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Balderson, Carey, Taylor Introduce Resolution Honoring Fallen Ohio Servicemembers

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Troy Balderson (OH-12), Mike Carey (OH-15), and Dave Taylor (OH-2) introduced a resolution honoring the lives, service, and sacrifice of six servicemembers killed during a March 12 air refueling mission over western Iraq in support of Operation Epic Fury. Three of those servicemembers were part of the Ohio Air National Guard.

“Our nation is forever grateful to Capt. Koval, Capt. Angst, and Tech. Sgt. Simmons for their commitment to defending freedom,” said Balderson. “They answered the call to serve—and did so with courage and selflessness. We grieve alongside their families, stand with their fellow servicemembers, and remain forever indebted for their sacrifice.”

“The tragic deaths of six Airmen during a combat mission in the Middle East is a devastating loss for our country and our communities here in Ohio. My prayers are with the Gold Star families grieving their loved ones. America is protected by brave heroes who volunteer to serve, and their sacrifice will not be forgotten,” said Carey.

“Captain Curtis Angst, Technical Sergeant Tyler Simmons, and Captain Seth Koval made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation, and we owe a debt of gratitude to heroes like them. My heart is with their families as they grieve this unthinkable loss, and I will continue to stand resolutely behind our courageous service members as they prove time after time that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave,” said Taylor.

Servicemembers from the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, OH, were Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst, and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons.

From the 99th Air Refueling Squadron in Birmingham, AL, were Maj. John A. Klinner, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt.

Full text of the resolution can be found HERE.

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Op-Ed – Keeping pace with innovation: Empowering Americans in the age of wearables

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Op-Ed originally published in The Washington Times.

By Troy Balderson

Americans are paying more attention to their health than ever before. From scrutinizing ingredient lists to prioritizing sleep and recovery, people across the country are becoming more engaged in their own well-being.

At the center of this movement are wearable health devices.

Products like smartwatches, fitness bands and rings now offer insights that once required a visit to a doctor or specialist. They help answer everyday questions that matter: Did that late-afternoon coffee affect my sleep? Has increasing my activity lowered my resting heart rate? Am I recovering well, or should I take it easy today?

I’ve seen this evolution firsthand. Decades ago, wearable health tech was bulky, expensive, and mostly limited to elite athletes. Today, it fits on your wrist — or even your finger — and it’s being used by people of all ages. My own mother, now in her 80s, can track her steps and better understand how she’s feeling from one day to the next.

I’m an early adopter myself. I’ve worn a smartwatch for years. It tracks my workouts, heart rate, sleep, respiration and VO2 max, and even estimates a “fitness age” compared to my actual one. These tools don’t replace a doctor — but they make me a more informed, engaged patient.

In fact, when I go in for my annual physical, I can hand my phone to my physician and review trends together. Having this data already in hand sparks better conversations, better questions and better decisions.

But as exciting as this progress is, innovation is now moving faster than our regulatory system.

Wearable companies are packing more sensors, features and capabilities into consumer devices at a rapid pace. But Washington’s regulatory framework wasn’t built to keep up with health-focused technology that evolves this quickly.

Technology has a long history of outpacing the federal government. But when regulation lags too far behind, it can delay access to safe, low-risk innovations — and discourage the very breakthroughs that have made American products competitive globally.

This is where Congress needs to act.

In the coming weeks, I will introduce legislation to modernize how certain low-risk digital health screening functions on wearables are reviewed and approved. The goal is simple: create a streamlined, tailored regulatory pathway that protects consumers without bogging down innovation.

My bill provides the Food and Drug Administration with clear legislative guidance on how to approach these emerging tools. It encourages collaboration between regulators and device manufacturers, rather than forcing innovators into outdated, one-size-fits-all processes designed for traditional medical devices.

Safety and accuracy remain front and center. But we also need a system that recognizes the difference between high-risk medical interventions and low-risk digital health screeners that help people better understand their own bodies.

This matters not just for patients, but also for the entire health care system. When individuals are more engaged in their health, outcomes improve — and costs can come down.

There’s also a bigger picture to consider. The United States leads the world in health innovation, but that leadership isn’t guaranteed. If we fail to modernize our regulatory approach, we risk falling behind while other countries race ahead.

Just as important as innovation is protecting Americans’ personal health information. Consumers deserve confidence that the data generated by their devices is secure, transparent and used responsibly. As this discussion unfolds on Capitol Hill, I will be committed to establishing strong privacy safeguards and clear accountability.

Republican or Democrat, we all want healthier lives for ourselves and our families. Modernizing regulations to keep pace with innovation shouldn’t be controversial; it should be expected. And in 2026, learning more about your health shouldn’t be limited to the four walls of a doctor’s office.

