Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Deploy AI for More Efficient Power Grid

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Kevin Mullin (D-CA) and Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) today introduced the Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act, bipartisan legislation that would direct the Secretary of Energy to assess how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing (HPC) technologies can strengthen the capacity, reliability, and efficiency of America's bulk-power system.

"As energy demand continues to grow, we need to make sure our power grid can keep up," said Congressman Kevin Mullin. "New AI and computing technologies have enormous potential to help the power system operate more efficiently, reduce delays in connecting new energy resources to the grid, and improve reliability for communities across the country. This bipartisan bill will help us better understand how these tools can strengthen our grid, reduce energy costs, and ensure we are making smart investments in America's energy future."

"America's energy grid is the backbone of our economy, and we have an obligation to make sure it's built for the future," said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. "Interconnection studies that should take months are taking years, and that backlog is a real drag on grid performance and American competitiveness. AI and High-Performance Computing can help us cut through that by optimizing how we operate existing infrastructure and getting more out of every line and generator. Right now, we don't have a clear picture of where those technologies stand or what's holding back wider adoption. This bill is a commonsense first step toward fixing that and making sure America leads the world in both energy and innovation."

The Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act would require the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO), to conduct a comprehensive assessment of how AI and HPC technologies can be deployed to enhance grid operations.

Specifically, the assessment would examine:

• The potential for AI and HPC to expedite generator and load interconnection studies.
• Current applications and adoption levels of these technologies across the bulk-power system.
• Technical, regulatory, cybersecurity, and operational barriers limiting broader adoption.

The bill requires the Secretary of Energy to complete the assessment within 90 days of enactment and submit a report to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee within one year, including recommendations to overcome identified barriers and accelerate integration of AI and HPC technologies into grid operations.

CLICK HERE for the full text of the bill.

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