Recognizing that the retirement of nonintermittent electric generation facilities, before facilities with equal or greater reliability attributes are available, is a threat to the reliability of the United States electric grid.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 290
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-02: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-04-03T16:08:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This House Resolution (H. Res. 290) aims to formally recognize the risks to the United States electric grid's reliability posed by the premature retirement of nonintermittent power plants—such as those fueled by coal, natural gas, or nuclear energy—without adequate replacements that offer similar steady reliability. It highlights growing energy demands and supports executive actions to promote domestic energy production for affordability and security.
Key Provisions Outlined
The resolution consists of extensive "Whereas" clauses providing factual background and a "Resolved" section stating the House of Representatives' positions:
- Background Clauses:
- Cites the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's (NERC) 2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment, identifying high risks of electricity shortages in multiple regions (e.g., Texas, Midwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest, and Western areas including California) during peak or extreme weather conditions.
- Notes NERC's projection that reserve margins (extra power capacity to handle demand spikes) in 18 of 20 U.S. transmission areas will drop below safe levels by 2034, with 7 potentially becoming negative.
- Attributes grid risks to retiring reliable "hydrocarbon-powered" plants (coal and natural gas) and adding intermittent sources like solar and wind, which depend on weather.
- Mentions insufficient new natural gas pipelines to meet peak demands and environmental regulations driving retirements of coal, gas, and nuclear plants.
- Highlights rising electricity needs from artificial intelligence (up to 12% of total U.S. consumption by 2030), overall energy demand growth (15-20% by 2035 per Department of Energy), and industrial energy use (32% increase by 2050 under high-growth scenarios per U.S. Energy Information Administration).
- References a declared "National Energy Emergency" and Executive Order "Unleashing American Energy" by President Trump on January 20, 2025, emphasizing the need for reliable domestic energy to boost economy, military security, and prosperity.
- Resolved Clauses:
- Recognizes grid instability from retiring nonintermittent facilities without equal replacements.
- Affirms that energy is not sustainable without being affordable and reliable.
- Identifies burdensome environmental regulations and federal incentives as causes of premature retirements, leading to higher electricity prices and reduced supply reliability for households.
- Supports President Trump's energy initiatives and encourages developing U.S. natural resources.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
This is a non-binding resolution, not a law, so it introduces no legal changes or enforceable requirements. It serves as an expression of congressional opinion to guide policy discussions rather than amend statutes.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: May encourage agencies like the Department of Energy and NERC to prioritize grid reliability in planning, potentially influencing regulatory reviews or infrastructure investments. It signals congressional backing for executive actions to ease restrictions on energy production.
- On Citizens: Could indirectly affect households through potential improvements in electricity affordability and reliability, though it critiques policies that might raise costs via regulations. Rising demands from technologies like AI could strain supplies, impacting daily life during shortages.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but promoting domestic fossil fuel and nuclear resources may strengthen U.S. energy independence, reducing reliance on foreign imports and enhancing economic leverage in global energy markets.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Energy Producers and Utilities: Owners of coal, natural gas, and nuclear plants benefit from recognition of retirement risks; intermittent renewable operators (solar, wind) face implied criticism for reliability gaps.
- Consumers and Households: Everyday Americans, particularly in high-risk regions, who rely on stable electricity for homes, businesses, and emerging tech like AI.
- Environmental and Regulatory Groups: Organizations advocating for clean energy may oppose the resolution's emphasis on deregulation, as it challenges environmental rules.
- Government Entities: Includes NERC (grid reliability overseer), Department of Energy (energy policy), and the executive branch, with explicit support for presidential initiatives.
- Industrial Sectors: Businesses with high energy needs (e.g., manufacturing, data centers for AI) could see benefits from expanded reliable supply.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: As a simple resolution, it has no force of law and cannot compel action, but it could inform future legislation or litigation on energy regulations (e.g., challenges to environmental rules under the Clean Air Act).
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's role in expressing views on executive policies (Article I) and oversight of interstate commerce (including energy). It endorses separation of powers by supporting presidential emergency declarations without overriding them.
- Political: Demonstrates partisan alignment with pro-domestic energy production and deregulation agendas, potentially fueling debates on climate policy versus grid security. References to a "National Energy Emergency" and specific executive actions (dated January 2025) underscore its timeliness to ongoing energy transitions, though it avoids binding commitments.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-02: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-04-02: Submitted in House
- 2025-04-02: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Recognizing that the retirement of nonintermittent electric generation facilities, before facilities with equal or greater reliability attributes are available, is a threat to the reliability of the United States electric grid. — issued 2025-04-02 — PDF (5 pages)