Toward helping to reduce power outages in America, U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH) recently sponsored legislation to bolster transparency and information from the federal government on the long-term reliability of America’s electrical grid.
“When the American people reach for the light switch, they should have confidence in knowing that the lights will actually turn on. The Biden administration’s rush-to-green agenda is pushing the country’s electric grid to the brink,” Rep. Balderson said on May 4. “As the federal government drives reliable power generation into retirement, the American people should know the corresponding risks that misguided policies pose to long-term grid reliability.”
The congressman on April 26 proposed the Grid Reliability and Resiliency Improvements Act, H.R. 2875. The legislation would require the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) — in consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators — to submit a report to Congress every two years identifying risks to the long-term reliability of the electric grid and electricity generation, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Balderson’s staff.
Under H.R. 2875, NERC’s report would have to identify state and federal policies that are driving retirements of facilities that generate electricity; describe the impact of environmental, social, and governance commitments and policies on electric grid reliability; outline the estimated increase in demand for electricity through the end of the decade; and detail whether the amount of new, renewable generation connecting to the grid is sufficient to meet the growing demand and offset the retirements of fossil fuel generation, the summary says.
“I support an all-of-the-above approach to meeting this country’s power generation needs,” said Rep. Balderson. “But when green dreams jeopardize our ability to keep the lights on, we must have an honest conversation about how certain policy decisions are putting Americans at increased risk of power outages and energy insecurity.”