

The term radiant heat flux means the radiant power per unit area.

The term reflected solar flux means the solar power per unit area reflected from a surface.

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

The term solar reflectance means the ratio of reflected solar flux to the incident solar flux.

The term Solar Reflectance Index means a calculated value that combines solar reflectance with thermal emittance into a single metric, in accordance with section 2.2.9. of the Cool Roof Rating Council’s Roof Product Rating Program Manual.

The term steep-sloped roof means a roof with a slope (ratio of rise to run) greater than 2:12.

The term thermal emittance means the ratio of the radiant heat flux emitted by a material tested at a temperature near 300 kelvin.

Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) is amended by adding at the end the following:

No person shall export any natural gas from the United States to a foreign country without first having secured an order of the Secretary of Energy authorizing it to do so. The Secretary of Energy may issue such order upon application only if, after opportunity for hearing, the Secretary of Energy finds that the proposed exportation will be consistent with the public interest. The Secretary of Energy may by its order grant such application, in whole or in part, with such modification and upon such terms and conditions as the Secretary of Energy may find necessary or appropriate, and may from time to time, after opportunity for hearing, and for good cause shown, issue such supplemental order for such exportation as it may find necessary or appropriate.

The Secretary of Energy shall find whether proposed exportation of natural gas will be consistent with the public interest under paragraph (1) by not later than the date that is 1 year after the later of—

(A) the date on which the Secretary of Energy receives the final environmental impact statement for such proposed exportation from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and

(B) the date on which the Secretary completes each assessment required by paragraph (4).

The Secretary of Energy may find that proposed exportation of natural gas for which an application is submitted under paragraph (1) will be consistent with the public interest under such paragraph only if the Secretary of Energy determines, based on the applicable assessment under paragraph (4), that the proposed exportation of natural gas will not be likely to—

(A) significantly contribute to climate change, including by slowing the global energy transition needed to achieve deep reductions of global greenhouse gas emissions within the next decade and net-zero global greenhouse gas emissions not later than 2050;

(B) materially increase energy prices or energy price volatility for any segment of United States consumers; or

(C) create a disproportionate cumulative burden of adverse human or environmental impacts on Tribes and communities with environmental justice concerns, including in rural and urban low-income areas.

A determination under paragraph (3)(A) shall be based on an assessment of the expected impact of the proposed exportation of natural gas on climate change. Such assessment shall be based on the latest scientific information and use the 20-year global warming potential of methane, and shall include—

(i) quantified estimates of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the full lifecycle of the natural gas proposed for exportation, including emissions associated with the extraction, transportation, liquefaction, storage, regasification, and consumption of such natural gas;

(ii) a comparison of the estimated greenhouse gas emissions in clause (i) to a baseline that is consistent with the need to achieve deep reductions of global greenhouse gas emissions within the next decade and deep decarbonization pathways toward net-zero global greenhouse gas emissions not later than 2050;

(iii) an assessment of the potential effects of the proposed exportation of natural gas on clean energy alternatives, including—

(I) any decrease in global investment in and deployment of renewable energy, electrification, and energy efficiency and conservation technologies; and

(II) any decrease in United States exports of clean energy technologies;

(iv) quantified estimates of the social cost of the estimated greenhouse gas emissions in clause (i); and

(v) an identification of the extent to which climate change is accelerating the loss of economic value in the United States and, separately, in other countries, due to rising sea levels, more intense storms, eroding coasts, increased risk and severity of wildfires, and other impacts associated with climate change.

A determination under paragraph (3)(B) shall be based on an assessment of the expected economic impact of the proposed exportation of natural gas, including an assessment of the impact of the proposed exportation on all United States consumers, with specific estimates regarding each of the following consumer subgroups:

(i) Low-income consumers.

(ii) Working families.

(iii) Small businesses.

(iv) Manufacturers.

(v) State, Tribal, and local governments.

(vi) Producers and users of fertilizer.

(vii) Facilities with high electricity demand, including data centers.

A determination under paragraph (3)(C) shall be based on an assessment of the expected impact of the proposed exportation of natural gas on environmental justice (which shall be consistent with Executive Order 14096 (42 U.S.C. 4321 note; relating to revitalizing our Nation's commitment to environmental justice for all), as published April 21, 2023), including assessments of impacts on—

(i) the preexisting cumulative environmental burdens and social and health risks posed to Tribes and communities with environmental justice concerns, including in rural and urban low-income areas;

(ii) local fisheries and the economic livelihood of the people employed by local fisheries;

(iii) racial and socioeconomic disparities in impacted communities; and

(iv) compliance with civil rights laws.

The Secretary of Energy shall—

(A) provide to the public an opportunity to meaningfully participate, including by providing comments, in—

(i) the finding of the Secretary of Energy on whether proposed exportation will be consistent with the public interest under paragraph (1); and

(ii) any study by the Department of Energy intended to inform such finding; and

(B) ensure that opportunities to meaningfully participate under subparagraph (A) address barriers that affect members of communities with environmental justice concerns, including those related to disability, language access, and lack of resources.

Issuing an order authorizing the exportation of natural gas under this subsection shall be considered a major Federal action under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).

Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) is amended—

(A) in subsection (a)—

(i) by striking export any natural gas from the United States to a foreign country or;

(ii) by inserting to the United States after from a foreign country; and

(iii) by striking exportation or; and

(B) in subsection (c)—

(i) by striking, or the exportation of natural gas to a nation with which there is in effect a free trade agreement requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas,; and

(ii) by striking or exportation.

Section 15(b)(1) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717n(b)(1)) is amended by striking Commission and inserting Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The categorical exclusion under B5.7 of appendix B to subpart D of part 1021 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to export of natural gas and associated transportation by marine vessel), shall have no force or effect.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall, after public notice and comment, issue a rule to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

Section 6407 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107a) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking or at the end;

(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and

(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:

(C) any Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));

(2) in subsection (c)—

(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting and grants after Loans;

(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

Subject to the requirements of this subsection, the Secretary shall provide—

(A) loans to eligible entities that agree to use the loan funds to make loans under subsection (d) to qualified consumers for the purpose of implementing energy efficiency measures; and

(B) at the election of any eligible entity that receives a loan under subparagraph (A), a grant in accordance with paragraph (10).

(C) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting for loans after Requirements; and

(ii) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking that is;

(D) in paragraph (5)—

(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting the clauses appropriately;

(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking With respect to a loan under paragraph (1) and inserting the following:; and

Subject to subparagraph (B), with respect to a loan under paragraph (1)(A)

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary may extend the term of a loan under subparagraph (A)(i), or the deadline for the repayment of an advance under subparagraph (A)(ii), as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(E) in paragraph (7)—

(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking paragraph (1) and inserting paragraph (1)(A); and

(ii) in subparagraph (C), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking Repayment of the special advance and inserting Subject to an applicable extension under paragraph (5)(B), repayment of a special advance under this paragraph;

(F) in paragraph (8), by striking paragraph (1) and inserting paragraph (1)(A); and

(G) by adding at the end the following:

At the election of an eligible entity that receives a loan under this subsection, the Secretary shall provide to the eligible entity a grant to pay for a portion of the costs incurred in—

(i) applying for the loan;

(ii) making a loan to a qualified consumer under subsection (d);

(iii) making repairs to the property of a qualified consumer that facilitate the energy efficiency measures for the property financed through a loan provided to the qualified consumer under subsection (d);

(iv) entering into a contract under subsection (e); or

(v) carrying out any other duties of the eligible entity under this section.

Except as provided in clause (ii), the amount of a grant provided to an eligible entity under this paragraph shall be equal to not more than 5 percent of the amount of the loan provided to the eligible entity under this subsection.

The amount of a grant provided under this paragraph to an eligible entity that will use the grant to make loans under subsection (d) to qualified consumers located in a persistent poverty county (as determined by the Secretary) shall be equal to 10 percent of the amount of the loan provided to the eligible entity under this subsection.

(3) in subsection (d)—

(A) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting or grant before funds; and

(ii) in subparagraph (B)—

(I) by striking (B) shall finance and inserting the following:; and

may have a term and amortization schedule the length of which is the useful life of the energy efficiency measures implemented using the loan, provided that the loan to the qualified consumer does not exceed 20 years; and

(ii) shall finance

(II) in clause (ii) (as so designated), by striking a loan term of not more than 10 years and inserting the applicable loan term described in clause (i);

(4) in subsection (e)—

(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting outreach, after training,;

(B) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking and technical assistance of the program and inserting outreach, and technical assistance relating to the program under this section; and

(ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting, outreach, after technical assistance; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:; and

Of the amounts made available under subsection (i), the Secretary may use such sums as are necessary to provide outreach, training, and technical assistance under this subsection.

(5) in subsection (i), by striking 2023 and inserting 2030.

In this section:

The term advanced transmission technology means any hardware or software that—

(A) increases the capacity, efficiency, reliability, resilience, or safety of transmission facilities and transmission technologies;

(B) is installed in addition to new or existing transmission facilities and transmission technologies—

(i) to give operators of the transmission facilities and transmission technologies more situational awareness and control over the electric grid;

(ii) to make the transmission facilities and transmission technologies more efficient; or

(iii) to increase the transfer capacity of the transmission facilities and transmission technologies; and

(C) includes, but is not limited to, dynamic line ratings, advanced conductors, topology optimization, advanced power-flow controls, and other digital or physical systems that increase the usable transfer capability of the grid.

The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The term energy storage project means—

(A) any equipment that receives, stores, and delivers energy-using batteries, compressed air, pumped hydropower, hydrogen storage (including hydrolysis), thermal energy storage, regenerative fuel cells, flywheels, capacitors, superconducting magnets, or other technologies identified by the Commission; and

(B) any project for the construction or modification of equipment described in subparagraph (A) as part of an effort to build-out transmission interconnection opportunities.

The term generation project means—

(A) any facility—

(i) that generates or injects electricity; and

(ii) for which an interconnection request is subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission; and

(B) any project for the construction or modification of a facility described in subparagraph (A).

The term interconnection customer means a person or entity that has submitted an interconnection request.

The term interconnection request means a request submitted to a public utility to interconnect a new generation project or energy storage project to the electric system of a public utility for the purposes of transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce or the sale of electric energy at wholesale.

The term public utility has the meaning given the term in section 201(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824(e)).

The term transmission facility means a facility that is used for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce.

The term transmission provider means a public utility that owns, operates, or controls 1 or more transmission facilities.

The term transmission system means a network of transmission facilities used for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall initiate a rulemaking—

(A) to address the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of existing procedures for processing interconnection requests to ensure that new generation projects and energy storage projects can interconnect quickly, cost-effectively, and reliably;

(B) to invalidate expedited interconnection processes, using its section 206 authority, that have been adopted in 2025 or 2026 and which are not in the pro forma interconnection agreement and which use eligibility criteria that have disproportionately selected natural gas and coal projects in comparison to other projects such as, wind, solar and electric battery storage projects; and

(C) to revise the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures and, as appropriate, the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Agreement, promulgated pursuant to section 35.28(f) of title 18, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), to require transmission providers—

(i) to develop and employ modeling assumptions for each resource type based on actual operating abilities and practices, for the purposes of studying an interconnection request, provided that the Commission shall not rely on such modeling assumptions to study projects out of queue priority;

(ii) to study interconnection requests in a manner consistent with the risk tolerance of the interconnection customer;

(iii) to establish simplified and standardized study pathways for small-scale or community-based generation projects, including distributed energy resources and projects serving low-income communities;

(iv) to select, as appropriate, 1 or more cost-effective solutions to address network reliability needs that may be identified while studying an interconnection request;

(v) to provide sufficient information to interconnection customers for the interconnection customers to understand how a transmission provider has implemented the assumptions and solutions described in clauses (i) and (iv);

(vi) to share and employ, as appropriate, queue management best practices, including with respect to the use of computing technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation, as well as standardized study criteria, in evaluating and processing interconnection requests, in order to expedite study results with respect to those requests; and

(vii) to implement transparency and performance-enhancing measures and requirements that transmission providers consider advanced transmission technologies to ensure timely and cost-conscious construction of necessary network upgrades once an interconnection agreement has been executed.

Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate a final rule to complete the rulemaking initiated under paragraph (1).

The Commission shall require each applicable Transmission Provider subject to the final rule issued pursuant to this rulemaking to submit their compliance filings within 60 days of the issuance of the final order, and the Commission shall have 60 days thereafter to approve or reject the compliance filing. Any subsequent compliance filing thereafter shall be subject to these same timing requirements.

Nothing in this section alters, or may be construed to alter, the allocation of costs of the transmission system pursuant to the ratemaking authority of the Commission under section 205 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824d).

