Waste Heat to Wattage Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
Introduced
Summary
Adds waste energy recovery as a renewable energy source. This bill would amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 by inserting "waste energy recovery" into the Act's list of renewable energy sources and by defining it as heat or pressure from commercial, residential, or industrial processes that would otherwise be vented, released, throttled, or discharged and that is recovered and used solely to generate electricity, including waste heat-to-power or waste pressure-to-power systems.
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- Rural energy projects and farmers: Systems that convert wasted heat or pressure into electricity would be eligible as a renewable source for programs and incentives under the Act.
- Industry and building owners: Commercial, residential, and industrial operators that capture waste heat or pressure could have those systems treated like other renewables when seeking support.
- Federal programs and administrators: The bill gives program managers a clear statutory definition so waste energy recovery can be covered by the Act's existing renewable energy authorities.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Help for farms using waste energy
If enacted, this bill would add "waste energy recovery" to the law's list of renewable energy sources. If you run a farm or rural small business that captures heat or pressure that would otherwise be vented, released, throttled, or discharged and uses it only to make electricity, you would be recognized as using a renewable source. That could make you eligible for USDA rural energy grants, loans, or incentives that apply to renewable energy. The bill does not set funding amounts, start dates, or program rules; existing program rules and annual appropriations would decide who gets money.
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.
View on Congress.gov