GRID Power Act

The GRID Power Act would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reform how new power generation projects are approved and connected to the electrical grid. Currently, the process for getting new power projects online can take around eight years. Under this bill, FERC would have 90 days to begin a rulemaking process to address inefficiencies in the interconnection queue, which is the system that determines the order in which new projects are approved. The bill would allow transmission providers to submit proposals to prioritize new dispatchable power projects (those that can reliably provide electricity when needed) that would improve grid reliability and ensure the system can meet electricity demand. These proposals would need to demonstrate how they improve grid performance and would undergo public comment before FERC reviews them. FERC would have 60 days to approve or deny proposals and 180 days to issue final regulations. The bill would also require FERC to review these regulations every five years to ensure they remain effective as grid challenges evolve. If enacted, the bill could help accelerate the deployment of new power generation capacity to the electrical grid.