Wildfire Grid Resiliency Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4990
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-15: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-06T15:55:51Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Wildfire Grid Resiliency Act aims to enhance the electric grid's ability to withstand wildfires by funding demonstration projects that test innovative technologies. It directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to create a program focused on improving grid resilience, which refers to the grid's capacity to prepare for, adapt to, and recover from disruptions like wildfires.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Program: The Secretary of Energy, through the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, must implement the "Resilience Accelerator Demonstration Program." This program provides awards (grants or funding) to National Laboratories—government-owned research facilities defined under the Energy Policy Act of 2005—for projects demonstrating new technologies to bolster grid resilience against wildfires.
- Eligible Projects: Awards can support:
- Technologies for monitoring vegetation management (e.g., tools to track and control plant growth near power lines to reduce fire risks).
- Technologies to improve the safety of first responders during electric grid emergencies caused by wildfires.
- Funding: Authorizes $10,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to carry out the program.
- Definitions:
- "National Laboratory" means DOE-affiliated research labs as defined in existing law.
- "Resilience" means the grid's ability to anticipate, withstand, and recover from extreme weather events, as defined in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new demonstration program within DOE, without directly amending prior statutes. It builds on existing definitions from the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 but creates a targeted initiative for wildfire-specific grid improvements, which was not previously authorized in this form.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The DOE will oversee program administration, potentially increasing workload for the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response and National Laboratories, while fostering research and innovation in energy infrastructure.
- Citizens: Could lead to more reliable electricity in wildfire-prone areas (e.g., parts of California and the Western U.S.), reducing outage risks and supporting safer emergency responses, which benefits communities reliant on the grid.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic energy security and research.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Energy and National Laboratories: Primary recipients and implementers of funding and projects.
- First Responders: Benefit from safety-enhancing technologies during grid-related wildfire emergencies.
- Electric Utilities and Grid Operators: Indirectly gain from resilient technologies that could be adopted to prevent wildfire-ignited outages or damages.
- Communities in Wildfire-Prone Regions: Residents and businesses in areas like the Western U.S. may see improved power reliability and reduced fire risks from better vegetation management.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill authorizes appropriations without mandating spending, giving Congress flexibility in budgeting. It aligns with broader energy policy goals but requires DOE to follow federal grant rules for awards.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; it falls under Congress's enumerated powers to regulate interstate commerce and fund scientific research.
- Political: Addresses growing concerns over climate-driven wildfires and grid vulnerabilities, potentially supporting bipartisan interest in energy resilience. The focus on demonstration projects encourages innovation without imposing new regulations on private utilities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-15: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2025-08-15: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Wildfire Grid Resiliency Act — issued 2025-08-15 — PDF (3 pages)