Indy Standard

U.S. Senators Todd Young and John Hoeven have introduced the Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable (GRID) Power Act. This legislation aims to streamline the development of new baseload power generation projects, with a focus on improving the reliability of the electrical grid.

Senator Young emphasized the need for swift action, stating, "Bureaucratic delays are slowing critical power projects and threatening the reliability of our electric grid. We need to cut through red tape to get more power online faster. This bill will strengthen our grid to promote American energy independence and drive economic growth—especially in states like Indiana, where reliable energy is vital to jobs and Hoosier workers."

Senator Hoeven highlighted concerns over past policies, saying, "The reliability of the electric grid has been undermined for years by Green New Deal policies advanced under the Obama and Biden administrations, whose heavy-handed approach to regulation has forced the retirement of critically-needed baseload power plants. The result is an unstable grid, power shortages and more brownouts and blackouts." He added that their legislation aims to empower grid operators by prioritizing baseload power generation projects for approval.

The GRID Power Act would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to initiate rulemaking that authorizes regional grid operators to prioritize baseload generation projects seeking interconnection agreements. As reported in 2023, proposed projects face a median wait time of five years for an interconnection agreement. The act mandates FERC to establish this process within 90 days of enactment and finalize it within 180 days.

Additionally, it sets a 60-day timeline for FERC to act on prioritized baseload generation projects. The timely approval is intended to address gaps in reliable power generation created by rules from the Biden-Harris Administration like Clean Power Plan 2.0.

A companion bill was introduced in the House by Congressman Troy Balderson.

Full text of the Senate’s GRID Power Act can be found here.