EEI Expresses Support for the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA)

EEI Expresses Support for the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA)

EEI Expresses Support for the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA)

WASHINGTON (November 09, 2026) - Today, Edison Electric Institute President and CEO Drew Maloney sent a letter to Congressional leaders in support of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA). In a statement about the bill, Maloney said:

"Our top priority has been to protect our 250 million customers by continuing to deliver reliable electricity across America and building the strong grid we need for our shared future. We have worked daily with the White House, Senate, and House leaders to strengthen and clarify several provisions in the proposal. We appreciate the updated text and support the new legislation that will help put more steel in the ground, cut unnecessary government red tape, and deliver more affordable, reliable energy."

Please see the link to the letter here and the full text below:

"On behalf of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and America's investor-owned electric companies, we write to express our support for bipartisan permitting reform and the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA), as improved by the Substitute Amendment. We serve more than 250 million customers across the United States and operate the nation's grid - the backbone of our economy - to deliver reliable power to families, businesses, and communities every day.

"We appreciate the leadership that the bipartisan drafters have demonstrated throughout the process and their willingness to work with EEI and our member companies to strengthen and clarify BAAJA. In particular, we appreciate the meaningful clarifications reflected in the Substitute Amendment to help ensure local planning oversight works as intended; to preserve our ability to respond quickly to meet critical customer needs; and to avoid duplicative planning requirements and support the construction of efficient and cost-effective infrastructure to serve customers.

"America needs to build energy infrastructure faster to meet growing electricity demand, strengthen reliability, support economic growth, and make electricity more affordable for customers. A more predictable and efficient permitting process is an important part of meeting that challenge.

"As the legislation moves forward, EEI looks forward to working closely with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, state regulators, policymakers, and other stakeholders to facilitate implementation that is in the best interests of customers. Our priority will be to ensure that new transmission requirements strengthen the grid, protect reliability, shield existing customers from costs that should be paid by data centers, build on the considerable expertise of grid planners and state and local leaders, and support regulatory certainty so that we can continue to build for the future.

"EEI appreciates the bipartisan work reflected in this legislation. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress and the Administration to advance permitting reform that allows America to build the strong grid we need for our economy, national security, and communities."