GRID Power Act

This bill, called the GRID Power Act, aims to keep the lights on by speeding up how certain power plants get permission to connect to the electric grid. It tells the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to change its rules so “dispatchable” power projects—plants that can be turned on when needed—can move faster through the line to connect, improving grid reliability and resilience (). The rule must let transmission providers propose moving these projects up in the queue, with guardrails to show the need, explain the benefits to reliability or resilience, invite public comment, and report regularly on grid conditions to FERC ().

FERC has tight timelines: start writing the rule within 90 days and finish the final rule within 180 days. When transmission providers send proposals to reprioritize projects, FERC must approve or deny them within 60 days. FERC must also review and update these regulations at least every five years (; ).

• Who is affected: FERC; transmission providers; Independent System Operators and Regional Transmission Organizations; developers of dispatchable power projects ().
• What changes: Faster, prioritized grid-connection process for dispatchable power; public input on proposals; regular reporting to FERC on reliability and resilience ().
• When: Rulemaking starts within 90 days; FERC decisions on proposals within 60 days; final rule within 180 days; review every 5 years (; ).