GRID Power Act
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Would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reform its interconnection queue — the line of projects waiting to connect to the electric grid — to allow transmission providers to move dispatchable power projects, such as fossil fuel generators, ahead of other projects that improve grid reliability.
The bill would mark a notable shift in federal energy grid policy by prioritizing controllable, on-demand generation sources in the queue to connect to high-voltage transmission lines, a process that currently treats most project types on a first-come, first-served basis.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would direct FERC to initiate a rulemaking within 90 days of enactment to overhaul how interconnection requests — applications from power generators to connect to the high-voltage electric transmission grid — are processed. Specifically, FERC would be required to amend the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures to allow transmission providers (utilities, independent system operators, and regional transmission organizations) to submit proposals to FERC to give higher queue positions to new "dispatchable power" projects — defined as generation resources capable of providing known and forecastable electricity output, such as fossil fuel plants. FERC would have to approve or deny each such proposal within 60 days. A final rule would be due within 180 days of enactment, and FERC would be required to review and update the regulations at least every five years.
The bill would not itself directly change which projects can connect to the grid; rather, it would create a mechanism for transmission providers to request priority treatment for dispatchable projects on a case-by-case basis, subject to a demonstration of need, a public comment process, and FERC approval. Renewable energy projects are not prohibited from interconnecting but would not receive the prioritized queue position under this framework.
Key provisions
- 1Would require FERC to initiate a rulemaking within 90 days to address inefficiencies in interconnection procedures and ensure dispatchable power projects can interconnect quickly, cost-effectively, and reliably.
- 2Would require FERC to amend pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures to authorize transmission providers to submit proposals assigning dispatchable power projects higher interconnection queue positions.
- 3Would require transmission providers' prioritization proposals to demonstrate need and describe how prioritization will improve grid reliability or resilience, and to include a public comment process.
- 4Would require FERC to review and approve or deny each transmission provider prioritization proposal within 60 days of submission.
- 5Would require FERC to promulgate final regulations completing the rulemaking within 180 days of enactment.
- 6Would require FERC to review and, if necessary, update the regulations at least once every five years.
Who would be affected
Power generators seeking to connect to the electric grid — particularly fossil fuel and other dispatchable generators that could move up in line, and renewable energy developers who could be displaced to lower queue positions. Transmission providers including public utilities, independent system operators, and regional transmission organizations would be required to design and submit prioritization proposals. Electricity consumers and grid operators nationwide would be indirectly affected by changes to the resource mix connecting to the grid.
Why it matters
Interconnection queue backlogs currently delay power plants by years. If enacted, this bill would give dispatchable generators — primarily fossil fuel plants — a mechanism to jump ahead in that line, potentially accelerating their connection to the grid while slowing the queue for renewable projects already waiting. The policy debate turns on whether faster dispatchable capacity improves grid reliability or entrenches carbon-emitting generation at the expense of the clean energy transition.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures (18 C.F.R. § 35.28(f)) (Sec. 3(a)(2))
Adds authority for transmission providers to propose prioritizing dispatchable power projects in the interconnection queue and requires stakeholder engagement and regular reliability reporting.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- FERC must initiate the rulemaking
- FERC must promulgate final regulations
- FERC must approve or deny each transmission provider prioritization proposal
- Mandatory periodic review of regulations by FERC
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates the GRID Power Act would have no significant effect on the federal deficit, with zero impact on direct spending or revenues over the 2025–2035 period.
CBO estimates that H.R. 1047 would result in no change to direct (mandatory) spending or revenues, and therefore no effect on the deficit over the 2025–2035 scoring window. The bill would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to revise rules prioritizing grid-interconnection projects for dispatchable power, but any increase in FERC's discretionary costs would be offset by fees it charges to regulated entities, resulting in a negligible net change in spending subject to annual appropriations. CBO identified both an intergovernmental mandate and a private-sector mandate (related to potential fee increases on electric utilities), but estimates that the costs of each fall well below the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act thresholds of $103 million and $206 million (in 2025), respectively.
How implementation would work
FERC would initiate rulemaking within 90 days and finalize regulations within 180 days of enactment. Under those regulations, transmission providers would be authorized to submit prioritization proposals to FERC; each proposal must include a demonstration of need, a description of reliability or resilience benefits, and documentation of a prior public comment and stakeholder engagement process. FERC would then have 60 days to approve or deny. Transmission providers would also be required to report regularly to FERC on grid reliability and resilience, including actions taken under the new framework. FERC would conduct a mandatory review of the regulations at least every five years.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Official CRS summary
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Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable Power Act or the GRID Power Act
This bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue and periodically review a rule that revises the approval process for interconnection requests of generating units that produce electricity to prioritize dispatchable power projects (e.g., certain fossil fuel projects).
Under the bill, dispatchable power generally refers to an electric energy generation resource, such as a generating unit that produces electricity from fossil fuels, capable of providing known and forecastable electric supply in time intervals necessary to ensure grid reliability. Currently, FERC receives interconnection requests from those projects and other generating units, such as units that produce electricity from renewable energy. Interconnection requests are requests from generating units to connect to the high voltage transmission lines of the electric grid.
First, the rule must address the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing procedures for processing interconnection requests to ensure that new dispatchable power projects that improve grid reliability and resource adequacy can interconnect to the electric grid quickly, cost-effectively, and reliably.
Second, the rule must revise the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures, and the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Agreement as appropriate, to authorize transmission providers to submit proposals to FERC to prioritize new dispatchable power projects that will improve grid reliability and resource adequacy by assigning those projects higher positions in the interconnection queue of the provider. FERC must review and approve or deny such proposals within 60 days after the proposal is submitted.
Legislative subjects
Electric power generation and transmission; Energy; Energy efficiency and conservation; Energy storage, supplies, demand
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-295