Connect the Grid Act

Improved Grid Reliability and Connectivity: The bill establishes minimum total transfer capability requirements between ERCOT and neighboring areas like SPP, MISO, and the Western Interconnection to ensure more reliable power movement (Section 3(b)(1)).

Support for Renewable Energy: Transmission plans are required to prioritize expanding access to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal (Section 3(b)(2)(B)(iv)).

Community Inclusion and Outreach: The bill mandates meaningful community involvement, specifically requiring outreach to environmental justice communities, Tribal and Indigenous communities, Tribal Governments, and labor organizations (Section 3(b)(2)(B)(v)).

Economic and Job Opportunities: The act prioritizes the use of registered apprenticeship programs and prevailing wages for transmission projects (Section 3(b)(2)(B)(vi)).

Environmental Stewardship: The bill encourages the use of grid-enhancing technologies and the use of existing rights-of-way or degraded lands like brownfields and abandoned mines (Section 3(b)(2)(B)(i-iii)).

Increased Funding for Infrastructure: The bill increases the borrowing authority under the Transmission Facilitation Program from $2.5 billion to $13.5 billion (Section 4).

Regulatory Burdens for Affected Entities: The bill amends the Federal Power Act to change jurisdictions and repeals certain ERCOT exemptions, which will require entities to attend a technical conference to assist with compliance (Section 2).

Environmental Review Requirements: Any projects intended to comply with the new reliability standards must undergo reviews required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Section 3(b)(2)(4)).