Energy Bills Relief Act
Sponsored By: Representative Casten
Introduced
Summary
Restores clean-energy tax credits. It also speeds permitting, expands low-income energy assistance and weatherization, and creates new transmission and resilience programs to move clean power faster and protect households.
Show full summary
- Families and low-income households get broader help. LIHEAA eligibility rises to the greater of 250% of poverty or 80% of state median income and the bill sets a $2.0 billion baseline for FY2026 plus a $1.0 billion HEAP resilience grant program.
- Grid operators, manufacturers, and utilities face new build-and-resilience rules. The bill funds a Strategic Transformer Resilience Program with a $2.1 billion Defense Production Act appropriation and adds a 6% transmission investment tax credit with wage and apprenticeship bonuses to speed domestic transmission buildout.
- Offshore, territories, and workforce gains include territorial renewable grants, a Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund funded by lease revenues, required offshore project labor agreements, domestic-content rules phased to 2033, and capacity grants such as $25.0 million per year for community/offshore support programs.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
23 provisions identified: 17 benefits, 0 costs, 6 mixed.
Emergency power order protections
If enacted, the Secretary of Energy would handle parts of emergency power orders and must explain why an order is an emergency and in the public interest. Orders of 96 hours or less would state the specific hours needed. FERC must publish cost estimates and expected impacts within 30 days of an order, and utilities must notify customers within 60 days about costs incurred or expected because of the order. The Secretary must study alternatives before renewing orders.
More home energy help
If enacted, the bill would sharply expand help for household energy costs. LIHEAA funding would be set at $2.0 billion for FY2026 and authorized at $2.0 billion or more each year afterward. Household eligibility would expand to the greater of 250% of poverty or 80% of the State median income, and states could not exclude households for a noncitizen member. The bill would raise the weatherization average cost from $6,500 to $12,000, raise the LIHEAA weatherization floor and suballocation rules, create a $1.0 billion-per-year HEAP affordability grant program, add cool-roof rebates (with $25 million/year authorized), allow rural energy loans up to 20 years, and let Indian Tribes be eligible lenders.
Streamlined federal renewable permitting
If enacted, the Secretary would have to offer a cost‑recovery agreement within 30 days after a complete wind or solar right‑of‑way application, and paying those fees would prevent new claims to the land while the application is active. The Secretary would have to publish a NEPA notice of intent within 180 days after declaring an application complete, subject to narrow exceptions. The bill would let the Secretary create categorical exclusions for early site studies and set rules limiting how rental rates and fees are set (not to exceed local private‑land averages and annual increases limited to an inflation index). The Secretary must also do programmatic planning and review priority/exclusion areas at least every 10 years.
Stronger market and FERC rules
If enacted, the bill would let the Commission ban people who manipulated electricity markets from buying or selling power or transmission services. It would also make it unlawful to knowingly submit false natural gas price reports to federal or private price‑reporting agencies. The bill would require FERC to issue a final rule within 180 days to provide compensation rules for intervenors and require a short income disclosure to identify conflicts of interest.
Boosting transformer manufacturing and resilience
If enacted, the President, through DOE, could receive up to $2.1 billion under the Defense Production Act to expand domestic manufacturing of transformers and key grid parts. The Secretary must also produce a transformer strategic siting and transportation report within 18 months and establish a Strategic Transformer Resilience Program to fund testing, new designs, standardization, grants, loans, and technical support. The bill also authorizes a $5 million program for offshore grid interoperability work and standards.
More data and transparency for transmission
If enacted, the bill would require independent monitors for regional transmission planning or a single national monitor within 180 days. The Commission and EIA would publish a centralized, searchable repository of FERC Form filings and related data (within 2 years). The Secretary would build a public Interconnection Data Dashboard and publish annual reports. The bill also directs research on primary drivers of ratepayer costs and requires standardized, searchable transmission reporting and annual scorecards verified by independent evaluators, with a public portal started within 12 months and live within 27 months.
