U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced a bipartisan bill that would hasten the siting and permitting of critical electrical transmission lines.
The congressman, along with U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA), proposed the Streamlining Powerlines Essential to Electric Demand (SPEED) and Reliability Act, H.R. 5600, which aims to spur faster approvals for electrical lines, lower costs for consumers, and prevent blackouts.
“AI data centers and advanced manufacturing are at the core of America’s economic future, but they can’t run without reliable, affordable power,” Rep. Barr said on Sept. 25. “The SPEED and Reliability Act cuts red tape and builds the transmission lines we need to lower costs and ensures we stay ahead of China in the race for AI.”
Under the current National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) program, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) are supposed to coordinate on designating broad corridors for transmission development, with the goal of streamlining siting and permitting for high-impact transmission lines in the national interest, the lawmakers said.
Thus far, though, the process hasn’t resulted in a single transmission project due to widespread opposition to the approach, they added.
“We cannot wait a decade plus for individual transmission lines to be approved if we don’t want to fall behind China and our adversaries,” said Rep. Peters. “This bill will lower costs for consumers, improve reliability, and help secure America’s energy independence.”
The SPEED and Reliability Act would reform the NIETC program by removing the ability of the U.S. Energy Secretary to designate corridors, and would centralize environmental reviews at FERC.
The bill also would include additional guardrails to protect customers, benefit local communities, and respect state authority, according to a bill summary provided by the congressmen, such as allocating costs only to customers that benefit, using a minimum specified list of electric reliability criteria, along with specified economic benefits.
Among other provisions, the SPEED and Reliability Act also would allow FERC to issue a construction permit for individual national interest transmission lines that reduce grid congestion, improve reliability, and provide a clear set of economic and reliability benefits to customers, the summary says.