Lowering Energy Costs through Grid Modernization Act
Sponsored By: Representative Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
Introduced
Summary
Accelerates grid modernization by incentivizing high-performance transmission and fast-tracking reconductoring and right-of-way optimization projects. The bill would create new equipment and project definitions, require planning studies, expand tax credits for qualifying transmission upgrades, and streamline environmental review for covered projects.
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- Utilities and transmission planners would have to evaluate right-of-way optimization and reconductoring in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission planning processes and submit study results to the Secretary of Energy, with most findings posted publicly while protecting critical infrastructure information.
- Project developers and investors would gain access to an expanded Clean Electricity Investment Credit for "high-performance transmission property," with a base credit of 6 percent and a higher 30 percent rate in specified high-performance cases; installation costs and eligibility rules are clarified and tied to domestic content and energy community rules.
- The Department of Energy would publish aggregated, non-identifying performance insights and maintain a public list of projects by state, general voltage class, and approximate in-service year. Covered projects would generally qualify for a categorical exclusion under NEPA unless extraordinary circumstances apply, and the Secretary of Energy would have 18 months to issue implementing guidance, with a prohibition tied to material assistance from prohibited foreign entities for property beginning after December 31, 2025.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Tax credit for transmission upgrades
This bill would add "high-performance transmission property" to the Clean Electricity Investment Credit. The credit would equal your basis in the property times 6% normally, or 30% if the property is under 1 megawatt or meets special subsection tests; installation costs would count toward the basis. Property whose construction begins after December 31, 2025 would be excluded if construction included material assistance from a prohibited foreign entity. Treasury would have 18 months after enactment to issue guidance, and the credit would apply to property placed in service in tax years beginning after enactment.
Faster grid upgrades and reviews
This bill would define key terms for transmission upgrades, including an "advanced conductor" that must carry at least 1.5 times the capacity of a common ACSR conductor, have at least 10% lower DC resistance, and at least 25% less thermal sag. It would let FERC-covered transmission providers do modernization studies in each planning cycle and require those study results be sent to the Energy Secretary and published, except for critical electric infrastructure information. Federal permits for qualifying reconductoring or right-of-way optimization projects would usually be treated as a NEPA categorical exclusion unless extraordinary circumstances apply, and projects must limit any widening to previously disturbed lands and follow agency design standards. The Energy Secretary would be able to publish aggregated, non‑identifying performance data and a public list of states, rough in-service years, and general voltage classes for such projects.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
AZ • R
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov