Castor, Welch Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Strengthen Energy Grid, Lower Electric Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, and Sen. Peter Welch (VT), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy and Credit, this week reintroduced the Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act, bicameral legislation that aims to make it easier for the United States to advance affordable, clean energy projects and strengthen its electric grid.

The Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure that interstate and offshore transmission infrastructure projects allocate costs to beneficiaries more fairly. The legislation would help lower energy costs for consumers by accelerating the construction of interstate transmission lines that deliver vital affordable, clean energy to communities across the country.

"America's aging electric grid and growing transmission bottlenecks are driving up energy costs for Florida families, slowing the development and deployment of newer, cheaper energy resources and leaving communities more vulnerable to increasingly extreme weather," said Rep. Castor. "The Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act will help address these challenges by making it easier to complete essential transmission projects, reduce costly grid congestion and deliver affordable, reliable electricity where it is needed. This commonsense legislation will help build a cheaper, cleaner, stronger and more resilient energy future for families and businesses across Tampa Bay."

"Strengthening America's electric grid is essential to ensuring we can meet modern electricity and climate challenges. Finding ways that make it easier to construct and complete transmission projects that boost the resiliency of our grid and lower costs for consumers is a major part of that. We're working to bolster our grid against extreme weather and help ensure every home across America has access to affordable and reliable electricity," said Sen. Welch.

View the full text of the bill here.