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119-hr-7080119th CongressWALLET

Waste Heat to Wattage Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

In Committee

Summary

Recognizes waste energy recovery as a renewable energy source. This bill would amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to add waste energy recovery to the law's list of eligible renewable sources. It would define "waste energy recovery" as heat or pressure that would otherwise be vented, released, throttled, or discharged from a commercial, residential, or industrial process and that is recovered and used as the sole input to generate electricity, including waste heat-to-power and waste pressure-to-power systems. The change clarifies which technologies can qualify for existing farm and rural energy programs.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New renewable rules for farms and businesses

If enacted, this would add a legal definition of "waste energy recovery" to USDA law. It would say waste energy recovery means heat or pressure that would otherwise be vented, released, throttled, or discharged and that is recovered and used as the sole input to make electricity. Examples include waste heat-to-power and waste pressure-to-power systems. The bill would also add "waste energy recovery" to the statute's list of renewable energy sources, so qualifying projects would be eligible for USDA renewable-energy programs, grants, loans, and incentives. The change would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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