Build More Power Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8262
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-14: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-21T18:05:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8262: Build More Power Act
Purpose
This bill aims to support the continued operation of certain energy infrastructure, particularly power plants needed during electricity grid emergencies, by extending federal loan guarantee programs and prioritizing financing for them. It amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to make these plants eligible for reinvestment financing and extends funding availability.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility for Loan Guarantees: Power plants required to generate electricity under emergency orders (issued by the Secretary of Energy under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act) are treated as having "ceased operations," qualifying them for loan guarantees under Section 1706 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for reinvestment projects like repowering, repurposing, or replacing equipment.
- Mandatory Application Solicitation:
- When issuing an emergency order, the Secretary must solicit loan guarantee applications.
- For existing emergency orders (in effect on the date of enactment), solicitations must occur within 60 days.
- Funding Extensions and Set-Aside:
- Extends fund availability and commitment authority from 2028 to 2032 (Energy Policy Act of 2005) and from 2026 to 2032 (Inflation Reduction Act of 2022).
- Reserves at least $20 billion of total principal for loan guarantees tied to these emergency-required facilities.
- Congressional Report: Within 1 year of enactment, the Secretary of Energy must report to Congress on:
- Loan guarantees issued in the first year.
- Electric capacity added by those projects.
- Total principal amount guaranteed.
- Recommendations to encourage upgrades to aging coal facilities.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- New Subsection (g) added to Section 1706 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, explicitly including emergency-required plants in loan guarantee eligibility and mandating application solicitations.
- Date Extensions: Pushes back expiration dates for funds and authority in both the 2005 Act and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
- New Funding Reservation: Introduces a $20 billion minimum set-aside specifically for emergency power infrastructure projects, amending the Inflation Reduction Act.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for the Department of Energy (DOE) in processing applications, issuing solicitations, and preparing reports; extends use of existing loan guarantee programs.
- Citizens: Could improve electricity reliability during grid emergencies by supporting plants that might otherwise close, potentially reducing blackouts.
- Energy Sector: Facilitates financing for upgrades or continued operation of at-risk plants (e.g., aging coal facilities), aiding grid stability.
- No Direct International Relations Impact: Focuses on domestic energy infrastructure.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary: Responsible for emergency orders, loan guarantees, solicitations, and reporting.
- Energy Infrastructure Owners/Operators: Especially owners of plants under emergency orders, such as coal or other fossil fuel facilities eligible for reinvestment.
- Congress: Receives required report and oversees program extensions.
- Electric Grid Regulators and Utilities: Benefits from reliable emergency power generation capacity.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on existing DOE authority under the Federal Power Act (emergency orders to prevent grid disruptions) and loan programs; no new powers created, but mandates actions tied to those orders.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce clause authority over energy infrastructure and appropriations power; extends prior authorizations without raising separation-of-powers issues.
- Political: Prioritizes reliability of existing (often fossil-based) plants amid debates on energy transitions, potentially supporting fossil fuel interests while addressing grid emergencies; the report on coal upgrades may inform future policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-14: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-14: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-14: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Build More Power Act — issued 2026-04-14 — PDF (5 pages)