Affordable, Reliable, Clean Energy Security Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5765
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-17: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-08T18:12:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Affordable, Reliable, Clean Energy Security Act of 2025 aims to standardize federal definitions for "affordable," "reliable," and "clean" energy. It requires key government agencies to adopt these definitions in their regulations, grants, guidance, and policies to promote consistent application across federal energy-related activities.
Key Provisions
- Short Title (Section 1): The bill is titled the "Affordable, Reliable, Clean Energy Security Act of 2025."
- Definitions (Section 2): Establishes specific meanings for three terms:
- Affordable energy: A low-cost method of producing electricity that accounts for the full system costs (e.g., generation, transmission, and maintenance) of each energy source.
- Reliable energy: An electricity source that, except during routine maintenance or repairs:
- Has an Effective Load Carrying Capability (ELCC) of 60% or higher—ELCC measures how much a power source reliably contributes to meeting peak electricity demand.
- Is not intermittent (i.e., consistently available without unexpected shutdowns).
- Is not routinely affected by weather conditions that disrupt production.
- Clean energy: Energy produced from:
- Sources listed in section 203(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (e.g., certain renewables like solar, wind, or geothermal, and advanced technologies).
- Nuclear reactors.
- Combustion of hydrocarbons (e.g., natural gas or other fossil fuels), as long as it complies with national air quality standards under the Clean Air Act (which sets limits on pollutants like smog and soot to protect public health and the environment).
- Agency Directives (Section 3): Requires the Secretary of Energy (Department of Energy, or DOE), Secretary of the Interior (Department of the Interior, or DOI), and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to:
- Submit a report to Congress within 90 days of enactment identifying all relevant regulations, grants, guidance, and policies related to affordable, reliable, or clean energy.
- Publish this report on their public websites.
- Update those items to incorporate the new definitions within 90 days after submitting the initial report.
- Submit a follow-up report to Congress within 180 days of enactment detailing how the definitions were incorporated.
- Publish the follow-up reports on their websites.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces mandatory, uniform definitions for "affordable," "reliable," and "clean" energy that federal agencies must use, which may expand the scope of what qualifies as "clean" energy beyond traditional renewables to include compliant fossil fuel combustion and nuclear power.
- Shifts from agency discretion in interpreting these terms to congressionally mandated standards, potentially overriding or aligning existing policies under laws like the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Clean Air Act.
- No direct amendments to prior statutes, but requires proactive updates to agency implementations, which could alter how energy projects are evaluated for funding, permitting, and compliance.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: DOE, DOI, and EPA must conduct reviews and revisions within tight timelines (90–180 days), increasing administrative workload and potentially redirecting resources toward traditional energy sources that meet the new criteria. This could streamline approvals for nuclear and natural gas projects while scrutinizing intermittent renewables.
- On Citizens: May lead to more stable and cost-effective electricity supply by prioritizing reliable sources, but could slow transitions to renewables if they fail the reliability test, affecting energy prices, grid stability, and access to cleaner air in polluted areas.
- On International Relations: Limited direct effects, though it could signal a U.S. policy emphasis on energy security and domestic production (e.g., natural gas exports), influencing trade negotiations or climate commitments like the Paris Agreement by broadening "clean" energy to include fossil fuels.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Primarily DOE (energy production and research), DOI (land management and resource extraction), and EPA (environmental regulation and air quality enforcement).
- Energy Industry: Producers of nuclear power, natural gas, and compliant fossil fuels may benefit from easier compliance; renewable energy developers (e.g., wind and solar) could face challenges if deemed less reliable.
- Consumers and Utilities: Households and businesses reliant on electricity, as definitions could influence energy costs, reliability during outages, and environmental protections.
- Environmental and Advocacy Groups: Organizations focused on climate change or clean air may oppose expansions of fossil fuel inclusion, while energy security advocates could support it.
- Congress and Regulators: Lawmakers overseeing energy committees and state regulators adapting to federal changes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Mandates agency actions with strict deadlines, enforceable through congressional oversight; potential for lawsuits if definitions are seen as weakening environmental protections under the Clean Air Act or if updates conflict with existing court rulings on energy permitting.
- Constitutional: Falls within Congress's authority under Article I to regulate interstate commerce and federal agencies, without raising clear separation-of-powers issues, though it limits agency interpretive flexibility.
- Political: Could polarize debates on energy transitions, favoring policies that support fossil fuels and nuclear amid concerns over grid reliability, while challenging broader clean energy goals; may influence future appropriations or executive orders on climate policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-17: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-10-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-10-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Affordable, Reliable, Clean Energy Security Act of 2025 — issued 2025-10-17 — PDF (4 pages)