[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1514 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1514
To amend the Federal Power Act to increase transmission capacity for
clean energy, reduce congestion, and increase grid resilience.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 2, 2021
Mr. Peters introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Power Act to increase transmission capacity for
clean energy, reduce congestion, and increase grid resilience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Prevent Outages With Energy
Resilient Options Nationwide Act'' or the ``POWER ON Act''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO FEDERAL POWER ACT.
(a) Designation of National Interest Electric Transmission
Corridors.--Section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p(a))
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``capacity constraints
and'' before ``congestion'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by inserting ``, not less often than once every
3 years,'' after ``Secretary shall'';
(B) by inserting ``and Indian tribes'' after
``affected States'';
(C) by inserting ``or other information about
electric transmission capacity constraints or
congestion'' after ``the study''; and
(D) by inserting ``, or that is expected to
experience such constraints or congestion,'' after
``consumers'';
(3) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, not less often than
once every 3 years,'' after ``Secretary shall''; and
(4) in paragraph (4)--
(A) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``or energy
security'' after ``independence'';
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the ``and'' at
the end;
(C) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``security.''
and inserting ``security;''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) the designation would--
``(i) enhance the ability of facilities that
generate or transmit renewable energy, low-emission
energy, or emission-free energy to connect to the
electric grid;
``(ii) promote electrification of other sectors,
including the transportation sector; or
``(iii) facilitate other public policies to
decarbonize the grid;
``(G) the designation--
``(i) maximizes existing rights-of-way, including
along highways, brownfields, and railways; and
``(ii) avoids, to the maximum extent practicable,
sensitive environmental areas and cultural heritage
sites; and
``(H) the designation would result in a reduction in the
cost to purchase electric energy for consumers.''.
(b) Construction Permit.--Section 216(b) of the Federal Power Act
(16 U.S.C. 824p(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting ``or
interregional benefits'' after ``interstate benefits'';
and
(B) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as
follows:
``(C) a State commission or other entity that has authority
to approve the siting of the facilities has--
``(i) not approved or denied an application seeking
approval pursuant to applicable law by the date that is
1 year after the filing of the application or 1 year
after the designation of the relevant national interest
electric transmission corridor, whichever is later;
``(ii) conditioned its approval in such a manner
that the proposed construction or modification will not
significantly reduce transmission congestion in
interstate commerce or is not economically feasible; or
``(iii) denied an application seeking approval
pursuant to applicable law;''.
(c) Rights-of-Way.--Section 216(e)(1) of the Federal Power Act (16
U.S.C. 824p(e)(1)) is amended by inserting ``and the permit holder has
made good faith efforts to engage landowners and other stakeholders
early,'' after ``facilities,''.
(d) Interstate Compacts.--Section 216(i) of the Federal Power Act
(16 U.S.C. 824p) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``may'' and inserting
``shall''; and
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``the members of the
compact are in disagreement and the Secretary makes, after
notice and an opportunity for a hearing, the finding described
in subsection (b)(1)(C)'' and inserting ``the Secretary finds
that the members of the compact are in disagreement after the
date that is 1 year after the filing of an application for the
facility or 1 year after the designation of the relevant
national interest electric transmission corridor, whichever is
later''.
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