H.R. 8248

119 HR 8248 IH: Grid Expansion and Reliability Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-04-13
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8248  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 13, 2026   Mr. Gottheimer  (for himself and  Mr. Lawler ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Energy and Commerce    A BILL
To amend the Federal Power Act to allow a person to construct or modify an electric transmission facility in a national interest electric transmission corridor if the person self-certifies certain information to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Grid Expansion and Reliability Act  .
2.
Siting of interstate electric transmission facilities
Section 216 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824p ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking  Secretary of Energy (referred to in this section as the  Secretary )  and inserting  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ; and
(B)
in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), by striking  Secretary  each place it appears and inserting  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ;
(2)
by striking subsections (b) and (d) and inserting the following:
(b)
Self certification prior to construction or modification of electric transmission facilities
(1)
In general
Beginning on the date on which regulations are issued under paragraph (3), any person may construct or modify an electric transmission facility located in a national interest electric transmission corridor designated under subsection (a) if such person certifies the information described in paragraph (2).
(2)
Information described
The information described in this paragraph is the following:
(A)
The exact legal name, title, mailing address, and principal place of business of the person who will construct or modify the electric transmission facility.
(B)
Whether the person who will construct or modify the electric transmission facility is an individual or corporation, and if the person is a corporation, the State under the laws of which such corporation is organized.
(C)
A concise description of any existing operations of the person who will construct or modify the electric transmission facility.
(D)
A concise description of the electric transmission facility to be constructed or modified, including the dates on which such construction or modification is expected to begin and be completed.
(E)
A table of contents that lists each document included in the certification.
(3)
Regulations
Not later than 365 days after the date of enactment of the  Grid Expansion and Reliability Act , the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall issue regulations to carry out this subsection.
(c)
Annual audits and reports
(1)
Audits
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall annually audit each certification made under subsection (b) to determine whether the certification included the information required by paragraph (2) of such subsection.
(2)
Reports
Not later than 365 days after the date of enactment of the  Grid Expansion and Reliability Act , and annually thereafter, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall submit to Congress a report describing—
(A)
the efficacy of the certification process under subsection (b) for authorizing the construction and modification of electric transmission facilities;
(B)
any issues that result from such process; and
(C)
recommendations for how to improve such process through additional legislation or regulation, if needed.
  ;
(3)
in subsection (e)(1)—
(A)
by striking  a permit under subsection (b) for electric transmission facilities to be located  and inserting  a person authorized pursuant to subsection (b) to construct or modify an electric transmission facility ;
(B)
by striking  the permit holder  each place it appears and inserting  such person ; and
(C)
by striking  and, in the determination of the Commission, the permit holder has made good faith efforts to engage with landowners and other stakeholders early in the applicable permitting process  and inserting  permitting process ;
(4)
in subsection (h)—
(A)
by striking  Secretary  each place it appears and inserting  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ;
(B)
in paragraph (2), by striking  Department of Energy  and inserting  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ; and
(C)
in paragraph (9)—
(i)
by striking subparagraph (A); and
(ii)
by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; and
(5)
in subsection (i)—
(A)
in paragraph (2), by striking  Secretary  and inserting  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ; and
(B)
in paragraph (4)—
(i)
by inserting  Federal Energy Regulatory  before  Commission ;
(ii)
by striking  Secretary  and inserting  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ; and
(iii)
by striking  in disagreement  and all that follows through  subsection (a).  and inserting the following:  in disagreement about the siting of transmission facilities within any State that is a party to the compact. .