[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HIGH-CAPACITY GRID ACT
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 6633) to establish a best-available transmission conductor
standard for certain transmission projects under the Federal Power Act
and to provide for presumptions regarding cost recovery for such
conductors, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6633
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``High-Capacity Grid Act''.
SEC. 2. BEST-AVAILABLE TRANSMISSION CONDUCTOR CLASS.
The Federal Power Act is amended by inserting after section
223 (16 U.S.C. 824w) the following:
``SEC. 224. USE OF BEST-AVAILABLE TRANSMISSION CONDUCTORS.
``(a) Use of Best-available Transmission Conductors.--In
exercising its authority under sections 205 and 206, the
Commission shall require that public utilities use
transmission conductors that are designated as part of the
best-available transmission conductor class when carrying out
covered projects.
``(b) Regulations.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue
regulations to carry out this section.
``(2) Inclusions.--In issuing regulations under paragraph
(1), the Commission shall--
``(A) establish, in consultation with the Secretary of
Energy, a methodology to designate, as part of the best-
available transmission conductors class, transmission
conductors that--
``(i) provide the greatest feasible and commercially
available energy-carrying capacity at a given voltage level;
``(ii) provide the highest feasible and commercially
available electrical efficiency at that voltage level; and
``(iii) provide the greatest feasible and commercially
available level of mechanical performance, taking into
account relevant factors, including reliability, safety, and
affordability;
``(B) using such methodology, designate transmission
conductors as part of the best-available transmission
conductor class;
``(C) establish filing requirements for public utilities to
demonstrate compliance with the regulations, including (as
applicable) such information and data the Commission
determines necessary to demonstrate project-specific impacts
described in subparagraph (D); and
``(D) provide that the requirement to use transmission
conductors that are designated as part of the best-available
transmission conductor class not apply--
``(i) to carrying out any covered project for which a
public utility, prior to the date of enactment of this
section, has--
``(I) filed for any State or Federal permit required to
carry out the covered project; or
``(II) procured any transmission conductors;
``(ii) to the emergency replacement or repair of
transmission facilities necessary to restore service
following a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other
event designated as an emergency by a relevant Federal or
State authority;
``(iii) if such use would negatively impact safety or
violate a reliability standard; or
``(iv) if the public utility carrying out the covered
project demonstrates such use would significantly increase
the cost per kilowatt-hour of electricity without providing a
material and commensurate increase to capacity, efficiency,
or mechanical performance.
``(c) Periodic Review and Updates.--The Commission may, to
reflect improvements in technology, periodically review and
update--
``(1) the methodology for designating transmission
conductors as part of the best-available transmission
conductor class; and
``(2) the designation of transmission conductors as part of
the best-available transmission conductor class.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Best-available transmission conductor class.--The
term `best-available transmission conductor class' means a
class of transmission conductors that are designated as part
of the class pursuant to this section.
``(2) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission.
``(3) Covered project.--The term `covered project' means--
``(A) the construction of a new transmission facility
subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission under section
201(b) that includes a transmission conductor; or
``(B) any major (as determined by the Commission)
modification, upgrade, replacement, or reconductoring of an
existing transmission conductor subject to such jurisdiction.
``(4) Reliability standard.--The term `reliability
standard' has the meaning given such term in section 215.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Mrs. Fletcher)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the
legislation and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 6633.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6633, the High-Capacity Grid
Act sponsored by my colleague, Congresswoman Fedorchak, from North
Dakota.
The High-Capacity Grid Act will leverage advancements in transmission
conductors to more cost-effectively expand our grid and meet the
electricity demands of our next generation.
Advanced conductors can significantly increase the number of
electrons that we put on our system to power our households and
businesses of all kinds.