In this section:

The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The term advanced transmission technology means any hardware or software that—

(A) increases the capacity, efficiency, reliability, resilience, or safety of transmission facilities and transmission technologies;

(B) is installed in addition to new or existing transmission facilities and transmission technologies—

(i) to give operators of the transmission facilities and transmission technologies more situational awareness and control over the electric grid;

(ii) to make the transmission facilities and transmission technologies more efficient; or

(iii) to increase the transfer capacity of the transmission facilities and transmission technologies; and

(C) includes, but is not limited to, dynamic line ratings, advanced conductors, topology optimization, advanced power-flow controls, and other digital or physical systems that increase the usable transfer capability of the grid.

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

In this subsection, the term developer, with respect to advanced transmission technology, means the entity that pays to install the advanced transmission technology.

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate a final rule to implement section 219(b)(3) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824s(b)(3)) by providing a shared savings incentive that returns a portion of the savings attributable to an investment in advanced transmission technology to the developer of that advanced transmission technology, in accordance with this subsection. The Commission may also establish alternative incentive mechanisms, including performance-based rate adjustments, accelerated depreciation, or return-on-equity adders, for utilities or transmission owners for which a shared-savings approach is impracticable.

The Commission shall determine the percentage of savings attributable to an investment in advanced transmission technology that can be returned to the developer of that advanced transmission technology pursuant to the shared savings incentive established under paragraph (2), subject to the conditions that the percentage—

(i) is not less than 10 percent and not more than 25 percent;

(ii) is not determined on a per-project, per-investment, or case-by-case basis; and

(iii) is applied consistently to all investments in advanced transmission technology eligible for the shared savings incentive, regardless of the type of advanced transmission technology installed.

The shared savings incentive established under paragraph (2) shall return a percentage, determined in accordance with subparagraph (A), of the applicable savings to the developer of the applicable advanced transmission technology over a period of 10 years.

Subject to paragraph (5), the shared savings incentive established under paragraph (2) shall apply with respect to—

(A) any developer, with respect to the investment of that developer in advanced transmission technology that is installed as described in subsection (a)(2)(B); and

(B) any advanced transmission technology, including—

(i) advanced transmission technology that relates to new transmission facilities or transmission technologies; and

(ii) advanced transmission technology that relates to existing transmission facilities or transmission technologies.

The shared savings incentive established under paragraph (2) shall apply with respect to an investment in advanced transmission technology only if the expected savings attributable to the investment over the 3-year period described in paragraph (3)(B), as determined by the Commission and appropriately adjusted to reflect net present value of the expected savings, are at least 2 times the cost of the investment.

The Commission shall determine how to quantify the cost of an investment and the expected savings attributable to an investment for purposes of clause (i).

For purposes of clause (i), the cost of an investment may include any costs associated with the permitting, installation, or purchase of the applicable advanced transmission technology.

The shared savings incentive established under paragraph (2) may not be applied with respect to advanced transmission technology that is already installed as of the date of enactment of this Act.

The Commission shall determine appropriate consumer protections for the shared savings incentive established under paragraph (2).

Not earlier than 7 years, and not later than 10 years, after the shared savings incentive is established under paragraph (2), the Commission shall—

(i) evaluate the necessity and efficacy of the shared savings incentive; and

(ii) determine whether to maintain, revise, or suspend the shared savings incentive.

In conducting the evaluation under subparagraph (A)(i), the Commission shall consider—

(i) how the shared savings incentive aligns with the requirement that advanced transmission technologies be considered in long-term regional transmission planning under Order No. 1920 of the Commission, entitled Building for the Future Through Electric Regional Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation (89 Fed. Reg. 49280 (June 11, 2024)) (or a successor order);

(ii) whether and how the shared savings incentive should be revised to further align with that requirement; and

(iii) whether, in light of that requirement, the shared savings incentive should be maintained or suspended.

In conducting the evaluation under subparagraph (A)(i), the Commission shall provide an opportunity for public comment, including by stakeholders.

Beginning on the date that is 1 year after the effective date of the rule promulgated under paragraph (2), all operators of transmission facilities or transmission technologies shall submit to the Commission annual reports containing data on the costs associated with congestion management with respect to the transmission facilities or transmission technologies, including all relevant constraints.

Each annual report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall identify—

(i) with respect to each reported constraint that caused more than $500,000 in associated costs—

(I) the cause of the constraint, including physical infrastructure and transient disruptions; and

(II) the next limiting element type and its identified rating limit; and

(ii) each constraint that will be addressed by planned future upgrades to infrastructure and facilities.

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate a final rule establishing a universal metric and protocol for the measuring and reporting of data under paragraph (1).

The Commission and the Secretary shall each use the data submitted under paragraph (1) to conduct analyses, as the Commission or the Secretary, as applicable, determines to be appropriate.

The Commission and the Secretary may coordinate with respect to any analyses conducted using the data submitted under paragraph (1).

The Commission and the Secretary, acting jointly, shall—

(i) use the data submitted under paragraph (1) to create a map of costs associated with congestion management in the transmission system; and

(ii) update that map not less frequently than once each year.

The Commission and the Secretary shall make the data submitted under paragraph (1) and the map described in paragraph (3)(B) publicly available on the websites of—

(A) the Commission; and

(B) the Department of Energy.

In this section, the term developer means a developer of transmission facilities or transmission technologies, including a developer of transmission facilities or transmission technologies that pays to install advanced transmission technology with respect to those transmission facilities or transmission technologies.

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an application guide for utilities and developers seeking to implement advanced transmission technologies.

The guide established under paragraph (2) shall be reviewed and updated annually.

On request of a utility or developer using the guide established under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide technical assistance to that utility or developer with respect to the use of advanced transmission technologies for particular applications.

In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall establish a clearinghouse of previously completed advanced transmission technology projects that the Secretary, utilities, and developers may use to identify issues and solutions relating to the use of advanced transmission technologies for particular applications.

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act, to remain available until expended—

(A) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and

(B) $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2037.

There is authorized to be appropriated $2,100,000,000 for the President, acting through the Secretary of Energy, under the authority of title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4531 et seq.), to expand domestic manufacturing of transformers and grid components, including amorphous steel, grain-oriented electrical steel, flexible transformers, circuit breakers, switchgear and substations to serve load and interconnect generation, and inverters and optimizers to integrate the influx of distributed generators.

In this section:

The terms bulk-power system and Electric Reliability Organization have the meanings given those terms in section 215(a) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o(a)).

The terms Independent System Operator, Regional Transmission Organization, and State regulatory authority have the meanings given those terms in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796).

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a strategy, and submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report identifying methods—

(i) to ensure that large power transformers, generator step-up transformers, power conversion equipment, grain-oriented electrical steel, and other critical electric grid equipment is strategically located to ensure timely replacement of that equipment as necessary to rapidly restore operation and proper functioning of the electric grid in the event of severe damage to the electric grid due to physical attack, cyber attack, electromagnetic pulses, geomagnetic disturbances, severe weather, climate change, or seismic events; and

(ii) to facilitate the transportation of large power transformers, generator step-up transformers, power conversion equipment, grain-oriented electrical steel, and other critical electric grid equipment.

In developing the strategy under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the need for, and the feasibility of establishing, 1 or more federally owned strategic equipment reserves, as appropriate, to ensure nationwide access to large power transformers, generator step-up transformers, power conversion equipment, grain-oriented electrical steel, and other critical electric grid equipment.

In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consider existing spare transformer and equipment programs and requirements established by the private sector, Regional Transmission Organizations, Independent System Operators, and State regulatory authorities.

In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with—

(i) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;

(ii) the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council;

(iii) the Electric Reliability Organization;

(iv) manufacturers of large power transformers, generator step-up transformers, power conversion equipment, grain-oriented electrical steel, and other critical electric grid equipment;

(v) owners and operators of critical electric infrastructure (as defined in section 215A(a) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o–1(a))); and

(vi) owners and operators of military installations (as defined in section 2801(c) of title 10, United States Code) and defense sites (as defined in section 2710(e) of that title), including facilities designated as critical defense facilities under section 215A(c) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o–1(c));

In addition to the strategy developed under subsection (b), the Secretary shall establish a program—

(A) to improve large power transformers, generator step-up transformers, power conversion equipment, grain-oriented electrical steel, and other critical electric grid equipment by reducing vulnerabilities identified with respect to that equipment;

(B) to develop, test, and deploy innovative equipment designs, including modular designs, that are more flexible and offer greater resiliency with respect to the operation and functioning of the electric grid;

(C) to coordinate with industry and manufacturers to standardize large power transformers, generator step-up transformers, power conversion equipment, and other critical electric grid equipment;

(D) to monitor and test large power transformers, generator step-up transformers, power conversion equipment, and other critical electric grid equipment that the Secretary determines may pose a risk to the bulk-power system or national security; and

(E) to facilitate the domestic manufacturing of large power transformers, generator step-up transformers, power conversion equipment, grain-oriented electrical steel, and other critical electric grid equipment through—

(i) the issuance of grants and loans; and

(ii) the provision of technical support.

All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in the performance of construction, alteration, or repair work carried out, in whole or in part, with financial assistance made available under this section shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on projects of a character similar in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code.

With respect to the labor standards specified in this subsection, the Secretary of Labor shall have the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of title 40, United States Code.

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to remain available until expended.

In this section:

The term authority having jurisdiction means any State, county, local, or Tribal office or official with jurisdiction—

(A) to issue permits relating to qualifying distributed energy systems;

(B) to conduct inspections to enforce the requirements of a relevant code or standard relating to qualifying distributed energy systems; or

(C) to approve the installation of, or the equipment and materials used in the installation of, qualifying distributed energy systems.

The term qualifying distributed energy system means any equipment or materials installed in, on, or near a residential building to support onsite or local energy use, including—

(A) to generate electricity from distributed renewable energy sources, including from—

(i) solar photovoltaic systems or similar solar energy technologies; and

(ii) wind power systems;

(B) to store and discharge electricity from batteries with a capacity of at least 2 kilowatt hours;

(C) to charge a plug-in electric drive vehicle at a power rate of at least 2 kilowatts; or

(D) to refuel a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle.

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with trade associations and other entities representing distributed energy system installers and organizations representing State, local, and Tribal governments engaged in permitting, shall carry out a program to further develop, expand, and support the adoption of a voluntary streamlined permitting and inspection process for authorities having jurisdiction to use for the permitting of qualifying distributed energy systems.

In carrying out the program established under subsection (b), the Secretary shall—

(1) further develop and expand an exemplary streamlined permitting process that includes an online permitting platform—

(A) for expediting, standardizing, and streamlining permitting; and

(B) that authorities having jurisdiction may voluntarily use to receive, review, and approve permit applications relating to qualifying distributed energy systems;

(2) establish targets for the adoption of a streamlined, expedited permitting process by authorities having jurisdiction;

(3) provide technical assistance and training directly or indirectly to authorities having jurisdiction on using and adopting the exemplary streamlined permitting process described in paragraph (1), including the adoption of any necessary building codes;

(4) develop a voluntary inspection protocol and related tools to expedite, standardize, and streamline the inspection of qualifying distributed energy systems, including—

(A) by investigating the potential for using remote inspections;

(B) by investigating the potential for sample-based inspection for distributed energy system installers with a demonstrated track record of high-quality work; and

(C) by investigating opportunities to integrate the voluntary inspection protocol into the online permitting platform described in paragraph (1) and the platforms of government software providers; and

(5) take any other action to expedite, standardize, streamline, or improve the process for permitting, inspecting, or interconnecting qualifying distributed energy systems.

The Secretary shall—

(1) support the provision of technical assistance to authorities having jurisdiction, any administrator of the online permitting platform described in subsection (c)(1), government software providers, and any other entity determined appropriate by the Secretary in carrying out the activities described in subsection (c); and

(2) provide such financial assistance as the Secretary determines appropriate from any funds appropriated to carry out this section.

The Secretary may certify authorities having jurisdiction that implement the exemplary streamlined permitting process described in subsection (c)(1).

The Secretary may confer a certification under paragraph (1) through existing programs within the Department of Energy.

The Secretary may award prizes to authorities having jurisdiction, using funds appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section, to encourage authorities having jurisdiction to adopt the exemplary streamlined permitting process or the voluntary inspection protocol established under paragraphs (1) and (4) of subsection (c), respectively.

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030.

Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to increase the opportunities for participation in community solar programs by—

(A) individuals, prioritizing individuals that do not have regular access to onsite solar, including low- and moderate-income individuals and individuals living in energy communities;

(B) businesses;

(C) nonprofit organizations; and

(D) States and local and Tribal governments.

The Secretary shall align the program established under paragraph (1) with existing Federal programs that serve low-income communities.

In carrying out the program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A) provide technical assistance to eligible entities for projects to increase the number of community solar facilities;

(B) assist eligible entities in the development of new and innovative financial and business models that leverage competitive processes in order to serve community solar subscribers; and

(C) use National Laboratories to collect and disseminate data to assist private entities in the financing of, subscription to, and operation of community solar programs.

The Secretary shall, as the Secretary determines appropriate, expand the existing grant, loan, and financing programs of the Department of Energy to include community solar programs.

Section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Each electric utility shall offer a community solar program that provides all ratepayers, including low-income ratepayers, equitable and demonstrable access to such community solar program. Such programs may include community solar facilities owned or operated by non-utility entities and shall not restrict participation to utility-owned facilities.