Stronger interregional transmission planning
If enacted, the Commission would require neighboring transmission planning regions to jointly file a process for interregional transmission plans within 6 months and produce an initial plan within about 3 years, updating it at least every 3 years. The Commission must also set minimum aggregate interregional transfer capability targets: at least 30% of a region's peak demand for regions with multiple neighbors, or at least 15% if a region borders only one neighbor, unless a lower number gives equal or greater benefits. The Commission must report to Congress on transfer capability and risks every 5 years.
Grants for grid resilience
If enacted, the bill would fund programs to make the electric grid more resilient. It would authorize $75 million per year for FY2026–2030 for a Transformer Resilience Program. It would also create a wildfire risk reduction grant program with $3.0 billion authorized for FY2026–2030 to help states, tribes, and eligible entities harden lines, manage vegetation, install monitoring, and deploy microgrids. The wildfire program includes matching rules and a small‑utility set aside.
New offshore renewable rules
If enacted, the bill would rewrite how the Outer Continental Shelf and public lands support offshore renewable projects. It would require project labor agreements for offshore construction starting by January 1, 2026, raise the national renewable production goal to 60 by December 31, 2035, require rules and a revenue‑sharing proposal within set timelines, and direct the Secretary to study decommissioning options. For construction starting after January 1, 2033, the bill would require U.S. production of structural steel and at least 80% U.S. content for manufactured components, with limited waivers if costs rise by more than 25% or U.S. supply is inadequate.
New review for gas exports
If enacted, no one could export natural gas from the United States without an order from the Secretary of Energy. The Secretary would have one year after the later of the final FERC EIS and required assessments to decide whether exports would significantly add to climate change (using a 20‑year methane global warming potential), materially raise prices or volatility for U.S. consumer groups, or create disproportionate environmental justice burdens. The bill also removes a categorical NEPA exclusion for LNG vessel exports and requires a Secretary rule within one year.
Big transmission build rules
If enacted, the bill would reshape incentives and rules for large interstate transmission. It would create a 6% tax credit for qualifying interstate transmission investment placed in service before 2036, with the credit multiplied by 5 if wage and apprenticeship rules are met. The Commission would be required to certify very large lines, allow utilities to file tariffs allocating costs to customers roughly by anticipated benefits, and set numeric ROE incentives (up to 50 basis points initially, up to 75 later) plus a shared-savings recovery framework. The bill would also require new reporting and a public map of congestion costs and a FERC rulemaking on interconnection reforms within set timelines.
Energy help for low-income households
If enacted, households that get LIHEAP (HEAP) help would be protected: suppliers could not charge late fees from six months before to six months after the supplier receives funds for that household, and any such late fees must be refunded within 7 days. Suppliers could not shut off service for two years after a household gets assistance. The bill would require a standard arrears data template and make suppliers offer low‑income affordability programs within 2 years. The bill would also create a Weatherization Readiness Program with $50 million per year for FY2026–2030 to fix issues that block weatherization, and allow eligible lenders to get grants equal to up to 5% of a loan (10% if serving persistent poverty counties) to cover transaction costs.
Local hiring and benefit agreements
If enacted, lead federal agencies would speed environmental reviews for clean energy projects that have qualifying Community Benefits Agreements. Those agreements would need measurable, legally enforceable commitments for local hiring, training, procurement, milestones, enforcement, and fund disbursement. If tribal lands are involved, the CBA must be negotiated government‑to‑government and may include payment for tribal legal negotiation costs.
Faster court review for renewable projects
If enacted, agency actions that suspend construction or operation of wind, solar, storage, or related transmission projects after January 19, 2025 would be treated as final agency actions and could be reviewed in a U.S. Court of Appeals. A petitioner could file in any circuit where the project is located. Courts would be required to issue decisions as expeditiously as practicable and not later than 30 days after filing unless more time is needed in the interests of justice.
Protect federal award recipients
If enacted, the Departments of Energy, Transportation, and EPA would be barred from terminating, renegotiating, or rescoping awards solely because the agency says the award no longer matches priorities. Agencies would have to reinstate any award changed after January 19, 2025 for that reason under its prior terms and conditions.
