REWIRE Act

This bill would amend the Federal Power Act to establish a categorical exclusion for reconductoring projects within existing rights-of-way. Reconductoring refers to replacing or upgrading electrical transmission lines that already run through established utility corridors. By creating a categorical exclusion, the bill would potentially reduce the environmental review and permitting requirements for such projects, allowing them to proceed more quickly without the full environmental assessment process typically required for new infrastructure.

If enacted, this bill could accelerate the modernization and upgrade of the nation's electrical grid by simplifying the approval process for transmission line replacements. This could benefit utilities and consumers by enabling faster infrastructure improvements, though it would reduce the level of environmental scrutiny applied to these projects. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been introduced in the Senate and referred to committee for consideration.