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A bill to prioritize the buildout of dispatchable power generation – like natural gas, nuclear and hydropower – has passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The “Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable Power Act” or “GRID Power Act” would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reform the interconnection process so dispatchable projects receive higher placement in the queue.
FERC would be required to launch a rulemaking within 90 days of enactment and issue final regulations within 180 days.
Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs) would be tasked with developing proposals that prioritize these projects and submitting them to FERC. The commission would then have 60 days to approve or deny each proposal and would be required to review and update the regulations at least once every five years.
Grid operators would further need to demonstrate why specific projects should move forward more quickly and explain how those projects improve grid reliability or resilience. They would also have to invite public comment before filing proposals and regularly report to FERC on the impacts to grid stability.
The legislation comes amid concerns that the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for surging demand from data centers, new manufacturing and widespread electrification. Generation projects, many of them renewable energy, remain stalled in record-long interconnection backlogs.
“The interconnection queue is overwhelmed and bogged down, leaving shovel-ready power projects waiting for years while demand continues to climb,” said U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson (OH-12), the bill’s sponsor.
The bill would still need to pass the Senate and be signed into law.
