Sen. Cotton Introduces Reliable Power Act to Give Energy Regulators Veto Power Over EPA Rules
The Reliable Power Act is currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The bill is actively moving through the process after a recent hearing was held. No further actions are scheduled at this time.
This bill faces strong opposition from those who support environmental regulations and is unlikely to gain the bipartisan support needed to pass the Senate.
Federal employees at agencies like the EPA, Department of Energy, and other Cabinet-level departments would face new procedural requirements when developing regulations that affect power generation. Staff would need to prepare submissions to FERC, respond to FERC comments, and potentially revise rules, adding workload and complexity to the rulemaking process.
“the head of each Federal agency that receives a notification under paragraph (2) shall submit to the Commission for review and comment any covered agency action of the Federal agency.”
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
The U.S. House passed the Reliable Power Act (H.R. 3616), requiring federal agencies to assess how regulations affect electric grid reliability. The bill empowers FERC to review and potentially block rules from agencies like the EPA that could cause significant negative impacts on power supply.
The House approved legislation giving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission sweeping authority to review and block energy-related rulemakings from other federal agencies. Sponsor Troy Balderson argued the bill is necessary to prevent 'extreme' environmental rules from jeopardizing the grid.
House Republicans are advancing the Reliable Power Act to grant FERC oversight over regulations that may cause power-grid shortfalls. The move aims to protect baseload power plants from closure due to EPA rules, citing rising electricity demand from AI and data centers.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Reliable Power Act
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