The Senate is moving toward a more connected power grid with the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by two Republicans and two Democrats. The legislation would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to create clear standards for interregional transmission planning and to establish a streamlined pathway for permitting and building those projects.
Why the bill matters
America’s electricity demand is climbing rapidly, and the current grid is divided into 12 planning regions and three major power grids. While each region has a federal framework for its own planning, there is no comparable system for coordinating projects that cross regional boundaries. As a result, interregional transmission projects have been virtually nonexistent, with FERC Commissioner David Rosner noting this year that the existing requirements have produced “exactly zero interregional transmission projects.”
Current gaps and international comparison
Mark Falinski, senior manager for power transition and decarbonization at the World Resources Institute, told a briefing hosted by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute that the United States lags behind Europe and China in grid connectivity. He explained that most U.S. regions can exchange less than 10 percent of their capacity, with many transferring only 1‑3 percent during peak load because the necessary ties simply do not exist.
Research from the Macro Grid Initiative shows that from 2014 to 2020 China added about 250 gigawatts of interregional transmission capacity—roughly one‑third of peak U.S. electricity demand—while Europe added about 50 gigawatts. The United States and Canada together added only about 7 gigawatts in the same period.
How the bill would work
According to Daniel Palken, director of Infrastructure for Energy & Permitting at Arnold Ventures, the bill offers two pathways for developing interregional transmission. The primary route would have regional planners meet, identify needed corridors, develop a joint plan, and submit it to FERC for review. Palken cautioned that this multi‑year, multi‑stakeholder process could be “somewhat arduous” and may encounter delays, especially if utilities prioritize projects within their own service territories.
The second pathway serves as a backstop. If the collaborative planning process stalls, individual developers could bring projects directly to FERC after obtaining state approvals. This option would provide an “alternative avenue” for projects facing what Palken described as “artificial barriers,” and its mere existence could encourage smoother cooperation among stakeholders.
Streamlining environmental reviews
The bill also proposes to narrow the scope of reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act for certain transmission projects. Palken emphasized that these changes would not repeal the historic preservation law but would reduce the burden of analysis for projects that only touch federal land briefly, helping to avoid “disproportionate penalties” for modest land use.
Next steps
The Senate is expected to begin formal consideration of the bill after the November 3 midterm elections, with an initial procedural vote anticipated when lawmakers reconvene. If passed, the legislation could provide the framework needed to close the nation’s transmission gaps, improve grid reliability, and keep electricity costs down for families and businesses across the country.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