For the purposes of this paragraph:

The term community solar program means a service provided to any electric consumer that the electric utility serves through which the value of electricity generated by a community solar facility may be used to reduce total charges billed to the electric consumer.

The term community solar facility means a solar photovoltaic system that—

(I) allocates electricity to multiple electric consumers of an electric utility;

(II) is interconnected with the electric grid; and

(III) is located either on or off the property of the electric consumers described in subclause (I).

Section 112(b) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(A) Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated electric utility shall commence consideration under section 111, or set a hearing date for consideration, with respect to the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d).

(B) Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility shall complete the consideration and make the determination under section 111 with respect to the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d).

Section 112(c) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622(c)) is amended—

(i) by striking subsection (b)(2) and inserting subsection (b); and

(ii) by adding at the end the following: In the case of the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d), the reference contained in this subsection to the date of enactment of this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of that paragraph (22)..

Section 112 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d) in the case of any electric utility in a State if, before the date of enactment of this subsection—

(1) the State has implemented for the electric utility the standard (or a comparable standard);

(2) the State regulatory authority for the State or the relevant nonregulated electric utility has conducted a proceeding to consider implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the electric utility; or

(3) the State legislature has voted on the implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the electric utility.

Section 124 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2634) is amended by adding at the end the following: In the case of the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d), the reference contained in this subsection to the date of enactment of this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of that paragraph (22)..

Section 501(b)(1) of title 40, United States Code, is amended by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:

A contract under this paragraph for public utility services may be for a period of not more than 30 years.

In this section:

The terms community solar facility and community solar program have the meaning given such terms in paragraph (22) of section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)), as added by subsection (c) of this section.

The term community solar subscriber means an electricity customer that receives or purchases a proportional share of the output of a community solar facility under an ownership, subscription, or power purchase arrangement approved by the applicable regulatory authority.

The term eligible entity means—

(A) a State or political subdivision of a State;

(B) a unit of local government;

(C) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));

(D) a territory of the United States; or

(E) an authority, agency, or instrumentality of, or an entity owned by, 1 or more entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).

The term energy community has the meaning given such term in section 45(b)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 45(b)(11)).

The term National Laboratories has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a renewable energy program (in this section referred to as the program) under which the Secretary may award grants to covered entities to facilitate projects, in territories of the United States, described in paragraph (3).

To be eligible for a grant under the program, a covered entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

A covered entity receiving a grant under the program may use grant funds for a project, in a territory of the United States—

(i) to develop or construct a renewable energy system;

(ii) to carry out an activity to increase energy efficiency or demand flexibility;

(iii) to develop or construct an energy storage system or device for—

(I) a system developed or constructed under clause (i); or

(II) an activity carried out under clause (ii);

(iv) to develop or construct—

(I) a smart grid; or

(II) a microgrid; or

(v) to train residents of the territory of the United States to develop, construct, maintain, or operate a renewable energy system.

A covered entity receiving a grant under the program may not use grant funds to develop or construct a facility that generates electricity using energy derived from fossil fuels.

The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that Department of Energy national laboratories offer to provide technical assistance to each covered entity carrying out a project assisted with a grant under the program.

Not later than 2 years after the establishment of the program, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing—

(A) an estimate of the amount of funds disbursed under the program;

(B) an estimate of the energy conservation achieved as a result of the program;

(C) a description of challenges encountered in implementing projects described in paragraph (3)(A);

(D) recommendations as to additional legislative measures to increase the use of renewable energy in territories of the United States, as appropriate;

(E) recommendations for improving resilience and dependability of projects described in paragraph (3)(A);

(F) recommendations for furthering the long-term energy independence of U.S. territories covered by this program; and

(G) findings regarding the effect of this program on consumer energy prices and how it can be improved to continue lowering those prices.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—

(i) conduct a study regarding renewable energy, energy efficiency, and demand flexibility in territories of the United States; and

(ii) submit to Congress a report containing—

(I) the findings of the study; and

(II) related recommendations.

The study conducted under subparagraph (A) shall consider, in relation to each territory of the United States, the potential—

(i) to modify existing electric power systems to use renewable energy sources;

(ii) to expand the use of microgrids; and

(iii) to improve energy resiliency.

There is authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 to carry out this section.

In this Act, the following definitions apply:

The term covered entity means a not-for-profit organization determined eligible by the Secretary of Agriculture for purposes of this Act.

The term Department of Energy national laboratories has the same meaning as the term National Laboratory under section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).

The term microgrid means an electric system—

(A) that serves the local community with a power generation and distribution system; and

(B) that has the ability—

(i) to disconnect from a traditional electric grid; and

(ii) to operate autonomously when disconnected.

The terms renewable energy and renewable energy system have the meanings given those terms in section 9001 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8101).

The term smart grid means an intelligent electric grid that uses digital communications technology, information systems, and automation to, while maintaining high system reliability—

(A) detect and react to local changes in usage;

(B) improve system operating efficiency; and

(C) reduce spending costs.

The term territory of the United States means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796) is amended by adding at the end the following:

The term energy storage project means equipment that receives, stores, and delivers energy-using batteries, compressed air, pumped hydropower, hydrogen storage (including hydrolysis), thermal energy storage, regenerative fuel cells, flywheels, capacitors, superconducting magnets, or other technologies identified by the Secretary of Energy.

The term generating facility means any facility that generates electricity.

The term generator tie line means a dedicated transmission line that is used to transmit power from a generating facility or an energy storage project to a transmission facility or a transmission system.

The term greenhouse gas includes each of the following:

(A) Carbon dioxide.

(B) Methane.

(C) Nitrous oxide.

(D) Sulfur hexafluoride.

(E) Any hydrofluorocarbon.

(F) Any perfluorocarbon.

(G) Nitrogen trifluoride.

(H) Any fully fluorinated linear, branched, or cyclic—

(i) alkane;

(ii) ether;

(iii) tertiary amine; or

(iv) aminoether.

(I) Any perfluoropolyether.

(J) Any hydrofluoropolyether.

(K) Any other fluorocarbon, except for a fluorocarbon with a vapor pressure of less than 1 mm of Hg absolute at 25 degrees Celsius.

The term advanced transmission technology means any hardware or software that—

(A) increases the capacity, efficiency, reliability, resilience, or safety of transmission facilities and transmission technologies;

(B) is installed in addition to new or existing transmission facilities and transmission technologies—

(i) to give operators of the transmission facilities and transmission technologies more situational awareness and control over the electric grid;

(ii) to make the transmission facilities and transmission technologies more efficient; or

(iii) to increase the transfer capacity of the transmission facilities and transmission technologies; and

(C) includes, but is not limited to, dynamic line ratings, advanced conductors, topology optimization, advanced power-flow controls, and other digital or physical systems that increase the usable transfer capability of the grid.

The term interconnection customer means an entity, or any affiliates or subsidiaries of an entity, that proposes to interconnect a generating facility or an energy storage project to a transmission facility or transmission system.

The term transmission benefits means the broad range of economic, operational, safety, resilience, public policy, and environmental benefits (as assessed by the Commission in accordance with section 224(e)) and other reasonably anticipated benefits of constructing, modifying, or operating a transmission facility, including—

(A) improved reliability;

(B) improved resilience;

(C) improved safety;

(D) reduced congestion;

(E) reduced power losses;

(F) greater carrying capacity;

(G) reduced operating reserve requirements;

(H) improved access to lower-cost electricity generation;

(I) improved access to electricity generating facilities with no direct emissions of greenhouse gases;

(J) improved public health from the closure of electricity generation facilities that emit harmful pollution;

(K) increased competition and market liquidity in electricity markets;

(L) improved energy resilience and resilience of Department of Defense installations;

(M) improved ability to integrate new sources of electrical demand; and

(N) other potential benefits of increasing the interconnectedness of the electric grid.

The term network upgrade means—

(A) any addition to or expansion of any transmission facility or transmission system;

(B) the construction of a new transmission facility that will become part of a transmission system;

(C) the addition of an energy storage project to a transmission facility or a transmission system; or

(D) any construction, deployment, or addition of an advanced transmission technology to a transmission facility or a transmission system that eliminates or reduces the need to carry out any of the activities described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).

The term participant funding means any cost allocation method under which an interconnection customer is required to pay, without reimbursement, all or a disproportionate amount of the costs of a network upgrade that is determined by the Commission to be necessary to ensure the reliable interconnection of the interconnection customer’s generating facility or energy storage project.

The term transmission planning region means—

(A) when used in a geographical sense, a region for which the Commission determines that electric transmission planning is appropriate, such as a region established in accordance with Order No. 1000 of the Commission, entitled ‘Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation by Transmission Owning and Operating Public Utilities’ (76 Fed. Reg. 49842 (August 11, 2011)); and

(B) when used in a corporate sense, means the Transmission Organization or other entity responsible for planning or operating electric transmission facilities within a region described in subparagraph (A).

For purposes of sections 224 and 227, the term transmission system means a network of transmission facilities used for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce.

Part II of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue regulations that require each pair or grouping of neighboring transmission planning regions to jointly develop and file with the Commission a process by which they will develop an interregional transmission plan to identify and to facilitate the construction or upgrade of onshore and offshore electric transmission facilities that are efficient, cost-effective, and broadly beneficial. Such process must address the considerations in subsection (b) and be filed within 6 months after the regulations required by this paragraph are finalized. Such process must require development of an interregional transmission plan within at least 3 years of the promulgation of the regulations and that a new plan be developed at least every 3 years thereafter, in alignment with long-term regional transmission plans developed under Orders 1920 and 1920–A (89 Fed. Reg. 49280 and 89 Fed. Reg. 97174).

In determining the requirements for a process described in subsection (a), the Commission shall require that such process advance—

(1) the development of transmission systems that can operate for a minimum of 20 years and across a wide range of scenarios, including scenarios that take into account—

(A) Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, and other factors that affect electricity demand and the current and future generation resource mix;

(B) trends in technology and fuel costs;

(C) the retirement of generation facilities, energy storage projects, and transmission facilities;

(D) generator interconnection requests and withdrawals; and

(E) extreme weather events, including in anticipation of how the frequency and intensity of these events are projected to change over the planning period due to climate change;

(2) the public interest;

(3) the integrity of electricity markets;

(4) the protection of consumers;

(5) the optimization of transmission benefits;

(6) the need for an individual interregional transmission project to secure approvals based on a comprehensive assessment of the multiple benefits provided;

(7) the importance of synchronization of planning processes in neighboring transmission planning regions, such as using a joint model on a consistent timeline with a single set of needs, input assumptions, and benefit metrics;

(8) the need for an individual interregional transmission project that is identified in the interregional transmission plan of a pair of transmission planning regions not to be subject to any subsequent planning process by other transmission planning regions;

(9) that evaluation of long-term scenarios should align with the expected life of an element of a transmission system;

(10) that a pair of transmission planning regions should allow for the identification and joint evaluation of alternatives proposed by stakeholders, and ensure meaningful opportunities for States, Tribes, consumer advocates, labor organizations, and environmental justice communities to participate;

(11) the need to eliminate arbitrary project voltage, size, or cost requirements for transmission projects;

(12) the applicability of a broad range of alternatives to the construction of transmission facilities, including advanced transmission technologies, demand side flexibility, distributed storage, load management, dynamic line rating, and power flow control; and

(13) the use of data and analyses provided by the Secretary of Energy, including as provided by the National Laboratories, regarding any of the items described in paragraphs (1) through (12).

Not later than 12 months after the issuance of regulations under subsection (a) and annually thereafter, the Commission shall publish in the Federal Register a report on the progress by each pair of transmission planning regions in identifying and facilitating the construction of interregional electric transmission projects, including a description of the transmission benefits associated with such projects.

In assessing the environmental benefits associated with any activity undertaken pursuant to this Act, the Commission may use any relevant analysis or other information conducted or provided by the Council on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Part II of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

Any transmitting utility that owns, controls, or operates a transmission facility of national significance, or proposes to own, control, or operate a transmission facility of national significance, may file a tariff with the Commission in accordance with section 205 allocating the costs of constructing, modifying, and operating such transmission facility of national significance in accordance with paragraph (2).

The Commission shall require that any tariff described in paragraph (1) allocate the cost to construct, modify, and operate a transmission facility of national significance to customers within the applicable transmission planning region or regions in a manner that is roughly commensurate with the reasonably anticipated transmission benefits. Additionally, the Commission shall require that any proposed calculation of reasonably anticipated transmission benefits make the assumptions and calculations behind such calculation public and included in any tariff described in paragraph (1).

If the Commission determines that no tariff filed under paragraph (1) provides for a just, reasonable, and not unduly discriminatory allocation of costs for a transmission facility of national significance, the Commission may, after notice and opportunity for hearing, establish or modify such allocation under section 206, provided, however, that nothing in this section shall prevent a transmitting utility from recovering such costs through voluntary agreement with its customers.

