Senate Bill Targets Faster Permits for New Transmission Lines

Senate sponsors are pushing a permitting overhaul that would let the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issue permits for high-voltage interstate transmission lines (230 kV or higher) when a state fails to act within a year. The measure is slated for a procedural vote when the Senate reconvenes in early November, ahead of the November midterm elections. Proponents argue the change will accelerate the construction of lines needed to move renewable-generated power to consumers.

Roll Call

The Energy Department’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates roughly 8,200 wind, solar and battery projects—over 2,000 GW of capacity—are waiting for grid connections. Grid Strategies projects an additional 166 GW of power will be required by 2030, largely from clean sources. Meanwhile, the Energy Information Administration forecasts wholesale electricity prices averaging $52 per megawatt-hour this year, an 11 % rise from 2025, with the PJM Interconnection region seeing price spikes of about 41 % due to aging infrastructure, AI-driven data-center demand, electric-vehicle adoption, and extreme weather.

Roll Call

Large utilities are divided. Duke Energy Corp. and Southern Co. helped block a 2024 permitting package, while Berkshire Hathaway Energy and American Electric Power (AEP) have voiced support. The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) has not taken a position, noting a review of potential impacts on its 250 million customers.

Roll Call

• Senate Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Martin Heinrich (D-NM) cites the SunZia Wind and Transmission Project—916 turbines and 550 miles of line that took 17 years—as a model for why faster permits are needed.

Roll Call

• American Council on Renewable Energy president Ray Long describes the bill as a “win-win” for bipartisan concerns about power reliability and cost.

Roll Call

• House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) has asked for changes before supporting the Senate version, reflecting the utility sector’s status as the top congressional donor in the current cycle.

Roll Call

• “OG&E believes there is a need to build necessary transmission faster and at the lowest reasonable cost while preserving the existing roles of the states and accountability to customers who ultimately bear those costs,” — Christi Woodworth, spokesperson

Roll Call

• “We are reviewing the transmission provisions and how they may affect efforts to deliver reliable, affordable electricity for our 250 million customers and their communities,” — EEI President Drew Maloney

Roll Call

• “It’s very easy for me to imagine utility lobbying against the transmission reforms, either sinking the bill or, in a scenario where the bill passes, just severely weakening the parts of it that have the most buy-in,” — David Pomerantz, executive director of the Energy and Policy Institute

Roll Call