WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12) today introduced a bill to unleash American energy dominance, ensure U.S. energy independence, and support an all-of-the-above approach that guarantees affordable, reliable energy based on evidence and science rather than far-left “green new deal” political ideologies.
“We saw under the Biden Administration how unelected bureaucrats were able to derail American energy policy by effectively shutting down our baseload, reliable energy productions. This bill restores regulatory sanity,” said Balderson. “There could be no better gift to all Americans as we approach our 250th birthday than the promise of affordable, reliable and secure energy, for today and for generations to come.
“The Affordable, Reliable, Clean Energy Security Act positions the U.S. as the world’s energy leader. It achieves true energy dominance. It directs federal agencies to align their policies with common sense objectives rather than slogans and empty promises. It provides a crucial tool for Congressional oversight.”
The bill formally defines three key energy terms for energy regulators: affordable, reliable, and clean. Currently, these terms can be left open to interpretation by the executive branch and can shift from one administration to the next. While President Trump has worked to roll back the previous administration’s Green New Deal agenda, this legislation would make those reversals legally binding.
Upon enactment, the legislation would require relevant federal agencies—such as the Department of Energy, Department of the Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency—to review any actions relating to affordable, reliable, or clean energy within 90 days and submit a report to Congress. The bill guarantees that our most affordable and reliable energy sources, including nuclear and natural gas, remain part of the energy mix – a crucial requirement to guarantee affordable and reliable energy for American households and businesses.
Agencies would be directed to ensure that rulemaking, grant programs, and policies are updated to reflect and incorporate the definitions established in this bill, and submit a final report to Congress within 180 days detailing their implementation.
The Affordable, Reliable, Clean Energy Security Act will rein in regulatory practices that have imperiled baseload power in the U.S. and unleash American energy dominance with common sense federal policies that support an all-of-the-above approach to meeting our energy needs. This legislation is critical to supporting American energy producers and lowering energy costs for American families and businesses.
Ohio has experienced rapid growth in electricity demand in recent years due to new data centers and industrial manufacturing facilities, which consume massive amounts of energy. This growing demand, coupled with a decrease in generation capacity, means higher electric bills for consumers. Making matters worse, the Department of Energy recently announced that due to retirements of existing generation and projected load growth, the risk of power outages will increase by 100 times over the next five years.
Balderson is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman of the House Energy Action Team.
Full text of the bill can be found HERE.