In this section, the term transmission facility of national significance means—

(1) an interstate or interregional electric power transmission line (and any facilities necessary for the operation of such electric power transmission line)—

(A) that has a transmission capacity of not less than 1,000 megawatts; and

(B) the construction of which is completed on or after the date of enactment of this section;

(2) an electric power transmission line or network, located in whole or in part offshore (including any radial, meshed, or shared facilities necessary for its operation), the construction of which is completed on or after the date of enactment of this section; or

(3) an expansion of, or upgrade to, an interstate electric power transmission line (and any facilities necessary for the operation of such electric power transmission line) that—

(A) increases the transmission capacity of such electric power transmission line by at least 500 megawatts; and

(B) the construction of which is completed on or after the date of enactment of this section.

This section does not affect the authority of the Commission to approve the allocation of costs of transmission facilities other than transmission facilities of national significance.

Part II of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

Notwithstanding the requirements of section 322 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Public Law 118–5), not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of the Energy Bills Relief Act, the Commission shall, pursuant to section 206, issue regulations that establish requirements for minimum transfer capability, as described under subsection (b), between transmission planning regions.

The aggregate minimum interregional transfer capability for each transmission planning region and its neighboring transmission planning region shall be not less than 30 percent of its own peak electricity demand, or in the case of a transmission planning region that borders only 1 other transmission planning region, not less than 15 percent of its own peak electricity demand, unless the Commission finds, upon a showing by a transmission planning region, that a lower transfer capability can achieve the same or greater transmission benefits.

Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this section and every 5 years thereafter, the Commission shall report to Congress on the status of interregional transfer capability, including on risks to reliability associated with a lack of interregional transfer capability.

Part II of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

On receipt of an application under subsection (b)(1) relating to a transmission facility of national significance described in paragraph (2), the Commission, after making the finding described in paragraph (3) with respect to such transmission facility of national significance, shall, by order which is published in the Federal Register, issue to the person who submitted such application a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction, modification, or operation of such transmission facility of national significance, subject to such reasonable terms and conditions as the Commission determines to be appropriate.

A transmission facility of national significance referred to in paragraph (1) is an interstate or interregional electric power transmission line (and any facilities necessary for the operation of such electric power transmission line)—

(A) that has a transmission capacity of not less than 1,000 megawatts; and

(B) the construction of which is completed on or after the date of enactment of this section.

The finding referred to in paragraph (1) is a finding that—

(A) the applicant for a certificate of public convenience and necessity is able and willing—

(i) to carry out the activities and perform the services proposed in the application in a manner determined to be appropriate by the Commission; and

(ii) to achieve compliance with the applicable requirements of—

(I) this part; and

(II) any rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission pursuant to this part;

(B) the transmission facility of national significance to be constructed, modified, or operated under the certificate of public convenience and necessity will—

(i) be interstate or interregional;

(ii) be used for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce; and

(iii) have a transmission capacity of not less than 1,000 megawatts.

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue regulations specifying—

(A) a pre-filing process during which a person described in subsection (b)(1) and the Commission shall consult with—

(i) the State commission for each State through which the applicable transmission facility of national significance will traverse;

(ii) appropriate Federal agencies;

(iii) each Indian Tribe that may be affected by the proposed project to construct, modify, or operate a transmission facility of national significance; and

(iv) the appropriate Transmission Organization;

(B) the form of, and information to be contained in, an application submitted under subsection (b)(1);

(C) requirements for determining whether the applicable transmission facility of national significance will—

(i) traverse not fewer than 2 States;

(ii) be used for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce; and

(iii) have a power capacity of not less than 1,000 megawatts;

(D) criteria for determining the reasonable and economical use of—

(i) existing rights-of-way; and

(ii) the transmission capabilities of existing towers or structures;

(E) the manner in which an application submitted under subsection (b)(1) shall be considered, which, to the extent practicable, shall be consistent with State statutory and regulatory policies concerning generation and retail sales of electricity in the States in which the electric energy transmitted by the transmission facility of national significance will be generated or sold; and

(F) the manner in which the Commission will consider the needs of communities that will be impacted directly by the applicable transmission facility of national significance, including how any impacts of the transmission facility of national significance could be mitigated or offset.

The Commission shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of intent to prepare an environmental document under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity that has been submitted under subsection (b)(1).

The Commission shall provide not less than 60 days for public comment on each notice of intent and draft environmental impact statement published under subparagraph (A).

The Commission shall provide to the individuals and entities described in paragraph (6)(B) a reasonable opportunity for presentation, in at least 1 public hearing, of any views and recommendations on each notice of intent and each draft environmental impact statement published under subparagraph (A). The Commission shall publish in the Federal Register notice of any hearing held under this subparagraph.

In any proceeding before the Commission to consider an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this section, the Commission shall—

(i) publish a notice of the application in the Federal Register;

(ii) provide written notice of such application to all affected landowners in accordance with subsection (c); and

(iii) provide to the individuals and entities described in subparagraph (B) a notice and reasonable opportunity for the presentation in at least 1 public hearing of any views and recommendations with respect to the need for, and impact of, the construction, modification, or operation of the transmission facility of national significance proposed to be constructed, modified, or operated under the certificate.

The individuals and entities referred to in subparagraph (A) are—

(i) an agency, selected by the Governor (or equivalent official) of the applicable State, of each State in which the transmission facility of national significance proposed to be constructed, modified, or operated under the applicable certificate of public convenience and necessity is or will be located;

(ii) each affected landowner; and

(iii) as determined by the Commission—

(I) each affected Federal agency; and

(II) each Indian Tribe that may be affected by the proposed construction, modification, or operation.

The Commission may not—

(i) require an applicant for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this section to provide any notice required under this section; or

(ii) enter into a contract to provide any notice required under this section with—

(I) the applicant for the applicable certificate of public convenience and necessity; or

(II) any other person that has a financial interest in the project proposed in the application for such certificate.

A person desiring a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this section shall submit to the Commission an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Commission may require.

An application submitted to the Commission under paragraph (1) shall include all information necessary for the Commission to make the finding described in subsection (a)(3).

The Commission shall provide written notice of an application submitted under subsection (b)(1) to all affected landowners with respect to the transmission facility of national significance for which such application was submitted in accordance with this subsection.

Any notice provided to an affected landowner under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) The following statement in 14-point bold typeface: “ ‘The [name of applicant] has proposed building power lines that will cross your property, and may also require building transmission towers on your property. If the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approves [applicant]’s proposed project, then [applicant] may have the right to build transmission towers on, and power lines over, your property, or use your property to construct the proposed project, subject to paying you just compensation for the loss of your property. “ ‘If you want to raise objections to, offer support for, or otherwise comment on this, or otherwise comment on this project, you can do so by submitting written comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Docket No. [___]. You can do this electronically or by mail. To do so electronically [to be inserted by the Commission]. To do so by mail [to be inserted by the Commission].’.

(B) A description of the proposed project to construct, modify, or operate a transmission facility of national significance, including—

(i) the location of the proposed project (including a general location map);

(ii) the purpose of the proposed project; and

(iii) the timing of the proposed project.

(C) The name of, and the location in the docket of the Commission at which may be found, each submission by the applicant to the Commission relating to the proposed project.

(D) A general description of what the applicant will need from the landowner if the proposed project is approved, including the activities the applicant may undertake and the facilities that the applicant may seek to construct on the property of the landowner.

(E) A description of how the landowner may contact the applicant, including—

(i) a website;

(ii) an email address;

(iii) a local or toll-free telephone number; and

(iv) the name of a specific person to contact who is knowledgeable about the proposed project.

(F) A description of how the landowner may contact the Commission, including—

(i) a website;

(ii) an email address;

(iii) a local or toll-free telephone number; and

(iv) the name of a specific person to contact who is knowledgeable about the proposed project.

(G) A summary of the rights that the landowner has—

(i) before the Commission; and

(ii) in other proceedings under—

(I) the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; and

(II) the eminent domain rules of the relevant State.

(H) Any other information that the Commission determines to be appropriate.

An applicant for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this section shall submit to the Commission, together with the application for the certificate, the name and address of each affected landowner.

Except as provided in paragraph (2) and notwithstanding section 216(i), no State shall regulate any aspect of the siting or permitting of a transmission facility of national significance constructed, modified, or operated under a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued under this section.

Nothing in this section affects the rights of States under—

(A) the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.);

(B) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.);

(C) the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); or

(D) division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (formerly known as the National Historic Preservation Act).

No right-of-way over or across Tribal land may be granted pursuant to this section unless consent for the right-of-way has been obtained from the proper Tribal official in a manner consistent with the requirements of section 2 of the Act of February 5, 1948 (62 Stat. 18, chapter 45; 25 U.S.C. 324).

Any person aggrieved by an order of the Commission issued under this section may obtain review of the order in—

(A) the court of appeals of the United States for any judicial circuit in which the transmission facility of national significance to be constructed, modified, or operated under the applicable certificate of public convenience and necessity is or will be located; or

(B) the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

A person may obtain review under paragraph (1) by filing in the applicable court a written petition praying that the order of the Commission be modified or set aside in whole or in part.

A petition under subparagraph (A) shall be filed by not later than 60 days after the date on which the applicable order of the Commission is published in the Federal Register.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a person aggrieved by an order of the Commission issued under this section need not—

(A) have been a party to the proceedings before the Commission in which that order was issued in order to obtain judicial review of the order under this subsection; or

(B) have requested rehearing before the Commission prior to seeking judicial review.

The holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity may acquire through the exercise of the right of eminent domain in a court described in paragraph (2) any right-of-way, land, or other property that is necessary to construct, modify, or operate a transmission facility of national significance in accordance with such certificate if the holder has, in the determination of the Commission, made good faith efforts to engage with landowners and other stakeholders early in the permitting process established under this section, and—

(A) cannot acquire the necessary right-of-way, land, or other property by contract;

(B) is unable to agree with the owner of the right-of-way, land, or other property with respect to the compensation to be paid for that right-of-way, land, or other property; or

(C) cannot clear defective title with respect to the right-of-way, land, or other property.

A court referred to in paragraph (1) is—

(A) the district court of the United States for the district in which the applicable right-of-way, land, or other property is located; or

(B) the appropriate State court.

The holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity may not exercise the right of eminent domain under this subsection with respect to any property covered by the certificate unless the Commission has first, in addition to publishing the notice of certificate of public convenience and necessity in the Federal Register, provided all affected landowners with notice of—

(A) the order; and

(B) the procedures for obtaining judicial review of such order under subsection (e), including a description of the time period for seeking judicial review under that subsection.

A holder of, or applicant for, a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall have any property that the holder or applicant seeks to acquire through the exercise of the right of eminent domain under subsection (f) appraised in accordance with generally accepted appraisal standards by an appraiser selected by the owner of the property, subject to subparagraph (D).

The applicable holder of, or applicant for, a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall pay for each appraisal carried out under subparagraph (A).

The owner of the applicable property (or a designated representative of the owner) shall be given the opportunity to accompany the appraiser during any inspection of the property that is part of an appraisal under subparagraph (A).

An appraisal under subparagraph (A) shall be carried out before—

(i) the holder of, or applicant for, the certificate of public convenience and necessity makes an offer of just compensation under paragraph (2); or

(ii) the holder of the certificate of public convenience and necessity commences an action or proceeding to exercise the right of eminent domain under subsection (f).

If the owner of the applicable property does not select an appraiser under subparagraph (A) by the date that is 60 days after the date on which the holder of, or applicant for, the applicable certificate of public convenience and necessity requests that the owner do so, the holder or applicant shall have the right to select the appraiser.

Any offer of just compensation made to an affected landowner of property that is or will be covered by a certificate of public convenience and necessity—

(i) shall be made in writing;

(ii) may not be for an amount less than the fair market value of the property, as determined by an appraisal carried out under paragraph (1); and

(iii) shall include compensation for—

(I) any lost income from the property; and

(II) any damages to any other property of the owner.

The holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity may not make an offer of just compensation to an affected landowner until the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Commission provides a notice to the affected landowner under subsection (f)(3).

A district court of the United States shall only have jurisdiction of an action or proceeding to exercise the right of eminent domain under subsection (f) if the amount claimed by the owner of the property to be condemned exceeds $3,000.

A district court of the United States shall have no jurisdiction to condemn any interest in Tribal land.

In any action or proceeding to exercise the right of eminent domain under subsection (f), a court—

(A) may condemn an interest in property only to the extent necessary for the specific facilities described in the applicable certificate of public convenience and necessity; and

(B) may not—

(i) condemn any other interest; or

(ii) condemn an interest for any purpose not described in that certificate.

With respect to any action or proceeding to exercise the right of eminent domain under subsection (f), an owner of property that is covered by the applicable certificate of public convenience and necessity shall not be required to surrender possession of that property unless the holder of the certificate—

(A) has paid to the owner the award of compensation in the action or proceeding; or

(B) has deposited the amount of that award with the court.

A holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity that commences an action or proceeding to exercise the right of eminent domain under subsection (f) shall be liable to the owner of any property condemned in that proceeding for the costs described in subparagraph (B) if the amount awarded to that owner for the property condemned is more than 125 percent of the amount offered to the owner by the holder before the commencement of that action or proceeding.

The costs referred to in subparagraph (A) are litigation costs incurred for the action or proceeding described in that subparagraph by the owner of the property condemned, including—

(i) reasonable attorney fees;

(ii) expert witness fees and costs; and

(iii) reasonable travel costs to participate in proceedings.

An affected landowner the property of which has been acquired by eminent domain under subsection (f) shall have the right—

(A) to enforce any condition in the applicable certificate of public convenience and necessity; and

(B) to seek damages for a violation of any condition described in subparagraph (A).

The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over any action arising under paragraph (1).

An individual or entity from which an interest in property is acquired through the exercise of the right of eminent domain under subsection (f) by the holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity that is issued for the construction, modification, or operation of a transmission facility of national significance may demand that the holder of the certificate surrender that interest to that individual or entity if—

(aa) the transmission facility of national significance is not in operation (as modified, in the case of a modification of a transmission facility of national significance) by the date specified in the certificate (including any modification of the certificate by the Commission); and

(bb) there is no request for the extension of that date pending before the Commission; or

(II) subject to clause (ii), the holder of the certificate, with the approval of the Commission, abandons the portion of the transmission facility of national significance that is located on the applicable property relating to that interest.

The Commission may not approve in a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued under this section or in any subsequent proceeding the abandonment of all or any part of a transmission facility of national significance unless the Commission requires the holder of the applicable certificate of public convenience and necessity to offer to each individual or entity described in clause (i) the option of having the property acquired from that individual or entity as described in that clause restored to the condition that the property was in prior to the issuance of the certificate.

If an individual or entity described in subparagraph (A)(i) demands the surrender of an interest under that subparagraph, the holder of the applicable certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be entitled to repayment of an amount equal to not more than 50 percent of the condemnation award relating to the interest.

The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over any action arising under this paragraph.

An individual or entity from which an interest in property is acquired through the exercise of the right of eminent domain under subsection (f) that proves, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the individual or entity has granted a right-of-way or any other property interest based on a material misrepresentation made by or on behalf of an applicant for, or holder of, a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this section concerning the transmission facility of national significance to be constructed, modified, or operated under the certificate shall have the right to rescind the transaction.

The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over any action arising under clause (i).

A material misrepresentation made by an applicant for, or holder of, a certificate of public convenience and necessity, or on behalf of such an applicant or holder, to an affected landowner concerning the transmission facility of national significance to be constructed, modified, or operated under the certificate, shall be considered to be a violation of this part for purposes of section 316A and such applicant or holder shall be assessed a civil penalty by the Commission in accordance with such section 316A, except the amount of such civil penalty may not exceed $10,000 per affected landowner to whom the misrepresentation was made.

In this section:

The term affected landowner includes each owner of a property interest in land or other property described in subparagraph (B), including—

(i) the Federal Government;

(ii) a State or local government; and

(iii) each owner noted in the most recent county or city tax record as receiving the relevant tax notice with respect to that interest.

The land or other property described in this subparagraph is any land or other property—

(i) that is directly affected by the proposed construction, modification, or operation of a transmission facility of national significance, including all facility sites;

(ii) that is located within the greater of—

(I) 0.25 miles from a proposed facility site for a transmission facility of national significance; or

(II) a minimum distance from the proposed transmission facility of national significance as specified by State law; or

(iii) contains a residence that is within 3,000 feet of a proposed facility site for a transmission facility of national significance.

The term alternating current transmission facility means a transmission facility that uses alternating current for the bulk transmission of electric energy.

The term electric power transmission line means, as applicable—

(A) an alternating current transmission facility;

(B) a high-voltage, direct current transmission facility; or

(C) infrastructure associated with an alternating current transmission facility or a high-voltage, direct current transmission facility, including substations and switchyards.

The term facility site includes—

(A) an area covered by a right-of-way;

(B) an access road;

(C) a contractor yard where equipment and material are stored or where assembly work is conducted; and

(D) any temporary workspace.

The term high-voltage, direct current transmission facility means a transmission facility that uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electric energy.

The term Tribal land has the meaning given the term Indian land in section 2601 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (25 U.S.C. 3501).

Section 216 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p) is amended—

(A) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting (including transmission of electric energy from the outer Continental Shelf to a State) after interstate commerce; and

(B) in subsection (h)—

(i) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:

For the purposes of coordinating all applicable Federal authorizations and related environmental reviews—

(A) the Commission shall act as the lead agency in the case of—

(i) except as provided in subparagraph (B), a transmission facility of national significance in a national interest electric transmission corridor designated by the Secretary under subsection (a); or

(ii) a transmission facility of national significance for which an application has been submitted for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 227;

(B) the Department of the Interior shall act as the lead agency in the case of a transmission facility of national significance in a national interest electric transmission corridor designated by the Secretary under subsection (a) that is located on a lease, easement, or right-of-way granted by the Secretary of the Interior under section 8(p)(1)(C) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(1)(C)); and

(C) the Department of Energy shall act as the lead agency in the case of any other transmission facility of national significance.

(ii) in each of paragraphs (3), (4)(B), (4)(C), (5)(B), (6)(A), (7)(A), (8)(A)(i), and (9), by striking Secretary each place it appears and inserting applicable lead agency;

(iii) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking As head of the lead agency, the Secretary and inserting The applicable lead agency;

(iv) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking As lead agency head, the Secretary and inserting The applicable lead agency; and

(v) in paragraph (7)—

(I) in subparagraph (A), by striking after the date of enactment of this section and inserting after the date of enactment of the Energy Bills Relief Act; and

(II) in subparagraph (B), by amending clause (i) to read as follows:

(i) Not later than six months after the date of enactment of the Energy Bills Relief Act, the Secretary, the Commission, and the heads of all Federal agencies with authority to issue Federal authorizations shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to ensure the timely and coordinated review and permitting of electric transmission facilities.

Section 219(b)(4)(B) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824s(b)(4)(B)) is amended by striking section 216 and inserting sections 216 and 227.

Part II of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

The Commission may not establish or authorize a covered procedure unless—

(1) the Commission finds, by clear and convincing evidence and in accordance with subsection (b), that reliance upon existing procedures for processing interconnection requests would jeopardize the reliable operation of the bulk-power system by failing to address predicted demand for electric energy;

(2) such covered procedure—

(A) provides only for a one-time opportunity to submit applications for generators to interconnect with the bulk power system;

(B) only allows for the adjustment of a generator interconnection queue to prioritize an interconnection on the basis of the potential for such interconnection to address the continued reliable operation of the bulk-power system, as determined by the Commission consistent with subsection (c); and

(C) does not provide for the prioritization of generating facilities or energy storage systems based upon the means by which the energy is generated or stored, respectively.

In making the finding under subsection (a)(1), the Commission shall—

(1) use predictions of growth in the demand for electric energy that are based on the best available data and account for the possibility of duplicative load interconnection requests by customers with high demand for electric energy, including by averaging such predictions if there is a range; and

(2) account for the energy generation and storage capacity likely to enter commercial operation by using surplus interconnection service and generator replacement or interconnection right transfer processes.

To make a determination referred to in subsection (a)(2)(B), the Commission must determine—

(1) the adjustment of a generator interconnection queue has the demonstrated ability to allow a prioritized energy generating facility or storage system to commence operation prior to the potential unreliable operation of the bulk-power system, taking into consideration factors such as if such prioritized facility or system—

(A) has signed an engineering agreement;

(B) has signed contracts for procurement or construction relating to such prioritized facility or system;

(C) has access to any equipment necessary to be procured in advance;

(D) has access to any fuel necessary for the operation of such prioritized facility or system;

(E) has obtained any necessary permits for the construction or operation of such prioritized facility or system; and

(F) would require extensive construction or modification to relevant electric transmission or distribution infrastructure.

In this section:

The terms bulk-power system and reliable operation have the meanings given those terms in section 215.

(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term covered procedure means a procedure to expedite the study and processing of generator interconnection requests for certain generating facilities or energy storage systems that—

(i) previously submitted such a request; and

(ii) but for such procedure, would otherwise be assigned a higher position in the generator interconnection queue.

(B) The term covered procedure shall not include any procedure to expedite requests for generator interconnection relating to requests for energy-resource interconnection service, connect-and-manage approaches, reassigning surplus interconnection service, or reassigning generator interconnection rights after the retirement of a generating facility or energy storage system.

Subpart E of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section 48E the following:

For purposes of section 46, the qualifying electric power transmission line credit for any taxable year is an amount equal to 6 percent of the qualified investment for such taxable year with respect to any qualifying electric power transmission line property of the taxpayer.

For purposes of subsection (a), the qualified investment for any taxable year is the basis of any qualifying electric power transmission line property placed in service by the taxpayer during such taxable year.

Rules similar to the rules of subsections (c)(4) and (d) of section 46 (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990) shall apply for purposes of this section.

For purposes of this section, the term qualifying electric power transmission line property means any overhead, submarine, or underground property—

(1) which is a qualifying electric power transmission line that transmits electricity—

(A) across no fewer than 2 States or not less than 150 continuous miles, or

(B) across the Outer Continental Shelf (as defined in section 2 of the Outer Continental Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331)), or

(2) which is related transmission property.

For purposes of this section—

The term qualifying electric power transmission line means any applicable new transmission property and any modified existing transmission property.

The term applicable new transmission property means any electric power transmission line which is—

(i) originally placed in service after the date of the enactment of this section,

(ii) primarily used for 1 or more purposes described in subparagraph (B), and

(iii) described in subparagraph (C).

The purposes described in this subparagraph are—

(i) enhancing resilience to prepare for, withstand, and recover rapidly from disruptions from the impact of weather events, wildfires, or natural disasters,

(ii) addressing clearance concerns,

(iii) facilitating the interconnection of electric power generation capacity to the bulk-power system (as defined in section 215 of the Federal Power Act), or

(iv) addressing high load needs of 2,000 ampere and above.

An electric power transmission line is described in this subparagraph if—

(i) such transmission line—

(I) includes an advanced transmission conductor, and

(II) is capable of transmitting electricity at a voltage of not less than 100 kilovolts, or

(ii) such transmission line—

(I) is a superconducting transmission line or is capable of transmitting electricity at a voltage of at least 345 kilovolts, and

(II) has a transmission capacity of not less than 750 megawatts or is a transmission line described in subparagraph (D).

A transmission line is described in this subparagraph if such a transmission line—

(i) is co-located in the same right-of-way or adjacent right-of-way as 1 or more other overhead, submarine, or underground transmission lines, and

(ii) together with the other transmission lines described in subparagraph (A), has a transmission capacity of not less than 1,000 megawatts.

The term modified existing transmission property means any electric power transmission line which—

(A) was placed in service before the date of the enactment of this section,

(B) is modified after the date of enactment of this Act in a manner that—

(i) increases the transmission capacity of such transmission line by not less than 500 megawatts, or

(ii) includes an advanced transmission conductor that transmits electricity at a voltage of not less than 100 kilovolts, and

(C) after the completion of such modification, is an electric power transmission line which satisfies the requirements under subclauses (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (2)(A).

The term advanced transmission conductor means a transmission conductor technology that uses recently developed technology or materials such as a composite core and such other future advances as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy.

The term superconducting transmission line means a transmission line that conducts all of its current over a super-conducting material.

For purposes of this section—

The term related transmission property means any of the following:

Any electric power transmission line which is—

(i) placed in service after the date of enactment of this section,

(ii) primarily used—

(I) as a generator interconnection tie line at an associated facility that extends from the secondary (high) side of a generator step-up transformer to the point of interconnection with the host transmission owner from interconnecting new generation resources or facilities to the electric grid, or

(II) for network upgrades associated with the interconnection of new generation resources or facilities to the electric grid,

(iii) primarily used for 1 or more purposes described in subsection (d)(2)(B), and

(iv) capable of transmitting electricity at a voltage of not less than 230 kilovolts.

Any grid enhancing technology property used in the operation of the electric power transmission line described in paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (d).

Any conductors or cables, towers, insulators, reactors, capacitors, circuit breakers, static VAR compensators, static synchronous compensators, power converters, transformers, synchronous condensers, braking resistors, and any ancillary facilities and equipment necessary for the proper operation of the electric power transmission line described in paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (d) or for the proper operation of any property described in subsection (d)(2).

The term grid enhancing technology property means power flow controls and transmission switching equipment, storage technology, and hardware or software that enables dynamic line ratings, advanced line rating management technologies, on new or existing transmission property for the purpose of enhancing the capacity, efficiency, resiliency, or reliability of an electric power transmission system and such other similar property determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy.

In the case of any qualifying electric power transmission line property which meets the requirements of paragraph (2), the amount of credit determined under subsection (a) (determined without regard to this subsection) shall be equal to such amount multiplied by 5.