As co-chair of the Congressional Digital Health Caucus, I believe we should use every tool at our disposal to bring care directly to patients, wherever they are, and whenever they need it. With thoughtful, modern regulations, we can empower consumers, support innovators and ensure America remains the global leader in digital health.

Rep. Troy Balderson represents Ohio’s 12th Congressional District. He serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health.

House passes Rep. Troy Balderson’s bill to bolster grid reliability

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This article was originally published by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

By Sabrina Eaton

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed legislation by Zanesville Republican Rep. Troy Balderson that would require federal agencies to assess how their regulations affect electric grid reliability before finalizing new rules.

The Reliable Power Act (H.R. 3616) was approved 225 to 203, with unanimous GOP backing, and support from Democrats Lou Correa of California, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Jared Golden of Maine, Jimmy Gray of California, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, and Eugene Vindman of Virginia.

“America is facing a reliability crisis–one made worse by the last administration’s regulatory chaos and radical climate agenda,” Balderson said on the House of Representatives floor. “After unelected bureaucrats spent years waging war on American energy, President Trump and his Administration have finally reined in agency overreach and restored energy dominance as a national priority.”

The legislation would require the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to conduct annual long-term assessments of the bulk power system’s ability to maintain adequate reliability. If NERC determines the grid is at risk of insufficient generation capacity, it must notify the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that the system is in a “state of generation inadequacy.”

FERC would then notify the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other relevant agencies. Those agencies would be required to submit any proposed regulations affecting power generation to FERC for review and comment before finalization. No rule could be finalized if FERC finds it would cause “a significant negative impact on the ability of the bulk-power system to supply sufficient electric energy necessary to maintain an adequate level of reliability.”

“The Reliable Power Act puts common-sense guardrails in place so families aren’t left facing blackouts, price spikes, or uncertainty every time they flip a switch,” Balderson said.

In an interview after the bill’s passage, Balderson said the bill addresses communication failures between federal agencies.

“One agency does this and doesn’t let the other agency know what’s going on,” he said. “So, this brings back communication skills. It brings back accountability and coordination.”

He emphasized the bill’s importance to Ohio, saying it will address grid reliability concerns.

“We are shutting baseload energy off faster than we can replace it,” Balderson said. “That’s the problem, and we have to extend the ability for these base load power plants to stay on for grid reliability.”

The concerns come as electricity demand is increasing due to data center expansion. Balderson noted that PJM, the regional transmission organization that represents Ohio, indicated two and a half years ago “that we don’t have the power supply to deal with the upswing and electricity usage.”

The Reliable Power Act is Balderson’s second piece of grid-related legislation this Congress. In September, the House passed his Grid Power Act, which Balderson said also addresses the issue of baseload power being shut down faster than new generation can come online. That earlier bill has not yet moved in the Senate, though Balderson said he is optimistic both will win approval.

During Wednesday’s debate on Balderson’s legislation, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, New Jersey’s Frank Pallone, said the regulatory chaos that Balderson cited was created by the Trump administration through “senseless tariffs and unprecedented executive actions, which he said drove electricity prices are by 13% and natural gas prices up by 8% since Trump took office.

Pallone argued the bill would empower FERC to override health and safety regulations from other agencies.

“This is a Christmas gift to some of the nation’s largest polluters,” said Pallone. “FERC, which has no expertise in public health or environmental protections, would just be able to stop another agency’s regulation meant to protect public health.”

Pallone also warned about health impacts: “Pollution is exacerbating your child’s asthma. Who cares? Your water may be contaminated. Nothing to worry about. We don’t care. Other agencies spent years crafting regulations, often after an extensive analysis that shows the benefits of that regulation, from a health and safety point of view, outweighs the cost.”

“This bill would throw all of that out the door by allowing FERC, which has no expertise in these areas, to just say no and FERC doesn’t even want to do it,” Pallone continued.

The bill drew support from several industry groups, including the American Public Power Association, National Rural Electrical Cooperative Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“Given the current environment of rapidly increasing electricity demand, and the critical role that affordable and reliable electricity plays in the economy and livelihoods of all Americans, the impact of relevant agency actions should not be left to chance,” said a statement from Marty Durbin, President of the Global Energy Institute at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates implementing the bill would cost FERC less than $10 million annually, though those costs would be recovered through user fees. The budget office said the net effect on the deficit would be negligible.