H.R. 6633 will bring savings to households on their electric bills
while more efficiently meeting the demands of our next-generation
economy ensuring the U.S. is a global leader in innovation.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. FLETCHER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, Democrats have argued for years that growing our power
grid is crucial. A grid that is too small, too dumb, and too rigid only
serves to make power unreliable and increase American families' power
bills. A grid that is larger, smarter, and more flexible is what we
need, especially if we hope to withstand a wave of data-center-driven
demand for power.
While it is critical that we give grid operators new tools to build
new power lines, the cheapest and quickest way to expand our grid is to
get more of what we currently have. For decades, utilities have largely
used the same conductors and power lines, but it doesn't have to be
that way. New advanced conductors can often carry much more power
through the same transmission line than traditional conductors.
H.R. 6633, the High-Capacity Grid Act would require the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, to issue a rule requiring utilities
to use the best available class of transmission conductors.
I want to note two important things. First, the bill focuses on the
best-available class of conductors, not a single technology. The goal
here is not to favor a single company or a single technology, but to
give FERC and the Department of Energy the flexibility to designate
what constitutes the best-available class of conductors.
Second, the bill relies on FERC to maintain a balance, to ensure that
utilities have the ability to use other conductors when they really
need to, and to ensure that the exceptions do not become the rule.
This bill is only a small part of a much larger conversation we need
to have about how to expand our power grid. Unfortunately, Republicans
and the Trump administration have been reluctant to engage in serious
conversations on what we can do to build a grid for the 21st century. I
think that is a shame, and there should be more transmission bills on
the floor along with this one today.
We should be considering Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member Castor's
bill to speed up the process that generators use to connect to the
power grid. This bill certainly won't solve the problem by itself, but
it does represent an important first step.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Nebraska (Mrs. Fedorchak), who is a sponsor of the legislation and a
member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mrs. FEDORCHAK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my
legislation, the High-Capacity Grid Act.
America's electricity demand is growing at a pace faster than it ever
has. Domestic manufacturing, large load growth, electrification, and
investments in aging infrastructure are placing unprecedented demands
on our grid, and it is contributing to rising utility bills for
American families.
When people think about their electric bills, they often focus on the
cost of generating power. However, transmission costs, the wires that
carry the power, are one of the fastest growing components of those
bills.
According to research from the Brattle Group and the Energy
Information Administration, transmission costs have increased by more
than 180 percent since 2005 while generation costs have declined.
Meanwhile, permitting and constructing new transmission lines can
take years. On average, it would take more than 4 years just to permit
a new power line, and sometimes over a decade, before a single shovel
hits the ground. Of course Congress must continue working to reform our
broken permitting system.
However, even with those reforms, we cannot permit and build our way
out of this challenge fast enough. We must make the most out of the
existing infrastructure we have already built. That is exactly what the
High-Capacity Grid Act will help us do.
First, it requires utilities building or rebuilding interstate
transmission lines to use the best available conductors when practical.
Second, it encourages advanced conductors that carry significantly
more electricity using existing structures and rights-of-way.
Third, it protects ratepayers by requiring utilities to justify using
lower performing conductors before passing those costs onto families.
This is a commonsense approach. That is why this bill earned
unanimous support from the Energy and Commerce Committee. Advanced
conductors can dramatically increase the amount of electricity
delivered over existing lines. It can also improve efficiency, safety,
and reliability. In many cases, these technologies can double
transmission capacity without requiring new rights-of-way or years of
additional permitting. That is good for grid reliability. It is good
for affordability, and it is good for hardworking families who
ultimately pay the bill.
That is a no-brainer. The High-Capacity Grid Act is about squeezing
every possible megawatt out of the infrastructure we already have, and
it is about delivering more power at the lowest possible cost.
Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Guthrie and Energy Subcommittee
Chairman Latta for their leadership and for helping advance this
legislation to the House floor.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mrs. FLETCHER. Madam Speaker, in closing, I just encourage my
colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I appreciate all the hard work. I
appreciate Congresswoman Fedorchak's hard work, working on both sides
of the aisle. I encourage a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
{time} 1830
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 6633, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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