Qualifying electric power transmission line property shall be treated as meeting the requirements of this paragraph if—

(A) the construction of such property meets rules similar to the rules of section 48(a)(10) (relating to prevailing wage requirements) and section 45(b)(8) (relating to apprenticeship requirements), or

(B) the construction of such property begins before the date that is 60 days after the Secretary publishes guidance with respect to the requirements under subparagraph (A).

This section shall not apply to any property the construction of which begins after December 31, 2035.

Paragraph (2) of section 50(d) of the Internal Revenue Code is amended—

(1) by striking (as defined in section 48(c)(6)) and inserting (as defined in section 48(c)(6), except that subparagraph (D) of such section shall not apply) or any qualifying electric power transmission line property (as defined by section 48F(c)), and

(2) in subparagraph (B)—

(A) by inserting or qualifying electric power transmission line property after each energy storage technology, and

(B) by inserting or the qualifying electric power transmission line property after the energy storage technology.

Section 6418(f)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following:

(xiii) The qualifying electric power transmission line credit under section 48F.

(1) Section 46 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—

(A) in paragraph (6), by striking and at the end,

(B) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting, and, and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

(8) the qualifying electric power transmission line credit.

(2) Section 49(a)(1)(C) of such Code is amended—

(A) in clause (vii), by striking and at the end,

(B) in clause (viii), by striking the period at the end and inserting, and, and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

(ix) the basis of any qualifying electric power transmission line property under section 48F.

(3) The table of sections for subpart E of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 48E the following new item:

The amendments made by this section shall apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2025.

In this section:

The term eligible entity means—

(A) an electric grid operator;

(B) an electricity storage operator;

(C) an electricity generator;

(D) a transmission owner or operator;

(E) a distribution provider;

(F) a fuel supplier; and

(G) any other relevant entity, as determined by the Secretary.

The term power line includes a transmission line or a distribution line, as applicable.

The term program means the program established under subsection (b).

Not later than days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities, States, and Indian Tribes in accordance with this section.

The Secretary may make a grant under the program to an eligible entity to carry out activities that—

(A) are supplemental to existing hardening efforts of the eligible entity planned for any given year; and

(i) reduce the risk of any power lines owned or operated by the eligible entity causing a wildfire; or

(ii) increase the ability of the eligible entity to reduce the likelihood and consequences of wildfires.

An eligible entity desiring a grant under the program shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

As a condition of receiving a grant under the program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary, as part of the application of the eligible entity submitted under subparagraph (A), a report detailing past, current, and future efforts by the eligible entity to reduce the likelihood and consequences of wildfires.

The Secretary may not award a grant to an eligible entity in an amount that is greater than the total amount that the eligible entity has spent in the previous 3 years on efforts to reduce the likelihood and consequences of wildfires.

In making grants to eligible entities under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that, in the determination of the Secretary, will generate the greatest community benefit (whether rural or urban) in reducing the likelihood and consequences of wildfires.

The Secretary shall ensure that not less than 30 percent of the amounts made available to eligible entities under the program are made available to eligible entities that sell not more than 4,000,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year.

The Secretary, in accordance with this subsection, may make grants under the program to States and Indian Tribes, which each State or Indian Tribe may use to award grants to eligible entities.

For each fiscal year, to be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, a State or Indian Tribe shall submit to the Secretary an application that includes a plan described in subparagraph (B).

A plan prepared by a State or Indian Tribe for purposes of an application described in subparagraph (A) shall—

(i) describe the criteria and methods that will be used by the State or Indian Tribe to award grants to eligible entities;

(ii) be adopted after notice and a public hearing; and

(iii) describe the proposed funding distributions and recipients of the grants to be provided by the State or Indian Tribe.

The Secretary shall provide grants to States and Indian Tribes under this subsection based on a formula determined by the Secretary, in accordance with subparagraph (B).

The formula referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be based on the following factors:

(i) The total population of the State or Indian Tribe.

(I) The total area of the State or the land of the Indian Tribe; or

(II) the areas in the State or on the land of the Indian Tribe with a low ratio of electricity customers per mileage of power lines.

(iii) The Wildfire Risk Index score and rating as calculated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

(iv) The probability of wildfires in the State or on the land of the Indian Tribe during the previous 10 years, as determined based on the number of federally declared disasters or emergencies related to wildfires in the State or on the land of the Indian Tribe, as applicable, including—

(I) disasters for which Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided under section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187);

(II) major disasters declared by the President under section 401 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 5170);

(III) emergencies declared by the President under section 501 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 5191); and

(IV) any other federally declared disaster or emergency in the State or on the land of the Indian Tribe.

(v) The number and severity, measured by population and economic impacts, of wildfires experienced by the State or Indian Tribe on or after January 1, 2015.

(vi) The total amount, on a per capita basis, of public and private expenditures during the previous 10 years to carry out mitigation efforts to reduce the likelihood and consequences of wildfires in the State or on the land of the Indian Tribe, with States or Indian Tribes with higher per capita expenditures receiving additional weight or consideration as compared to States or Indian Tribes with lower per capita expenditures.

Beginning 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall annually update—

(i) all data relating to the factors described in subparagraph (B); and

(ii) all other data used in distributing grants to States and Indian Tribes under this subsection.

The Secretary shall ensure that each grant provided to a State or Indian Tribe under the program is allocated, pursuant to the applicable plan of the State or Indian Tribe, to eligible entities for projects within the State or on the land of the Indian Tribe.

In making grants to eligible entities using funds made available to the applicable State or Indian Tribe under the program, the State or Indian Tribe shall give priority to projects that, in the determination of the State or Indian Tribe, will generate the greatest community benefit (whether rural or urban) in reducing the likelihood and consequences of wildfires.

A State or Indian Tribe receiving a grant under the program shall ensure that, of the amounts made available to eligible entities from funds made available to the State or Indian Tribe under the program, the percentage made available to eligible entities that sell not more than 4,000,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year is not less than the percentage of all customers in the State or Indian Tribe that are served by those eligible entities.

Of the amounts made available to a State or Indian Tribe under the program each fiscal year, the State or Indian Tribe may use not more than 5 percent for—

(A) providing technical assistance under subsection (g)(1)(A); and

(B) administrative expenses associated with the program.

Each State and Indian Tribe shall be required to match 15 percent of the amount of each grant provided to the State or Indian Tribe under the program.

A grant awarded to an eligible entity under the program may be used for activities, technologies, equipment, and hardening measures to reduce the likelihood and consequences of wildfires, including—

(A) weatherization technologies and equipment;

(B) fire-resistant technologies and fire prevention systems;

(C) monitoring and control technologies, including digital tools;

(D) the undergrounding of electrical equipment;

(E) utility pole management;

(F) the relocation of power lines or the reconductoring of power lines with low-sag, advanced conductors;

(G) vegetation and fuel-load management;

(H) the use or construction of distributed energy resources for enhancing system adaptive capacity during wildfires, including—

(i) microgrids; and

(ii) battery-storage subcomponents;

(I) adaptive protection technologies;

(J) advanced modeling technologies;

(K) hardening of power lines, facilities, substations, of other systems;

(L) the replacement of old overhead conductors and underground cables; and

(M) the removal or replacement of old power lines.

A grant awarded to an eligible entity under the program may not be used for—

(i) construction of a new—

(I) electric generating facility; or

(II) large-scale battery-storage facility that is not used for enhancing system adaptive capacity during wildfires; or

(ii) cybersecurity.

An eligible entity may not seek cost recovery for the portion of the cost of any system, technology, or equipment that is funded through a grant awarded under the program.

Nothing in this subparagraph prohibits an eligible entity from recovering through traditional or incentive-based ratemaking any portion of an investment in a system, technology, or equipment that is not funded by a grant awarded under the program.

An eligible entity may not submit an application for a grant provided by the Secretary under subsection (c) and a grant provided by a State or Indian Tribe pursuant to subsection (d) during the same application cycle.

Of the amounts made available to carry out the program for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall ensure that—

(1) 50 percent is used to award grants to eligible entities under subsection (c); and

(2) 50 percent is used to make grants to States and Indian Tribes under subsection (d).

The Secretary, States, and Indian Tribes may—

(A) provide technical assistance and facilitate the distribution and sharing of information to reduce the likelihood and consequences of wildfires; and

(B) promulgate consumer-facing information and resources to inform the public of best practices and resources relating to reducing the likelihood and consequences of wildfires.

Of the amounts made available to the Secretary to carry out the program each fiscal year, the Secretary may use not more than 5 percent for—

(A) providing technical assistance under paragraph (1)(A); and

(B) administrative expenses associated with the program.

Except as provided in paragraph (2), an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall be required to match 100 percent of the amount of the grant.

An eligible entity that sells not more than 4,000,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year shall be required to match 1/3 of the amount of the grant.

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter through, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report describing the program.

The report under paragraph (1) shall include information and data on—

(A) the costs of the projects for which grants are awarded to eligible entities;

(B) the types of activities, technologies, equipment, and hardening measures funded by those grants; and

(C) the extent to which the ability of the power grid to withstand and reduce the likelihood of wildfires has increased.

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program $3,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

The Secretary shall carry out the program, in addition to any activities authorized under Section 40103 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58).

All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in the performance of construction, alteration, or repair work on a project assisted in whole or in part by funds made available under this section (or any amendment made by this section) shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar projects in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Davis-Bacon Act), and the regulations issued thereunder at 29 CFR Part 5 (Davis-Bacon and Related Acts regulations). Compliance with these labor standards shall be a condition of receiving assistance under this section, and the Secretary concerned shall require that all contracts and subcontracts include the labor standards clauses prescribed by the Secretary of Labor.

Section 401(k) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7171(k)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking subchapter III of;

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) by striking subparagraph (A); and

(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (E) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively; and

(3) in paragraph (6)—

(A) by striking The Chairman and inserting the following:; and

The Chairman

(B) by adding at the end the following:

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, the Chairman shall submit to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management a plan to implement this subsection. The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take final action on the plan not later than 120 days after the submission of such plan.

Section 401 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7171) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Notwithstanding section 3304 of title 5, United States Code, and without regard to the provisions of sections 3309 through 3318 of such title 5, if the Chairman of the Commission issues a certification that there is as severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need for covered positions to carry out the Commission’s responsibilities and activities, the Chairman may, subject to paragraph (3), recruit and directly appoint highly qualified individuals into the competitive service.

Any action authorized pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the merit principles of section 2301 of title 5, United States Code, and the Commission shall comply with the public notice requirements of section 3327 of such title 5.

A certification issued or renewed under this subsection shall terminate on the earlier of—

(i) the date that is 5 years after the certification is issued or renewed; or

(ii) the date on which the Chairman determines that there is no longer a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need for covered positions to carry out the Commission’s responsibilities and activities.

The Chairman may renew a certification issued or renewed under this subsection for an additional 5-year period if the Chairman determines there is still a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need for covered positions to carry out the Commission’s responsibilities and activities.

In this subsection, the term covered position means a position in which an employee is responsible for conducting work of a scientific, technical, engineering, mathematical, legal, or otherwise highly specialized or skilled nature.

Section 11004(b) of the Energy Act of 2020 (42 U.S.C. 7171 note; Public Law 116–260) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking thereafter for 10 years and inserting thereafter; and

(2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking or mathematical and inserting mathematical, or otherwise highly specialized or skilled.

Section 3401 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. 7178) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Not less often than once every 5 years, the Commission shall undertake a review to determine if the fees and charges it assesses under this section and other laws are sufficient to allow the Commission to handle its workload in an expedient manner.

Not later than 2 years following the enactment of this title, the Secretary of Energy shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall award grants to State regulatory authorities to increase the capacity of said authorities to evaluate filings made by utilities related to transmission and integrated resource plans, including through the hiring of economic modelers, engineers, and others with relevant expertise.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall—

(1) require each transmission planning region to establish an independent entity to monitor the planning for, and operation of, transmission facilities in the transmission planning region; or

(2) establish an independent entity to monitor the planning for, and operation of, transmission facilities in all transmission planning regions.

An independent entity described in subsection (a) shall provide independent analysis of transmission planning and ratemaking processes by the Commission and Transmission Organizations to inform Commission proceedings, including by, as applicable—

(1) reviewing the operation and practices of transmission facilities in the applicable transmission planning region for inefficiency;

(2) investigating whether any rate, charge, or classification for transmission facilities in the applicable transmission planning region, or any rule, regulation, practice, or contract affecting such a rate, charge, or classification, is unjust, unreasonable, unduly discriminatory or preferential;

(3) reviewing the transmission planning process for the applicable transmission planning region, including processes for planning new and upgraded local transmission projects;

(4) reviewing transmission facility costs in the applicable transmission planning region;

(5) providing examples and advice to Transmission Organizations in the applicable transmission planning region on regional transmission operations, planning, and cost-allocation processes;

(6) identifying situations in which it is cost-effective or otherwise appropriate to construct or deploy advanced transmission technologies, demand-side energy efficiency measures, demand response, and distributed energy resources, including rooftop and community solar, microgrids, and storage;

(7) coordinating and sharing information with State regulatory authorities in the applicable transmission planning region; and

(8) identifying reliable data sets and methodologies for use in regional planning and providing access to data to stakeholders.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter the sole power of the Commission to, under sections 205 and 206 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824d; 824e), determine if any rates, charges, or classifications are unjust, unreasonable, or unduly discriminatory or preferential.