Click here to read the original article published by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

House Passes Balderson’s Reliable Power Act

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Troy Balderson (OH-12), Mike Carey (OH-15), and Dave Taylor (OH-2) introduced a resolution honoring the lives, service, and sacrifice of six servicemembers killed during a March 12 air refueling mission over western Iraq in support of Operation Epic Fury. Three of those servicemembers were part of the Ohio Air National Guard.

“Our nation is forever grateful to Capt. Koval, Capt. Angst, and Master Sgt. Simmons for their commitment to defending freedom,” said Balderson. “They answered the call to serve—and did so with courage and selflessness. We grieve alongside their families, stand with their fellow servicemembers, and remain forever indebted for their sacrifice.”

“The tragic deaths of six Airmen during a combat mission in the Middle East is a devastating loss for our country and our communities here in Ohio. My prayers are with the Gold Star families grieving their loved ones. America is protected by brave heroes who volunteer to serve, and their sacrifice will not be forgotten,” said Carey.

Servicemembers from the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, OH, were Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst, and Master Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons.

From the 99th Air Refueling Squadron in Birmingham, AL, were Maj. John A. Klinner, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt.

Full text of the resolution can be found HERE.

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Balderson Joins President Trump for Announcement to Lower Car Prices and Protect Consumer Choice

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12) joined President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in the Oval Office today for the announcement of the “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” initiative, which will boost vehicle affordability for millions of Americans.

The initiative resets the unworkable corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards that were raised under the Biden Administration in a push to phase out gas-powered vehicles and create a de facto electric vehicle (EV) mandate. If left in place, the Biden-era standards would have raised car prices, increased U.S. reliance on China, and restricted consumer choice.

“Americans shouldn’t be forced into expensive electric vehicles they can’t afford—yet that’s exactly what the Biden administration tried to do,” said Balderson. “Republicans in Congress have already made tremendous progress to roll back EV mandates and cut and lower costs for working Americans through the Working Families Tax Cuts. I applaud President Trump and his administration for continuing to right-size regulations and lower costs for the American people.”

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in July, Congress eliminated key enforcement mechanisms for Biden’s heightened CAFE standards. Today’s announcement resets those standards to a common-sense level that keeps new vehicle prices within reach while supporting continued improvements in fuel efficiency.

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Balderson, Cotton Introduce Bill to Stop Frivolous Lawsuits Blocking American Energy Projects

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12) today introduced legislation to streamline America’s energy projects by ensuring a project can move forward without being trapped in perpetual legal battles. The Curtailing Litigation Excess and Abuse Reform Act of 2025 (CLEAR Act) eliminates excessive litigation against energy projects while maintaining stringent environmental standards.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

“Activist groups have long weaponized our legal system to attack promising energy projects, filing lawsuit after lawsuit to grind progress to a halt. The CLEAR Act puts a end to this serial litigation,” said Congressman Balderson. “To unleash American energy, lower costs, and strengthen our energy security, we must restore predictability and common sense to our permitting system.”

“Cutting-edge American energy infrastructure is critical for everything from lowering energy costs to winning the AI race,” said Senator Cotton. “Unfortunately, these projects often get delayed by frivolous litigation. My bill will end this nonsense and streamline the process to restore American energy dominance.”

The CLEAR Act would:

Ensure that once a court has ruled on an energy project, opponents can’t drag it back into court repeatedly.
Prevent activist groups from filing serial lawsuits to block projects they oppose ideologically, while still preserving legitimate avenues for oversight and enforcement.
Enable critical energy infrastructure to be built faster by limiting costly delays. Create certainty for investors and communities.
Maintain exceptions for certain lawsuits after a project is running.
Support America’s energy independence, grid reliability, and access to critical minerals needed for modern technology.

Full text of the CLEAR Act can be found HERE.

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Republican Bill Targets Endless Litigation Over Energy Projects

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This article was originally published by Bloomberg.

By Kellie Lunney

Litigation aimed at delaying or halting energy projects would see tougher limits under Republican legislation introduced Tuesday.

The bill would prevent subsequent legal claims against fossil fuel, transmission, and critical mineral energy projects after litigation has been “finally adjudicated on the record by a court of competent jurisdiction,” according to legislative text obtained by Bloomberg Government.

The legislation aims to end lengthy, serial litigation related to domestic energy development, particularly oil and gas projects. Lawmakers of both parties seeking to improve energy permitting have long wanted to overhaul litigation and judicial review of projects.

The measure also curtails the length of time for judicial review of energy projects. It would mandate the filing of legal claims within 150 days of the final agency authorization of the project and require the filing to be from a party that submitted relevant comments on the matter during the public notice period.

The language in the new bill from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who’s leading the effort in the Senate, is similar to provisions in other pending legislation to rein in repeat litigation over projects that prevents them from moving forward—an issue that some Democrats have acknowledged is a problem in the permitting process.

