H.R. 8248

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8248 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8248

To amend the Federal Power Act to allow a person to construct or modify 
an electric transmission facility in a national interest electric 
transmission corridor if the person self-certifies certain information 
to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 13, 2026

Mr. Gottheimer (for himself and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Federal Power Act to allow a person to construct or modify 
an electric transmission facility in a national interest electric 
transmission corridor if the person self-certifies certain information 
to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and for other purposes.

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 ``Grid Expansion and Reliability 
Act''.

SEC. 2. SITING OF INTERSTATE ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FACILITIES.

Section 216 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Secretary of 
Energy (referred to in this section as the 
`Secretary')'' and inserting ``Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission''; and
(B) in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), by striking 
``Secretary'' each place it appears and inserting 
``Federal Energy Regulatory Commission'';
(2) by striking subsections (b) and (d) and inserting the 
following:
``(b) Self Certification Prior to Construction or Modification of 
Electric Transmission Facilities.--
``(1) In general.--Beginning on the date on which 
regulations are issued under paragraph (3), any person may 
construct or modify an electric transmission facility located 
in a national interest electric transmission corridor 
designated under subsection (a) if such person certifies the 
information described in paragraph (2).
``(2) Information described.--The information described in 
this paragraph is the following:
``(A) The exact legal name, title, mailing address, 
and principal place of business of the person who will 
construct or modify the electric transmission facility.
``(B) Whether the person who will construct or 
modify the electric transmission facility is an 
individual or corporation, and if the person is a 
corporation, the State under the laws of which such 
corporation is organized.
``(C) A concise description of any existing 
operations of the person who will construct or modify 
the electric transmission facility.
``(D) A concise description of the electric 
transmission facility to be constructed or modified, 
including the dates on which such construction or 
modification is expected to begin and be completed.
``(E) A table of contents that lists each document 
included in the certification.
``(3) Regulations.--Not later than 365 days after the date 
of enactment of the Grid Expansion and Reliability Act, the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall issue regulations to 
carry out this subsection.
``(c) Annual Audits and Reports.--
``(1) Audits.--The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
shall annually audit each certification made under subsection 
(b) to determine whether the certification included the 
information required by paragraph (2) of such subsection.
``(2) Reports.--Not later than 365 days after the date of 
enactment of the Grid Expansion and Reliability Act, and 
annually thereafter, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
shall submit to Congress a report describing--
``(A) the efficacy of the certification process 
under subsection (b) for authorizing the construction 
and modification of electric transmission facilities;
``(B) any issues that result from such process; and
``(C) recommendations for how to improve such 
process through additional legislation or regulation, 
if needed.'';
(3) in subsection (e)(1)--
(A) by striking ``a permit under subsection (b) for 
electric transmission facilities to be located'' and 
inserting ``a person authorized pursuant to subsection 
(b) to construct or modify an electric transmission 
facility'';
(B) by striking ``the permit holder'' each place it 
appears and inserting ``such person''; and
(C) by striking ``and, in the determination of the 
Commission, the permit holder has made good faith 
efforts to engage with landowners and other 
stakeholders early in the applicable permitting 
process'' and inserting ``permitting process'';
(4) in subsection (h)--
(A) by striking ``Secretary'' each place it appears 
and inserting ``Federal Energy Regulatory Commission'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Department of 
Energy'' and inserting ``Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission''; and
(C) in paragraph (9)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (A); and
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and 
(C) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; 
and
(5) in subsection (i)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Secretary'' and 
inserting ``Federal Energy Regulatory Commission''; and
(B) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by inserting ``Federal Energy 
Regulatory'' before ``Commission'';
(ii) by striking ``Secretary'' and 
inserting ``Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission''; and
(iii) by striking ``in disagreement'' and 
all that follows through ``subsection (a).'' 
and inserting the following: ``in disagreement 
about the siting of transmission facilities 
within any State that is a party to the 
compact.''.
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