GRID Power Act

This bill tells the federal energy regulator to speed up and improve how new power plants get hooked up to the grid. It focuses on “dispatchable” power—plants that can reliably turn on when needed—to help keep the lights on during high demand or emergencies. The regulator must let grid operators move these reliability-boosting projects toward the front of the line, but only if they show why it’s needed and how it will help. The process must include chances for public comment and regular reporting on grid reliability and resilience. The regulator has to accept or reject queue-change proposals within 60 days to respond quickly to concerns. It must start the rulemaking within 90 days, finish within 180 days, and review the rules at least every five years to keep them up to date (definitions; prioritizing dispatchable projects; public comment and reporting; 60-day decisions; 90/180-day deadlines; five-year review) .

In plain terms, this aims to cut delays so reliable, on-demand power plants can connect faster, which could reduce blackouts and keep electricity more stable during storms, heat waves, or other shocks. “Dispatchable power” here means generation that can provide a known, steady supply when called upon to support grid reliability and resilience .

• Who is affected: Federal energy regulators, transmission providers and grid operators, power plant developers, and communities relying on stable electricity .
• What changes: Grid operators can ask to move certain reliable, on-demand projects up in the interconnection line; must show need, take public comments, and report regularly on reliability and resilience; the regulator must decide on proposals within 60 days .
• When: Rulemaking starts within 90 days; final rules within 180 days; review at least every five years after that .