Baseload Reliability Protection Act

This bill aims to keep certain “always-available” power plants running in places the grid watchdog says face high or elevated risk of power supply shortfalls. In those areas, plant owners could not shut down a covered plant or switch its fuel unless they get an exemption that shows reliability won’t suffer, or that keeping the plant open would cause major financial losses or safety risks .

Owners could ask the federal energy regulator for an exemption within 90 days of the latest reliability report, and the agency would generally have 90 days to decide (up to 180 days for cases tied to unprofitability). If shutting a money-losing plant would harm reliability, the case would be sent to the Energy Department, which could offer grants or loans to keep it operating and cover minimum costs, including upgrades or life‑extension work; interest paid on these loans would go to reduce the deficit . While this rule is in effect, owners wouldn’t face certain environmental compliance costs tied to running the plant, and regulators could not factor greenhouse gas emissions into exemption decisions. The grid organization must also set standard, transparent criteria within 60 days for labeling areas as high or elevated risk, and the federal regulator must report to Congress within one year on enforcement needs. Owners could appeal decisions in federal court within 60 days.

Key points

• Who is affected: Power plant owners in at‑risk regions; communities in those regions; federal energy and grid agencies.
• What changes: No retiring or fuel‑switching of covered plants without an approved exemption; possible DOE grants or loans to keep plants running; greenhouse gas emissions can’t be considered in decisions; certain environmental penalties are paused while plants are required to operate .
• When: Exemption requests due within 90 days of the latest reliability report; decisions in 90–180 days; risk criteria due within 60 days of enactment; an enforcement report due within one year; appeals within 60 days of a decision .