[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1047 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1047
To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reform the
interconnection queue process for the prioritization and approval of
certain projects, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 6, 2025
Mr. Balderson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reform the
interconnection queue process for the prioritization and approval of
certain projects, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Guaranteeing Reliability through the
Interconnection of Dispatchable Power Act'' or the ``GRID Power Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Bulk-power system.--The term ``bulk-power system'' has
the meaning given the term in section 215(a) of the Federal
Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o(a)).
(2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission.
(3) Dispatchable power.--The term ``dispatchable power''
means an electric energy generation resource capable of
providing known and forecastable electric supply in time
intervals necessary to ensure grid reliability.
(4) Grid reliability.--The term ``grid reliability'' means
the ability of the electric grid to deliver an adequate,
secure, and stable flow of electricity in the quantity and with
the quality demanded by users, taking into account the ability
of the bulk-power system to withstand sudden disturbances.
(5) Grid resilience.--The term ``grid resilience'' means
the ability of the electric grid to adapt to changing physical
conditions and withstand and rapidly recover from significant
disturbances, including natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and
other unforeseen events.
(6) Independent system operator.--The term ``Independent
System Operator'' has the meaning given the term in section 3
of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796).
(7) Regional transmission organization.--The term
``Regional Transmission Organization'' has the meaning given
the term in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796).
(8) Resource adequacy.--The term ``resource adequacy''
means the ability of the electric system to meet the aggregate
electrical demand and energy requirements of end-use customers
at all times, accounting for scheduled and reasonably expected
unscheduled outages of bulk-power system components.
(9) Transmission provider.--The term ``transmission
provider'' means--
(A) a public utility (as defined in section 201(e)
of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824(e))) that owns,
operates, or controls 1 or more transmission
facilities;
(B) an Independent System Operator; and
(C) a Regional Transmission Organization.
SEC. 3. RULEMAKING TO IMPROVE INTERCONNECTION QUEUE FLEXIBILITY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Commission shall initiate a rulemaking--
(1) to address the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of
existing procedures for processing interconnection requests to
ensure that new dispatchable power projects that improve grid
reliability and resource adequacy can interconnect to the
electric grid quickly, cost-effectively, and reliably; and
(2) to amend 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)--
(A) to authorize transmission providers to submit
proposals to the Commission to adjust the
interconnection queue of the transmission provider to
prioritize new dispatchable power projects that will
improve grid reliability and resource adequacy by
assigning those projects higher positions in the
interconnection queue; and
(B) to require transmission providers--
(i) to provide in any proposal described in
subparagraph (A)--
(I) a demonstration of need for
prioritization of the relevant
projects; and
(II) a description of how the
prioritization of those projects will
improve grid reliability or grid
resilience;
(ii) to provide a process for public
comment and stakeholder engagement before a
proposal described in subparagraph (A) is
submitted to the Commission; and
(iii) to provide regular reporting to the
Commission on the state of grid reliability and
grid resilience, including reporting on any
actions taken pursuant to this Act.
(b) Commission Approval.--To ensure timely responses to grid
reliability concerns, not later than 60 days after a proposal is
submitted pursuant to subsection (a)(2), the Commission shall--
(1) review the proposal; and
(2) approve or deny the proposal.
(c) Deadline for Final Rule.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate final
regulations to complete the rulemaking initiated under subsection (a).
(d) Periodic Review.--Not less frequently than once every 5 years,
the Commission shall review and, if necessary, update the regulations
promulgated under this section to ensure that those regulations remain
effective and relevant to evolving grid reliability and grid resilience
challenges.
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