“Activist groups have long weaponized our legal system to attack promising energy projects, filing lawsuit after lawsuit to grind progress to a halt,” said Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), the House sponsor of the bill. “To unleash American energy, lower costs, and strengthen our energy security, we must restore predictability and common sense to our permitting system,” Balderson said.

Opponents of reducing the length of time to file legal claims against a project argue it disadvantages individuals and groups, including tribes, who have limited resources to push back expeditiously.

“Cutting-edge American energy infrastructure is critical for everything from lowering energy costs to winning the AI race,” Cotton said in a statement. “Unfortunately, these projects often get delayed by frivolous litigation.”

Negotiations to fix permitting have ramped up on Capitol Hill this fall, as demand for affordable and reliable energy increases.

The House Natural Resources Committee in November advanced bipartisan legislation (H.R. 4776) that would streamline the environmental review process for all energy projects.

Read More: Energy Permitting, Speedy Environmental Reviews Advance in House

The bill, which the House is expected to consider before the end of the year, would speed up agency reviews and limit litigation-related timelines under the National Environmental Policy Act, a key law in the federal permitting process.

The legislation from Cotton and Balderson wouldn’t affect legal claims related to energy projects filed by landowners for the fair market value of the property acquired under eminent domain.

Click here to read the original article published by the Bloomberg.

Balderson Statement on the End of the Democrat Shutdown

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12) released the following statement after the House passed legislation to reopen the federal government. The measure also includes full-year appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and military infrastructure projects for FY2026.

“Today I voted to reopen the federal government and end the senseless Democrat shutdown. Common sense has prevailed and partisanship was defeated.

“Shamefully, Democrats admitted they saw this shutdown as an opportunity to leverage the pain of the American people to advance their far-left agenda. They continue to peddle fear and misinformation in a desperate attempt to bend public opinion to their will. And they will continue to fail.

“The American people are too smart to fall for this kind of political stunt.

“I applaud the eight Senate Democrats who finally stood up to Chuck Schumer and ended the Democrat blockade. Now Republicans can accelerate our work to lower costs for working families, make our nation safer, and restore American energy dominance.”

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Balderson Introduces Bill to Unleash American Energy, Guarantee U.S. Energy Security

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

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.

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Balderson’s Bill to Lower Energy Costs and Improve Grid Reliability Passes House

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed Congressman Troy Balderson’s (OH-12) bill to fast-track new power plants, ensuring the long-term reliability of the American electric grid.

H.R. 1047, the Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable (GRID) Power Act, makes a key improvement to the interconnection queue, where power generation projects wait in line before being reviewed by regulators. In recent years, wait times for power projects have skyrocketed up to five years on average while electricity demand surges. This legislation empowers grid operators to identify and fast-track generation projects that will provide dispatchable power and boost grid reliability.

“With American power demand far outpacing our ability to generate more electricity, our grid is heading toward a reliability crisis,” said Balderson. “The interconnection queue is overwhelmed and bogged down, leaving shovel-ready power projects waiting for years while demand continues to climb. The GRID Power Act clears the path for the most critical projects, giving grid operators the tools they need to add more dispatchable baseload power—lowering costs for households and businesses while keeping America’s grid reliable.”

Ohio is particularly impacted. PJM, the state’s sole grid operator, has announced it expects to lose about 40 gigawatts of generation by 2030—21 percent of its total capacity—while new power generation is not coming online fast enough to replace retiring plants. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, PJM saw over 11,000 megawatts of generation deactivated while only 4,000 megawatts of new capacity were added.

“It doesn’t take an expert to see that retiring power plants outpacing new generation is a problem,” Balderson continued. “This is especially concerning for Central Ohio, which has become a national hub for data center construction. These facilities are powering the American AI revolution, but we must ensure we can keep them running while also providing reliable, affordable energy to Ohio families.”

The interconnection queue has become inundated with proposed projects seeking to capitalize on the Biden Administration’s taxpayer-funded “green” energy credits. These projects, which now make up 95% of all projects in the queue, tend to be weather-dependent and cannot be dispatched at a moment’s notice to meet consumer energy needs. As power demand in Ohio and across the nation grows, the grid will require more dispatchable baseload energy to avoid rolling blackouts and power shortages.

President Trump’s AI Action Plan calls for this directly, saying the U.S. should “prioritize the interconnection of reliable, dispatchable power sources as quickly as possible and embrace new energy generation sources at the technological frontier.”

