# 119-s-4772: Renewable Energy Choice Act

119-s-4772, Renewable Energy Choice Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR); status introduced (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4772
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4772
- Congress: 119
- Title: Renewable Energy Choice Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-11
- Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Energy
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**Preempts state and local limits on renewable energy access.** This bill would define renewable energy as wind, solar, energy storage, and geothermal and bar state and local governments from adopting or enforcing rules that block or limit those energy services when sold in interstate commerce. - State and local governments would be prohibited from adopting, implementing, or enforcing any law, regulation, ordinance, building code, standard, or policy that directly or indirectly prohibits or limits the connection, reconnection, modification, installation, transportation, distribution, expansion, or access to an energy service based on the type or source of renewable energy sold in interstate commerce. - The text lists specific impermissible restrictions. These include permanently banning projects, moratoria longer than 6 months, height limits below 525 feet, setback requirements over 1,000 feet, sound limits below 50 decibels, refusing road use agreements, and permitting fees that differ from the average fee for other energy projects of similar capacity. - The prohibition applies to actions by states, localities, and their instrumentalities or regulatory agencies. The provided text does not include enforcement mechanisms, penalties, federal override provisions, phase-in dates, sunsets, funding, or tax changes.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Fewer local limits on renewable energy: benefit, high. This bill would limit state and local governments from blocking or restricting certain renewable energy services. It would define renewable energy to include wind, solar, energy storage, and geothermal. It would bar permanent bans, moratoria longer than 6 months, height limits under 525 feet, setba…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act
- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act

## Sources
- [119-s-4772 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4772)

## Related
- [119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5238)
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2838)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4772 (as of 2026-09-10).