GRID Power Act
Officially: “GRID Power Act” Read the full text
What it does
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Sec. 1Short title
This section gives the Act a short title: the Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable Power Act, also called the GRID Power Act.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable Power Act or the GRID Power Act .
Sec. 2Definitions
This section defines the terms used in the Act. "Bulk-power system" has the meaning already given in section 215(a) of the Federal Power Act. "Commission" means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. "Dispatchable power" means an electric energy generation resource that can provide known and forecastable electric supply in the time intervals needed to keep the grid reliable. "Grid reliability" means the grid's ability to deliver an adequate, secure, and stable flow of electricity in the quantity and quality that users demand, taking into account whether the bulk-power system can withstand sudden disturbances. "Grid resilience" means the grid's ability to adapt to changing physical conditions and to withstand and quickly recover from major disturbances, including natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and other unforeseen events. "Independent System Operator" and "Regional Transmission Organization" each have the meanings already given in section 3 of the Federal Power Act. "Resource adequacy" means the electric system's ability to meet total customer electricity demand and energy needs at all times, accounting for both scheduled and reasonably expected unscheduled outages of bulk-power system components. "Transmission provider" means any of three types of entities: a public utility (as defined in section 201(e) of the Federal Power Act) that owns, operates, or controls one or more transmission facilities; an Independent System Operator; or a Regional Transmission Organization.
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2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Bulk-power system The term bulk-power system has the meaning given the term in section 215(a) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824o(a) ). (2) Commission The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (3) Dispatchable power The term dispatchable power means an electric energy generation resource capable of providing known and forecastable electric supply in time intervals necessary to ensure grid reliability. (4) Grid reliability The term grid reliability means the ability of the electric grid to deliver an adequate, secure, and stable flow of electricity in the quantity and with the quality demanded by users, taking into account the ability of the bulk-power system to withstand sudden disturbances. (5) Grid resilience The term grid resilience means the ability of the electric grid to adapt to changing physical conditions and withstand and rapidly recover from significant disturbances, including natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and other unforeseen events. (6) Independent System Operator The term Independent System Operator has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 796 ). (7) Regional Transmission Organization The term Regional Transmission Organization has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 796 ). (8) Resource adequacy The term resource adequacy means the ability of the electric system to meet the aggregate electrical demand and energy requirements of end-use customers at all times, accounting for scheduled and reasonably expected unscheduled outages of bulk-power system components. (9) Transmission provider The term transmission provider means— (A) a public utility (as defined in section 201(e) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824(e) )) that owns, operates, or controls 1 or more transmission facilities; (B) an Independent System Operator; and (C) a Regional Transmission Organization.
Sec. 3Rulemaking to improve interconnection queue flexibility
This section would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to overhaul how new power projects get connected to the electric grid. Within 90 days after the Act becomes law, the Commission must start a rulemaking with two goals. First, the rulemaking must address the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of the current procedures for processing interconnection requests, so that new dispatchable power projects that improve grid reliability and resource adequacy can connect to the grid quickly, cost-effectively, and reliably. Second, the rulemaking must amend the standard (pro forma) Large Generator Interconnection Procedures, and, where appropriate, the standard Large Generator Interconnection Agreement, issued under section 35.28(f) of title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations or any successor regulation. Those amended procedures must let transmission providers submit proposals to the Commission to adjust their own interconnection queue so that new dispatchable power projects that will improve grid reliability and resource adequacy get higher positions in the queue. The amended procedures must also require transmission providers to meet two requirements tied to any such proposal: the proposal itself must include a demonstration of the need to prioritize the relevant projects and an explanation of how prioritizing them will improve grid reliability or grid resilience, and the transmission provider must run a public comment and stakeholder engagement process before submitting the proposal to the Commission. Separately, and on an ongoing basis whether or not a proposal is ever submitted, transmission providers must give the Commission regular reports on the state of grid reliability and grid resilience, including reports on any actions taken under this Act. The Act also requires that, to ensure timely responses to grid reliability concerns, the Commission review each proposal submitted under this rulemaking and either approve or deny it within 60 days after it is submitted. The Commission must also issue final regulations completing this rulemaking no later than 180 days after the Act becomes law. Finally, at least once every 5 years after that, the Commission must review the regulations issued under this section and update them if necessary to keep them effective and relevant as grid reliability and grid resilience challenges evolve.
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3. Rulemaking to improve interconnection queue flexibility (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall initiate a rulemaking— (1) to address the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of 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; and (2) to amend the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures and, as appropriate, the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Agreement, promulgated pursuant to section 35.28(f) of title 18, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)— (A) to authorize transmission providers to submit proposals to the Commission to adjust the interconnection queue of the transmission provider to prioritize new dispatchable power projects that will improve grid reliability and resource adequacy by assigning those projects higher positions in the interconnection queue; and (B) to require transmission providers— (i) to provide in any proposal described in subparagraph (A)— (I) a demonstration of need for prioritization of the relevant projects; and (II) a description of how the prioritization of those projects will improve grid reliability or grid resilience; (ii) to provide a process for public comment and stakeholder engagement before a proposal described in subparagraph (A) is submitted to the Commission; and (iii) to provide regular reporting to the Commission on the state of grid reliability and grid resilience, including reporting on any actions taken pursuant to this Act. (b) Commission approval To ensure timely responses to grid reliability concerns, not later than 60 days after a proposal is submitted pursuant to subsection (a)(2), the Commission shall— (1) review the proposal; and (2) approve or deny the proposal. (c) Deadline for final rule Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate final regulations to complete the rulemaking initiated under subsection (a). (d) Periodic review Not less frequently than once every 5 years, the Commission shall review and, if necessary, update the regulations promulgated under this section to ensure that those regulations remain effective and relevant to evolving grid reliability and grid resilience challenges.
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