Sponsor
Jeff Merkley
Senator · D-OR
Senator · D-OR
The bill accelerates and clarifies deployment of wind, solar, storage, and geothermal projects—potentially lowering costs and simplifying permitting—but does so by constraining local control and broadening program eligibility, which may increase taxpayer costs and local environmental or quality-of-life impacts.
Utilities, developers, and state regulators can build and connect renewable projects faster because the bill prevents permanent local bans and long moratoria on wind, solar, storage, and geothermal projects.
Households and consumers — especially in rural communities — may get greater access to renewable power and potentially lower electricity prices as more projects can be sited and interconnected.
Households, businesses, developers, and utilities gain clearer eligibility and planning certainty because the bill explicitly includes wind, solar, storage, and geothermal within the Act's definition of 'renewable energy.'
Local governments and communities lose some control to set stricter siting, noise, or setback rules that they may rely on to protect safety, property values, or scenic character.
Nearby residents — particularly in rural areas — may face greater visual impacts, noise, and land-use changes with limited ability to require larger buffers or stricter standards.
Broadening the definition of 'renewable energy' could expand eligibility for subsidies or incentives, increasing program costs borne by taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits state and local bans, long moratoria, and certain siting/fee/noise limits on wind, solar, storage, and geothermal projects delivering energy in interstate commerce.
Official title: Prohibit States and local governments from prohibiting or limiting the connection, reconnection, modification, installation, transportation, distribution, or expansion of a renewable energy service based on the type or source of energy to be delivered, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 11, 2026 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress June 11, 2026
Prohibits state and local governments from adopting or enforcing rules that effectively block or restrict certain renewable energy projects and services (wind, solar, energy storage, geothermal) delivered in interstate commerce. It bars permanent bans, moratoria longer than six months, very low height limits, large setback and sound restrictions, unequal permitting fees, and refusal to enter road‑use agreements, while defining "renewable energy."