Casten, Welch, Hickenlooper Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Invest in Local Communities, Strengthen Transmission Grid
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) introduced the Energizing Our Communities Act, legislation to support local communities that host Department of Energy (DOE)-supported transmission projects.
The program will help build trust between local governments and transmission developers so our nation can sustainably increase transmission capacity, which is crucial to a national clean energy transition.
“The transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy represents one of the greatest economic opportunities of our time,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “The Energizing Our Communities Act seizes that opportunity by investing in the communities that will host the power lines that take cheap electricity from where it’s generated to where it’s needed, spurring economic growth along the way. It’s a win for our planet and for the people at the heart of the clean energy transition.
“Expanding transmission lines is key to achieving a clean energy future and ensuring the long-term welfare of communities in Vermont, New England, and across the country. But building a comprehensive and reliable transmission grid that connects communities to renewable energy won’t happen overnight. That’s why it’s crucial to support community buy-in programs that work to increase transmission build-out at the ground level,” said Senator Welch. “The Energizing Our Communities Act works to strengthen the nation’s transmission grid by fostering a healthy relationship between communities and developers. This will be critical to boosting clean power capacity nationwide so we can lower energy costs, increase resiliency from extreme weather events, and help meet rising clean energy demands.”
“Cheaper energy needs more clean power – and a modern grid to move it,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Local communities are ready to bring transmission lines into the 21st century. Let's put them in the driver’s seat of our new energy future.”
The Energizing Our Communities Act invests revenue from certain federal Department of Energy loan programs back into communities, including tribal governments, that host transmission infrastructure. This bill aims to support national transmission grid build-out by ensuring communities see the benefits of transmission at the ground level.
The Energizing Our Communities Act is endorsed by Grid Action; National Association of Counties (NACo); National League of Cities (NLC); Pathway Power; Protect Our Winters (POW); Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO); and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT).
Text of the Energizing Our Communities Act can be found here.
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