“Today’s passage of H.R. 3062, H.R. 3015, and H.R. 1047 reflects the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s relentless work to secure American energy dominance,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02). “These bills streamline the permitting process for critical cross-border energy projects, restore expert advisory input from the coal industry that the Biden-Harris Administration eliminated, and ensure that electricity grid operators have the tools they need to secure the reliability of the bulk power system. With rising energy demand and growing threats to grid reliability, House Republicans are ensuring the U.S. has the tools to deliver affordable, abundant, and reliable energy. Thank you to Congresswoman Fedorchak, Congressman Rulli, and Congressman Balderson for their tireless work to strengthen our grid and power our communities.”

“Significant increases in electricity demand are expected in every region of the country, driven by data centers powering advancements in AI, domestic manufacturing, and the electrification of various sectors of the economy,” said Todd Snitcher, President & CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA). “Grid operators should be given significant flexibility to address current or future reliability concerns, including the creation of an accelerated interconnection for resources identified as critical to maintaining reliability. The bill appropriately requires stakeholder feedback and FERC approval before any changes are made, ensuring that all viewpoints are heard. EPSA is grateful to Congressman Balderson for his leadership on this critical issue and commitment to electric grid reliability.”

“AXPC applauds Congressman Balderson, Senator Hoeven, and Senator Young’s efforts to prioritize projects that enhance grid reliability and capacity,” said Anne Bradbury, CEO of the American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC). “As our nation's power demand continues to rise, it is critical that we don’t delay consideration of power-generation projects, such as those that use natural gas, that can provide needed dispatchable power and enhance reliability.”

“Electrical grid reliability is a critical issue for Ohio’s economy, especially as we emphasize advanced manufacturing and energy-intensive advancements in technology,” said Steve Stivers, President & CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. “Legislation like the GRID Power Act will serve to expedite power generation projects that can improve the resilience and reliability of energy supply for the economy of the 21st Century. We thank Congressman Balderson for his leadership in addressing the critical energy needs of American businesses and consumers, and look forward to working with him to advance this common-sense proposal.”

“We applaud Congressman Balderson for the GRID Power Act and for pushing reforms and finding solutions to ensure a strong energy future,” said Rob Brundrett, President of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association (OOGA). “This legislation will benefit Ohio’s energy consumers and help stabilize our energy grid. OOGA strongly supports Congressman Balderson’s efforts to prioritize reliable, abundant and easily dispatchable natural gas to power our homes and businesses by bringing innovative ideas to the queue reform process.”

“As discussions around generation sufficiency persist across the 13-state territory managed by PJM Interconnection, Ohio’s manufacturing sector maintains that open competition is the most effective way to meet rising energy needs,” said Ryan Augsburger, President of The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA). “The OMA advocates for improvements to the interconnection queue process to accelerate and streamline the integration of new power sources into the grid. Congressman Balderson’s proposed legislation marks an encouraging step toward meaningful and much-needed modernization.”

“Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power applaud Rep. Balderson and efforts to more quickly and efficiently bring reliable, dispatchable power onto the grid,” said Craig Grooms, CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power. “In order to meet the dramatic increase in energy demand in the United States, grid operators must be able to prioritize power generation resources that operate when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing.”

“The Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable Power Act (GRID Power Act) is an important step toward getting dispatchable power, such as coal, natural gas, and nuclear, connected to the grid,” said Paige Lambermont, Competitive Enterprise Institute Fellow. “At present wind, solar, and battery storage projects make up 95 percent of the capacity in the interconnection queue. This bill would begin a rulemaking process to allow transmission providers to expedite and prioritize the connection of dispatchable facilities to ensure reliability. This is especially necessary at a time when power demand is rising, and reliable power that can be dispatched when needed is particularly valuable to the power grid.”

The GRID Power Act

The GRID Power Act directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to develop rules that authorize grid operators – transmission providers, Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), and Independent System Operators (ISOs) – to expedite critical projects that ensure grid reliability and meet growing power demands through their interconnection queues.

Under the legislation, grid operators would still be required to conduct feasibility and system impact studies on the generation projects before signing an interconnection agreement; however the operator’s ability to fast-track these projects through the queue would get them online and connected to the grid years faster. This legislation empowers grid operators to accelerate projects that:

Provide new dispatchable power and improve grid reliability and resource adequacy;
Address power shortages caused by retiring or offline dispatchable power; and/or
Support increased power demand.

FERC would be required to review “fast-track” proposals within 60 days, potentially reducing the total time to approve these projects from years to months. Upon enactment, this legislation would require FERC to start the rulemaking process for this mechanism within 90 days of the bill's enactment and finalize the rules within 180 days.

Full text of the GRID Power Act can be found HERE.

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