Grants for states, tribes, territories
If enacted, the bill would fund and guide many grant programs and technical help for State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials. EPA grants would provide $500 million per year for FY2026–FY2031 to speed up environmental reviews and permitting. The Secretary of Energy would fund state utility commission capacity grants and a guidance/grant program to help States design cost‑savings recovery frameworks within 2 years. The Department of Agriculture would create renewable energy grants for U.S. territories within 180 days, and lead agencies could provide neutral technical help for community benefit agreements.
Faster permitting and more staff
If enacted, the Department of Energy would run a voluntary 180‑day program to create streamlined permitting and optional remote inspections for distributed energy systems and offer an exemplar online permitting platform. The bill would authorize $20 million per year for FY2027–2030 for that work. It would let agency heads directly hire permitting specialists when they certify serious shortages, require agency personnel‑capacity reports within 90 days, add a senior community engagement officer to FAST Act outreach rules, and allow the Secretary to delegate some BLM permitting to State renewable offices (which may charge applicants for extra experts).
New market access and savings incentives
If enacted, Transmission Organizations would have to accept bids from aggregators that combine demand flexibility for customers of utilities that distributed more than 4 million MWh in the prior year. The Commission must issue a final rule within 12 months and Transmission Organizations must set standardized registration, telemetry, and settlement rules. Separately, within 18 months the Commission would adopt a shared savings rule that returns a single percentage (10%–25%) of measured savings to developers over 10 years if 3‑year expected savings are at least twice the investment cost.
Eminent domain and landowner protections
If enacted, holders of certificates for transmission facilities of national significance could acquire needed rights‑of‑way by eminent domain but only after good‑faith engagement and if the property cannot be obtained by contract or cleared by title. Holders may not exercise eminent domain until affected landowners receive notice and judicial review procedures. Landowners would get new protections: they can pick the appraiser (paid by the holder), join inspections, must receive written offers at or above the appraisal, keep possession until awards are paid, and may recover legal costs if the final award exceeds 125% of the pre‑litigation offer.
New rule for very large electricity users
If enacted, facilities (or aggregations at one site) with peak demand over 75 megawatts would be labeled 'large load' facilities. Utilities must fully recover grid upgrade costs from that large-load class, even if the large load later reduces use or stops. Existing sites are excluded if their demand increase is mainly from electrification or greenhouse-gas reduction. States and nonregulated utilities must start rule consideration within 1 year and finish within 2 years and report to Congress.
Revenue and compensation for renewable development
If enacted, the bill would create an Offshore Renewable Energy Compensation Fund to pay verified claims and mitigation grants from royalties, fees, rents, and bonuses, split into area accounts. The Secretary could require leaseholders to pay up to $3 per acre once per year and use up to 15% of deposits for administration. The bill would also direct how wind and solar receipts are shared: for revenues collected 2027–2046 split 25% to the State, 25% to counties, 15% to a Treasury/BLM account, and 35% to a conservation fund; beginning January 1, 2047 the split shifts to 25% State, 25% counties, 10% Treasury, and 40% conservation fund. Payments to counties would be in addition to PILT, effective January 1, 2027.
FERC staffing, hiring and fees review
If enacted, FERC must review its fees at least once every 5 years to see whether fees cover workload needs. The FERC Chairman must submit a direct‑hire implementation plan to OPM within 90 days and OPM must act within 120 days. The Chairman could use direct‑hire authority for certain highly skilled covered positions (scientific, technical, legal) after a certification, for up to 5 years, renewable once. The bill also defines key terms (for example, 'covered position') used in these hiring rules.
Longer federal utility contracts
If enacted, federal agencies could enter public utility service contracts with terms up to 30 years. The change would take effect upon enactment and mainly affects agencies and their contractors.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Casten
IL • D
Cosponsors
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Clyburn
SC • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
NV • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]
NM • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Mannion
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Scott (VA)
VA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Scott, David
GA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Trahan
MA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
NM • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/30/2026
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 4/9/2026
Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/9/2026
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Keating
MA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Mejia
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/4/2026
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 5/4/2026
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 5/4/2026
Escobar
TX • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov