HOUSTON – This week Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Houston Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, and 18 other representatives introduced the Connect the Grid Act on Capitol Hill.
It would require the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to connect to the nation’s major electric grids.
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The bill was introduced to increase reliability for families in Texas after the 2021 Winter storm.
If the bill passes, here’s the timeline how the transition would take place:
- No later than 6 months: After the date of enactment, the Commission (FERC) shall convene a technical conference.
- 1 year: ERCOT, SPP, MISO and one or more neighboring balancing authorities submit a plan that designates entities to construct new transmission facilities, or modify existing transmission facilities.
- Jan. 1, 2035: Modifications completed.
PRIORITY: Use of existing rights-of-ways, such as highways and railroads, to site and construct new transmission facilities. Construction of new transmission facilities on degraded land, including sites on the National Priorities List, brownfield sites, landfills, abandoned mine land, and contaminated or abandoned agricultural lands.
The ERCOT map includes most of Texas. In the Houston area, Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston, Brazoria and Montgomery counties, are inside the ERCOT map, while Jefferson and Liberty counties belong to another grid overseen by the Federal Energy Reliability Council.
“During Winter Storm Uri, more than 10 million Texans lost power and hundreds died as a result -- Texans can’t afford inaction. Whether we’re in the middle of a heat wave or a winter storm, we should be able to keep the lights on,” said Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas).
He added, “We can draw power from other states when we need it, and sell power when we have a surplus. We can keep the lights on, and make sure that no family is left stranded is a mass power outage again. The federal government has a responsibility to deliver power to the people.”
“Three years ago, we saw firsthand how the infrastructure failures in Texas affected the most vulnerable communities, resulting in the deaths of 246 people. I’m proud to join Representative Casar in introducing the Connect the Grid Act to protect Texans from future climate emergencies, all while improving the electrical grid’s reliability, saving billions of dollars, and dedicating $13.5 billion to creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
“Three years ago, 245 people, including babies and seniors across Texas, died...” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas). “... the energy capital of the world was left in the dark. People paid the price... This bill will improve energy reliability in Texas, save billions of dollars, and allow us to send power to our neighbors in need. It’s time for Texas to join the national grid and ensure that while we power America, we keep the lights on at home.”
Specifically, the Connect the Grid Act would:
- Require interconnection between ERCOT and grids that it neighbors.
- Make sure ERCOT is subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) oversight for just and reasonable pricing and transmission planning.
- Require FERC and the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a study on the benefits of interconnection with Mexico.
Previously, there were calls for Harris County to leave the ERCOT grid.
About 90% of the state of Texas’s electricity is run solely through the Texas grid.
READ THE ENTIRE BILL BELOW:
The bill is co-led by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Senator Ed Markey (MA). Original House co-sponsors include Representatives Troy Carter (LA-02), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Al Green (TX-09), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).