In this section:

The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The terms advanced transmission technology, State regulatory authority, Transmission Organization, and transmission planning region have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796).

Notwithstanding any prohibition established by a relevant electric retail regulatory authority with respect to who may bid into an organized wholesale electric market, each Transmission Organization shall, with respect to the organized wholesale electric market controlled by the Transmission Organization, allow any bid from an aggregator of retail customers that aggregates the demand flexibility of the customers of utilities that distributed more than 4 million megawatt-hours in the previous fiscal year. Such flexibility may be achieved through demand response, distributed generation, distributed storage, and community-based or municipal aggregation programs.

Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate a final rule pursuant to subsection (a).

Each Transmission Organization shall establish standardized registration, telemetry, and settlement procedures for aggregators of distributed energy resources to ensure non-discriminatory participation and data access.

In this section:

The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The term electric retail regulatory authority means an entity that establishes retail electricity prices and retail competition policies for customers.

The term Transmission Organization has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796).

Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall convene a technical conference to consider Regional Transmission Organization and Independent System Operator independence from their members interests, the responsiveness of RTOs and ISOs to consumers and other stakeholders, and ways for RTOs and ISOs to increase the equitable treatment of consumers and other stakeholders, including the effectiveness of stakeholder policies and procedures adopted in compliance with the final rule entitled Wholesale Competition in Regions With Organized Electric Markets published in the Federal Register on October 28, 2008 (73 Fed. Reg. 64100).

The technical conference convened under subsection (a) shall be led by members of the Commission, and the Commission shall invite participation from representatives of each RTO and ISO, owners and operators of transmission facilities, representatives of entities that develop advanced transmission technologies, owners and operators of electric generation facilities that interconnect at either the transmission or distribution system level, including energy storage, end-use customers, electric power marketers, publicly owned electric utilities, consumer advocates, environmental justice advocates, environmental groups, State public utility commissions, State governors, and such other stakeholders as the Commission determines appropriate.

In conducting the technical conference convened under subsection (a), the Commission shall seek to identify policies and procedures that maintain RTO and ISO independence, and enhance the responsiveness of RTOs and ISOs to their customers and other stakeholders, taking into consideration—

(1) the benefits of greater transparency in RTO and ISO stakeholder processes, including access by stakeholders to relevant data and written background materials;

(2) barriers to participation in such stakeholder processes for new market participants and other non-incumbent stakeholders;

(3) the need for periodic, independent review of RTO and ISO stakeholder policies and procedures;

(4) power imbalances between incumbent and non-incumbent stakeholders, including whether current RTO and ISO membership rules, sectoral designations, and voting procedures allow for adequate representation of all stakeholder views;

(5) how RTOs and ISOs should take State public policy objectives into consideration as part of such stakeholder processes;

(6) whether existing RTO and ISO decision-making processes are sufficiently independent from the control of any market participant or class of participants;

(7) the role of the Office of Public Participation of the Commission in facilitating greater stakeholder participation in RTOs and ISOs; and

(8) such other subjects as the Commission considers appropriate.

The Commission shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the technical conference convened under subsection (a).

Not later than 18 months after the conclusion of the technical conference convened under subsection (a), and after public notice and comment, the Commission shall promulgate a final rule adopting such policies and procedures as the Commission determines necessary to maintain the independence of RTOs and ISOs, and to enhance the transparency and responsiveness of RTOs and ISOs to their customers and other stakeholders.

In this section:

The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The terms electric utility, Independent System Operator, ISO, Regional Transmission Organization, RTO, and State commission have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796).

The Commission shall, by rule, standardize the manner in which information and data is reported by transmitting utilities and Transmission Organizations to the Commission under the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 972 et seq.) in accordance with this subsection.

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Commission shall require the information and data that will be reported, as it applies to projects, existing assets, or systems owned or operated by a transmitting utility or Transmission Organization, to include the following:

(A) Information and data relating to a project and the lifecycle of such project, including—

(i) project milestones, including proposed, approved, and actual in-service dates;

(ii) project classification information, including whether the project represents new construction, an upgrade, or a rebuild of existing infrastructure;

(iii) major development history, including original construction and last major upgrade dates;

(iv) the location of any applicable project;

(v) the project nameplate capacity, length, voltage, and conductor material and specifications; and

(vi) an identification of the applicable planning process through which the applicable project originated.

(B) The costs and economic justifications of a project, existing asset, or system owned or operated by a transmitting utility or Transmission Organization, as applicable, including—

(i) original projected and actual final costs of all new projects;

(ii) original projected and actual final costs of renewals and replacements of project works;

(iii) original projected and actual maintenance and operations expenses of the projects and existing assets on a current-year and five-year rolling average basis;

(iv) cost allocation shares where applicable, including identification of entities responsible for shared investments in projects;

(v) cost-benefit analyses of projects;

(vi) whether the project was subject to a competitive solicitation process and, if applicable, the outcome of that process; and

(vii) classification of the project based on benefits provided, under the relevant transmission planning framework.

(C) The capital structure and the rate of return of a project, existing asset, or system owned or operated by a transmitting utility or Transmission Organization, including—

(i) the allowed return on equity (ROE), return on debt, and return on preferred stock;

(ii) the utility’s authorized or actual capital structure, including the percentage of debt, equity, and preferred stock used in ratemaking;

(iii) the resulting overall weighted average rate of return;

(iv) any FERC-approved incentive adders applied to the base ROE, including rationale and duration; and

(v) where applicable, information necessary to assess potential double leveraging effects arising from a holding company structure, as defined by the Commission.

(D) For information and data relating to a system owned or operated by a transmitting utility or Transmission Organization, as applicable, congestion-related costs or the costs incurred by ratepayers, power supplies, or distribution customers as a result of transmission system constraints that prevent the dispatch of least-cost generation resources.

(E) Technical and non-technical losses and inefficiencies.

(F) A complete accounting of interconnection-related costs incurred by interconnection customers, transmitting utilities, or other entities, disaggregated by cost type and responsible party, including—

(i) study fees;

(ii) milestones or reservation payments;

(iii) costs of local interconnection attachment facilities;

(iv) grid network upgrade costs; and

(v) estimates of costs to a larger system.

(G) The projected and actual capacity and load of a system owned or operated by a transmitting utility or Transmission Organization and the projected and actual amount of energy delivered by such system.

(H) Information and data on the use of capital-efficient advanced technologies, including information on—

(i) hourly usage;

(ii) the location of the technologies; and

(iii) the types of technologies deployed.

(I) Any additional metrics the Commission determines necessary to improve ratepayer affordability and understanding of the transmission sector.

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Commission shall require a transmitting utility or Transmission Organization to report, no less than quarterly, to the Commission information and data on interconnection queues and details relating to interconnection study models used. Data reported under this paragraph shall include both historical and real time information to allow trend analysis and retrospective validation of study timelines.

Pursuant to paragraph (1), the Commission shall ensure the completeness, accuracy, and accessibility of information and data reported to the Commission under the Federal Power Act, as the Commission determines necessary, by—

(i) establishing standardized reporting requirements that specify standards for describing and recording such information and data, and, if the Commission determines appropriate, providing templates or other tools to reduce administrative burden;

(ii) providing a format for such information and data to be submitted in a manner that is fully searchable and machine-readable;

(iii) requiring any form filed by a transmitting utility or a Transmission Organization contains no blank cells, unless clearly marked as exempt pursuant to subparagraph (B);

(iv) requiring any projections required under paragraph (1) are defined, including key assumptions, methodologies, and any other information that could influence the result of the projection; and

(v) requiring data reported under this subsection is also made available to the public through a single, user-friendly web interface that allows users to search, filter, and download the data in a machine-readable format.

A transmitting utility or a Transmission Organization may request an exemption from a requirement under subparagraph (A)(iii) if—

(i) such transmitting utility or Transmission Organization submits to the Commission a written statement explaining why such an exemption is needed; and

(ii) the Commission determines that the exemption is justified based on the written statement submitted under clause (i).

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Commission issues a rule under paragraph (1), with respect to a covered form, in the event the Commission determines that such covered form is incomplete, the Commission shall require the relevant transmitting utility or Transmission Organization to file a revised FERC Form No. 1 in a manner that complies with the requirements of paragraph (4) and the requirements under section 141.1 of title 18, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations).

In this subsection, the term covered form means a FERC Form No. 1 filed with the Commission by a transmitting utility or Transmission Organization during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date of enactment of this Act.

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, in collaboration with the Administrator, shall make all historical and future FERC Form No. 1 filings publicly available through the centralized data repository established under subsection (b).

The Commission, in collaboration with the Administrator, shall develop and maintain a searchable and publicly accessible data repository containing information and data the Commission determines necessary to carry out the requirements of this Act, including information and data reported or filed by a transmitting utility or Transmission Organization—

(A) in FERC Form Nos. 1, 1–F, 3–Q, 714, 715, and 730, including information or data from these forms reported prior to the date of enactment of this Act; and

(B) pursuant to the requirements of this Act.

In collaborating with the Commission under this subsection with respect to the data repository developed under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall—

(A) develop and maintain schemas and metadata for Form No. 1 data consistent with section 3506(b)(6) of title 44, United States Code;

(B) provide user-friendly tools to explore, download, and analyze such data, including filtering by utility, year, region, and data category; and

(C) ensure such data is accessible to the public in both bulk and disaggregated forms, with Application Programming Interfaces and visualization tools where feasible.

The Commissioner shall ensure that the data repository developed and maintained under paragraph (1)—

(A) includes the data in fully searchable and machine-readable format;

(B) is capable of including high-quality data through schemas and accompanying metadata;

(C) ensures consistent identification of data elements or assets that satisfy regulatory requirements for data, established by the Commission, as reflected in machine-readable metadata;

(D) uses standardized data formats across all Transmission Organizations and transmitting utilities;

(E) is used by Transmission Organizations and transmitting utilities to file reports required under the Federal Power Act and this Act;

(F) enables uploading of reports filed under the Federal Power Act or this Act;

(G) is optimized for operability by Transmission Organizations and transmitting utilities to limit the administrative burden of, and ensure consistency in, such filings;

(H) includes interactive tools and visualization interfaces to allow users to explore trends in transmission buildout, interconnection timelines, and associated ratepayer costs;

(I) incorporates Application Programming Interfaces or bulk download functionality to support third-party analysis and research; and

(J) ensures that publicly accessible data is aligned with the security of guidelines for Critical Energy/Electric Infrastructure Information, and includes appropriate data anonymization and cybersecurity protections, based on Commission guidance.

The Secretary, in collaboration with the Commission, using standardized methodologies and anonymized queue data collected under this Act, shall conduct research and publish periodic reports on the following topics:

(A) Primary drivers of increased costs to ratepayers associated with transmission and interconnection, including—

(i) transmission capital expenditures;

(ii) interconnection-related upgrade costs;

(iii) interconnection study delays;

(iv) regional variations in cost allocation methodologies; and

(v) cost recovery practices by utilities and grid operators.

(B) Value delivered to ratepayers from transmission and interconnection investments, including through—

(i) improvements to electric system reliability;

(ii) avoided emissions or emissions reductions; and

(iii) enhancements to long-term system resilience and grid flexibility.

(C) Mechanisms to enhance ratepayer affordability, including—

(i) evaluation of performance-based regulation frameworks applied to transmission and interconnection-related investments;

(ii) assessment of alternative interconnection solutions such as advanced transmission technologies, shared infrastructure models, or consolidated upgrades; and

(iii) evaluation of demand-side interventions that reduce the need for costly transmission or interconnection investments.

(D) Comparative scenario modeling of potential energy futures, to—

(i) identify lowest-cost pathways to national grid expansion;

(ii) assess trade-offs among investment strategies; and

(iii) inform decision-making by utilities, regional planning entities, and Federal agencies.

(E) Systemic cost impacts from interconnection inefficiencies, including analysis of how study delays, queue withdrawals, and increased construction periods contribute to higher system costs for ratepayers or generators.

(F) Opportunities to increase system efficiency and unlock latent capacity through improved operational practices and deployment of advanced technologies, including—

(i) assessment of unused or underutilized grid capacity due to outdated planning assumptions or lack of dynamic optimization;

(ii) evaluation of technologies such as dynamic line ratings, topology optimization, flexible interconnection, or flow control devices; and

(iii) quantification of benefits to ratepayers and system operators from unlocking this capacity relative to traditional capital-intensive buildout.

The Secretary shall, through 1 or more National Laboratories, develop, maintain, and continuously improve an Interconnection Data Dashboard that presents real-time and historical information relevant to interconnection of generators, loads, and other utilities or transmission systems.

