House Republicans Pass Energy Bills to Lower Prices and Secure the Grid

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, released the following statement following the passage of H.R. 3062, the Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act, H.R. 3015, the National Coal Council Reestablishment Act, and H.R. 1047, the GRID Power Act.

"Today's passage of H.R. 3062, H.R. 3015, and H.R. 1047 reflects the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's relentless work to secure American energy dominance. These bills streamline the permitting process for critical cross-border energy projects, restore expert advisory input from the coal industry that the Biden-Harris Administration eliminated, and ensure that electricity grid operators have the tools they need to secure the reliability of the bulk power system. With rising energy demand and growing threats to grid reliability, House Republicans are ensuring the U.S. has the tools to deliver affordable, abundant, and reliable energy," said Chairman Guthrie. "Thank you to Congresswoman Fedorchak, Congressman Rulli, and Congressman Balderson for their tireless work to strengthen our grid and power our communities."

H.R. 3062 passed the House by a vote of 224 to 203, H.R. 3015 passed the House by a vote of 217 to 209, and H.R. 1047 passed the House by a vote of 216 to 206.

"Republicans are delivering on our promise to strengthen the grid, create American jobs, and lower energy costs for American families," said Speaker Johnson. "This week, House Republicans passed three pieces of key legislation to build on the energy provisions within the historic Working Families Tax Cuts and codify President Trump's Executive Orders to unleash American energy. As Democrats continue to push radical, job-killing, impossible-to-attain green agendas - Republicans are focused on real solutions that grow the economy and put American workers first. Together with President Trump, Republicans in Congress are helping pave the way for a return to American energy dominance."

"The Keystone XL pipeline should have never been cancelled. Yet on his first day in office, President Biden used the stroke of a pen to shut it down," said Congresswoman Fedorchak. "By passing my legislation, the House has taken a critical step to end years of regulatory uncertainty and partisan games that have delayed energy infrastructure projects, crushed good-paying jobs, and undermined America's energy security."

"For decades, the National Coal Council was a powerful voice for coal and a tireless champion for American workers and communities. Coal has reliably fueled our factories, powered our homes, and helped build the greatest economy the world has ever known - it's ridiculous to neglect it," said Congressman Rulli. "We need common-sense energy policies that keep coal in the mix, strengthen our grid, and protect good-paying jobs. Codifying the National Coal Council into law ensures that politics doesn't get in the way of good policy. I'm grateful to House leadership and my colleagues for voting to restore this vital council and secure America's energy future."

"With American power demand far outpacing our ability to generate more electricity, our grid is heading toward a reliability crisis," said Congressman Balderson. "The interconnection queue is overwhelmed and bogged down, leaving shovel-ready power projects waiting for years while demand continues to climb. The GRID Power Act clears the path for the most critical projects, giving grid operators the tools they need to add more dispatchable baseload power-lowering costs for households and businesses while keeping America's grid reliable."

Background on H.R. 3062, Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act:

The expansion of cross-border energy transportation infrastructure-pipelines for oil and natural gas and electric transmission lines-is necessary to ensure our nation's energy dominance and safeguard our national security. H.R. 3062 replaces the Presidential permit requirement with a more transparent and effective review process by authorizing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to review applications for cross-border oil and natural gas pipelines, and the Department of Energy to review applications for cross-border transmission facilities.

Background on H.R. 3015, National Coal Council Establishment Act:

This legislation makes the National Coal Council permanent by removing requirements under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to re-charter every two years, therefore preventing future administrations from disbanding this essential council. While the United States is projected to increase electricity demands by 151 GW over the next ten years, coal fired units are pre-maturely retiring at an alarming rate. Premature retirements of coal fired units are largely driven by federal and state policies designed to intentionally attack their financial viability.

Background on H.R.1047, GRID Power Act:

The GRID Power Act provides Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators with authority to prioritize energy projects that are ready to bring more baseload power onto the grid immediately, improving grid reliability and resiliency and helping to meet the demand of industrial and household customers alike. Expediting resources that advance reliability provides grid operators with additional tools to re-balance the grid's resource mix to keep the lights on at affordable prices for all Americans and reverse the legacy effects of the Biden-Harris energy policies that continue to drive prices higher.

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