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HR 9335

Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act

119th Congress

Creates a DOE clearinghouse and support to speed deployment of advanced transmission tech, with NEPA exemptions for funded actions and wildfire risk best practices.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9335

Summary of Bill: Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act (H.R. 9335, 118th Congress)

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a framework to promote and accelerate the deployment of advanced transmission technologies across the U.S. electric grid.
  • Create a centralized, publicly accessible clearinghouse to organize information on advanced transmission projects, financial assistance, analyses of impacts, and cost-benefit considerations.
  • Provide targeted technical assistance to utilities, transmission organizations, and state regulators to incorporate advanced transmission technologies into planning and regulatory processes.
  • Exempt certain funded actions from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review as a means to streamline deployment.
  • Add a new focus on wildfire risk reduction related to the bulk-power system and establish best practices for wildfire mitigation.

Key Provisions

  1. Clearinghouse for Advanced Transmission Technology (Section 2(a))

    • The Secretary of Energy must establish and maintain a clearinghouse within 1 year of enactment.
    • Clearinghouse contents:
      • A list of Department of Energy-funded or carried-out advanced transmission projects and activities.
      • A directory of authorities for financial assistance available for deploying advanced transmission technology.
      • Analyses of deployment effects, including:
      • Expanded transmission capacity
      • Reduction of transmission congestion
      • Optimized use of transmission infrastructure
      • Improvements in grid visibility and automation
      • Effects of specific projects on the grid
      • Cost-benefit analyses for utilities and ratepayers related to deployment
      • Analyses of how geography and weather affect deployment and utilization
    • Technical assistance (Section 2(a)(2)):
      • Electric utilities: DOE can provide technical assistance upon request to use the clearinghouse and access financial assistance.
      • Transmission organizations: DOE can assist in incorporating advanced technologies into planning practices.
      • State regulatory authorities: DOE can assist in developing regulatory frameworks and conducting cost-benefit analyses for deployment in the applicable state.
    • Definitions (Electric Utility, Transmission Organization, State Regulatory Authority) align with existing Federal Power Act and PURPA terms.
    • Savings provision: No authority to compel utilities to use any particular advanced technology.

  2. State Energy Conservation Plans (Section 2(b))

    • Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to include (new paragraph 19) programs to facilitate deployment of advanced transmission technology in State plans.

  3. NEPA Exemption for Certain Actions (Section 2(c))

    • Exempts “covered actions” from being considered a major Federal action under NEPA.
    • A “covered action” means DOE funding actions (including loans or grants) for deploying advanced transmission technology.
    • Purpose: streamline funding and deployment processes by reducing NEPA delay for these actions.

  4. Best Practices for Wildfire Mitigation (Section 3)

    • DOE, within 1 year, must establish best practices for wildfire risk reduction in cooperation with electric utilities, the electric reliability organization, and transmission organizations.
    • Required elements:
      • Vegetation management and removal of forest-hazardous fuels along transmission lines
      • Engineering approaches to reduce wildfire ignition risk from the bulk-power system
      • Safer operational practices to reduce wildfire ignition risk
    • Definitions provided for Bulk Power System, Electric Reliability Organization, Electric Utility, and Transmission Organization
    • Savings provision: DOE/FERC cannot require utilities to adopt any best practices; practices would be non-mandatory guidance.

Who Is Affected

  • Electric utilities (as potential beneficiaries of clearinghouse information and DOE technical assistance)
  • Transmission organizations (e.g., regional grid operators, planning bodies)
  • State regulatory authorities (state-level regulators overseeing rate cases and infrastructure choices)
  • General public/ratepayers (through potential changes in transmission capacity, congestion relief, and cost-benefit considerations)
  • Stakeholders involved in wildfire mitigation for the bulk-power system (utilities, reliability organizations)

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Clearinghouse: Must be established and operational within 1 year after enactment.
  • Best practices for wildfire mitigation: DOE to establish within 1 year.
  • NEPA exemption: Applies to DOE-funded actions for the deployment of advanced transmission technology (i.e., funding actions would be exempt from major Federal action NEPA review).
  • State energy conservation plans: Requires updating or adding programs to facilitate deployment of advanced transmission technology (implementation aligns with existing State plans).

Practical Implications

  • The bill emphasizes information sharing and technical support to accelerate deployment of advanced transmission technologies.
  • It seeks to reduce regulatory and permitting frictions for federally funded deployment by offering NEPA exemptions for those funded actions, potentially speeding project rollout.
  • By incorporating wildfire mitigation best practices, it aims to reduce risk associated with transmission assets in fire-prone regions.
  • It does not mandate the adoption of specific technologies, preserving flexibility for utilities and regulators while encouraging consideration of advanced options.

Note: This summary focuses on the substantive provisions and potential impacts based on the bill text as introduced.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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