The Dashboard shall provide public stakeholders, regulators, utilities, developers, and researchers with transparent, up-to-date insights into the effectiveness, efficiency, affordability, and reliability of interconnection processes across all transmission planning regions.

The Dashboard shall incorporate data collected under subsection (b) of this Act and from FERC Form No. 1 filings, relevant Commission filings, publicly available interconnection queue data, and additional datasets, as determined appropriate by the Secretary or the Commission.

The Secretary shall develop the Dashboard to be able to—

(i) present anonymized interconnection queue data, including application volumes, withdrawal rates, project timelines, and milestones;

(ii) provide visualization of average and median interconnection study durations, disaggregated by region and project type;

(iii) show aggregated system upgrade costs, study backlogs, and queue performance metrics;

(iv) allow filtering by geographic location (e.g., State, balancing authority, latitude/longitude coordinate), utility, fuel type, and project size;

(v) present each interconnection project’s current development status, such as application submitted, study phase, approved, under construction, or in-service;

(vi) display physical asset characteristics for each interconnection project and system segment, including nameplate generation capacity, peak load served, and conductor capacity ratings;

(vii) identify trends in queue reform outcomes, including impacts on throughput, delay reduction, and project completion rates;

(viii) support export of underlying data in machine-readable formats for public analysis; and

(ix) perform any other function the Secretary determines appropriate.

The Secretary, in collaboration with National Laboratories and the Commission, shall publish annual reports summarizing findings from the Dashboard, based on data collected pursuant to subsection (b), without substituting for the more comprehensive cost-driver analysis required under paragraph (1), including—

(i) interregional comparisons of queue efficiency and project success rates;

(ii) systemic drivers of delay or cost escalation;

(iii) estimated ratepayer impacts associated with interconnection bottlenecks; and

(iv) recommendations for improving interconnection transparency and system performance.

The Dashboard shall be made available on a public website and designed for use by a broad range of users, including through visualizations, downloadable datasets, and API access, while maintaining protections for CEII.

In this section:

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy.

The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The term FERC Form No. 1 means the Form of Annual Report for Major electric utilities, licensees, and others, designated as FERC Form No. 1 and prescribed under section 141.1 of title 18, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).

The term metadata has the meaning given such term in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code.

The term project refers exclusively to transmission infrastructure projects planned, proposed, or undertaken by the transmitting utility. This includes projects initiated through—

(A) regional or local transmission planning processes;

(B) interconnection studies;

(C) reliability-driven upgrades; and

(D) other applicable pathways as determined by the Commission.

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

The terms transmitting utility, and Transmission Organization have the meanings given those terms in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796).

In this Act:

The term covered land means land that is—

(A) Federal land;

(B) not excluded from the development of geothermal, solar, or wind energy under—

(i) a land use plan; or

(ii) other Federal law; and

(C) not included in an area—

(i) that is subject to the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan developed by the California Energy Commission, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; or

(ii) for which the Secretary determines existing wind and solar energy land use planning meets or exceeds the standards established under section 3.

The term energy storage project means equipment that—

(A) receives, stores, and delivers energy-using batteries, compressed air, pumped hydropower, hydrogen storage (including hydrolysis), thermal energy storage, regenerative fuel cells, flywheels, capacitors, superconducting magnets, or other technologies identified by the Secretary of Energy; and

(B) has a storage capacity of not less than 5 kilowatt hours.

The term exclusion area means covered land that is identified by the Bureau of Land Management as not suitable for development of renewable energy projects.

The term Federal land means—

(A) public land; and

(B) National Forest System lands administered by the Department of Agriculture through the Forest Service where the Secretary has authority to issue leases for the development and utilization of geothermal resources under section 3 and section 15 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1002, 1014).

The term Fund means the Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund established by section 6(c)(1).

The term land use plan means—

(A) with respect to public land, a land use plan established under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and

(B) with respect to National Forest System land, a land management plan approved, amended, or revised under section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604).

The term National Forest System has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).

The term priority area means covered land identified by the land use planning process of the Bureau of Land Management as being a preferred location for a renewable energy project, including an area that is identified as a designated leasing area under the rule of the Bureau of Land Management entitled Competitive Processes, Terms, and Conditions for Leasing Public Lands for Solar and Wind Energy Development and Technical Changes and Corrections (81 Fed. Reg. 92122 (December 19, 2016)) (or a successor regulation).

The term public land has the meaning given the term public lands in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).

The term renewable energy project —

(A) means a project carried out on covered land that—

(i) uses wind, solar, or geothermal energy to generate energy; or

(ii) transmits electricity to support wind, solar, or geothermal energy generation; and

(B) may include an associated energy storage project.

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

Section 3104 of the Energy Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3004) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) by striking seek to;

(B) by striking 25 and inserting 60; and

(C) by striking 2025 and inserting December 31, 2035; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall update the national goals for renewable energy production on Federal land established under subsection (a).

For purposes of renewable energy planning, the Secretary, consistent with the requirements described in clause (ii), shall—

(I) update completed land use plans that, with respect to covered lands, have designated areas as eligible for the submission of renewable energy project applications; and

(II) establish priority areas on covered land for renewable energy projects.

In carrying out activities under clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—

(I) after an opportunity for public comment, review the adequacy of public lands for renewable energy projects for the purposes of—

(aa) encouraging and facilitating new renewable energy projects; and

(bb) ensuring consistency with a mitigation sequence of avoiding, minimizing, and compensating for adverse impacts to other public uses and values of covered land, including—

(AA) wildlife habitat;

(BB) species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);

(CC) water resources;

(DD) cultural resources;

(EE) recreational uses;

(FF) land with wilderness characteristics;

(GG) land with special management designations; and

(HH) areas of Tribal importance; and

(II) comply with—

(aa) the principles of multiple use (as defined in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702)); and

(bb) the national goals for renewable energy production established under section 3104 of the Energy Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3004), including the minimum production goal described in subsection (b) of that section.

In considering applications for renewable energy projects on covered land, with respect to an application for a proposed renewable energy project on covered land that is to be carried out in a priority area, the Secretary shall—

(i) prioritize the application to be carried out in any identified priority area; and

(ii) on approval of the application, provide to the applicant who submitted the application the opportunity to participate in any regional mitigation plan developed for the applicable priority area.

As soon as practicable, but not later than 18 months after the Record of Decision entitled Approved Record of Decision and Amendments/Record of Decision for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development dated December 2024 was issued, the Secretary shall consider establishing priority areas on covered land for Solar energy projects in the planning area (as defined in the Record of Decision).

As soon as practicable, but not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a review of the final programmatic Environment Impact Statement referenced in the notice of availability entitled Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on Wind Energy Development on BLM-Administered Lands in the Western United States, Including Proposed Amendments to Selected Land Use Plans (70 Fed. Reg. 36651 (June 24, 2005)), that considers establishment of wind application and priority areas on covered lands, and complete that review within 3 years of issuing a notice of intent.

As soon as practicable, the Secretary shall initiate and complete a review or update of existing programmatic analyses for geothermal energy development on covered lands, identifying areas suitable for leasing and development, and aligning such analyses with current land use plans and transmission planning efforts.

As soon as practicable, the Secretary shall initiate and complete a programmatic analysis for electric transmission development on covered lands, identifying priority and corridor areas that support renewable energy buildout and grid reliability, and coordinating with regional transmission planning processes and existing right-of-way designations.

Subject to paragraph (2), not less frequently than once every 10 years, the Secretary shall—

(i) after an opportunity for public comment, review the adequacy of all land allocations for renewable energy projects under the requirements in clause (ii) of subparagraph (A); and

(ii) based on the review carried out under subparagraph (A), add, modify, or eliminate priority areas, exclusion areas, and areas on covered land open or closed to solar or wind energy right-of-way applications or to geothermal leasing.

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any covered land that the Secretary determines, after seeking public input, is subject to an existing land use plan that meets the purposes described in paragraph (1)(A).

If the Secretary determines, in an annual report required under subsection (g) of section 3102 of the Energy Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3002) (as redesignated by subsection (d)(1)(A)), that the national goal for renewable energy production established under subsection (a) of section 3104 of that Act (43 U.S.C. 3004), including the minimum production goal established under subsection (b) of that section, may not be met, the Secretary shall act more frequently than otherwise required by this subsection to designate areas eligible for the submission of renewable energy project applications and establish additional priority areas for renewable energy projects.

For purposes of this section, compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) shall be accomplished—

(A) for geothermal energy—

(i) by updating the document entitled Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Geothermal Leasing in the Western United States and dated October 2008; and

(ii) by incorporating into the updated document under clause (i) any additional regional analyses completed by Federal agencies after the date on which the document described in that subparagraph was finalized;

(B) for solar energy—

(i) by updating the document entitled Approved Record of Decision and Amendments/Record of Decision for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development and dated December 2024, 10 years after the publication of the document; and

(ii) by incorporating into the updated document under clause (i) any additional regional analyses completed by Federal agencies after the date on which the document described in that subparagraph was finalized; and

(C) for wind energy—

(i) by updating the document entitled Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on Wind Energy Development on BLM-Administered Lands in the Western United States and dated June 2005; and

(ii) by incorporating into the updated document under clause (i) any additional regional analyses completed by Federal agencies after the date on which the document described in that subparagraph was finalized.

Nothing in this section modifies any requirement to conduct site-specific environmental reviews or process permits for proposed renewable energy projects during preparation of an updated programmatic environmental impact statement, land use plan, or amendment to a land use plan.

In developing any update required under this section, the Secretary shall coordinate, on an ongoing basis, with appropriate State, Tribal, and local governments, transmission infrastructure owners, operators, and developers, renewable energy developers, and other appropriate entities to ensure that priority areas established by the Secretary under this section take into account—

(A) economic viability (including having access to existing or planned transmission lines);

(B) consistency with a mitigation sequence to avoid, minimize, and compensate for impacts to—

(i) fish, wildlife, or plants;

(ii) fish, wildlife, or plant habitat;

(iii) recreational uses;

(iv) land with wilderness characteristics;

(v) land with special management designations;

(vi) cultural resources;

(vii) areas of Tribal importance; and

(viii) other uses of covered land;

(C) feasibility of siting on previously disturbed land, including commercial and industrial land, mine land, and previously contaminated sites; and

(D) consistency with section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712), including subsection (c)(9) of that section (43 U.S.C. 1712(c)(9)).

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall—

(A) determine whether adequate transmission exists for renewable energy projects on covered land; and

(B) if a determination is made in the negative under subparagraph (A), in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, review existing land use plans to determine if amendments to those land use plans would be appropriate to support adequate transmission capability.

Section 3102 of the Energy Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3002) is amended—

(A) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and

(B) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may delegate to a State Renewable Energy Coordination Office the authority to process applications for eligible projects proposed to be carried out on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management in the applicable State.

For purposes of processing applications described in subparagraph (A), the manager of the applicable State Renewable Energy Coordination Office—

(i) shall have the authority to issue grants or leases for eligible projects;

(ii) with the approval of the State Director of the applicable Bureau of Land Management State Office, may use other employees in field and district offices of the applicable Bureau of Land Management State Office, or hire additional experts, to assist with timely processing of applications, with the costs of hiring additional experts to be charged to applicants; and

(iii) shall report to the State Director of the applicable Bureau of Land Management State Office.

Except as provided in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), the Secretary may not delegate to employees of field or district offices of the Bureau of Land Management the authority to process applications for eligible projects proposed to be carried out on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Not later than 30 days after the date on which an applicant submits a complete application for a right-of-way for a wind or solar energy project, including submission of the filing fee required under section 2804.12 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), the Secretary shall provide a cost recovery agreement with respect to the application.

Issuance of a cost recovery agreement under subparagraph (A) and payment of cost recovery fees shall preclude any new claims to the use of the applicable covered land during any period in which the application is active.

To be considered complete under subparagraph (A), an application described in that paragraph shall address any known conflicts with respect to the use of the applicable covered land, as identified in scientific literature or other studies.

Additional studies shall not be required for purposes of considering an application to be complete under subparagraph (A).

Not later than 180 days after the date on which the agency notifies the applicant that the application to establish a right-of-way is complete, or a later date to be established by the Secretary under clause (ii), if an environmental impact statement is determined to be necessary, the Secretary shall issue a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement with respect to the application.

The Secretary shall establish a later date by which the notice under clause (i) shall be issued, if the Secretary determines that the 180-day period under that paragraph should be extended due to—

(I) the application being considered a low priority under section 2804.35 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation);

(II) project-specific circumstances, including the need for further studies, making the 180-day deadline insufficient; or

(III) the application not meeting the requirements for approval.

As the Secretary determines to be appropriate, the Secretary may promulgate regulations providing that preliminary geotechnical work and meteorological monitoring relating to renewable energy projects shall be categorically excluded from the requirements for an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement under section 1501.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).

For any energy projects eligible for a categorical exclusion under paragraph 1, the Secretary shall issue a decision within 90 days of the submission of a complete application.