Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12) announced the introduction of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives today that would provide increased transparency and information on the long-term reliability of America’s electrical grid.

“When the American people reach for the light switch, they should have confidence in knowing that the lights will actually turn on. The Biden Administration’s rush-to-green agenda is pushing the country’s electric grid to the brink,” said Congressman Balderson. “As the federal government drives reliable power generation into retirement, the American people should know the corresponding risks that misguided policies pose to long-term grid reliability.”

The Grid Reliability and Resiliency Improvements Act (H.R. 2875) would require the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), in consultation with the Department of Energy (DOE), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs) to submit a report to Congress every two years identifying risks to the long-term reliability of the electric grid and electricity generation.

Under H.R. 2875, NERC would be required to submit a report to Congress that:

• Identifies state and federal policies that are driving retirements of facilities that generate electricity;
• Describes the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments and policies on electric grid reliability; and
• Outlines the estimated increase in demand for electricity through the end of the decade, and whether the amount of new, renewable generation connecting to the grid is sufficient to meet the growing demand and offset the retirements of fossil fuel generation

PJM Interconnection – one of the nation’s largest grid operators – released an alarming report of its own earlier this year showing that America’s growing power demands, coupled with the retirement of existing fossil fuel power generation, far outweighs renewable sources’ capacity to meet consumer demands. PJM’s analysis shows that 40 gigawatts of existing generation are at risk of retirement by 2030, more than half of which is a result of certain state- and federal-level policy decisions.

“I support an all-of-the-above approach to meeting this country’s power generation needs,” added Congressman Balderson. “But when green dreams jeopardize our ability to keep the lights on, we must have an honest conversation about how certain policy decisions are putting Americans at increased risk of power outages and energy insecurity.”

On March 30, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 1. the Lower Energy Costs Act, with bipartisan support, to reform outdated permitting processes, help boost domestic energy production, and repeal President Biden’s punitive tax on natural gas.