Lawmakers target energy affordability through sweeping permitting overhaul in new House bill

By Fox News · Fox News

FIRST ON FOX: House Republicans are staking out their position as congressional permitting talks heat up with a sweeping legislative package aimed at lowering energy costs, strengthening grid reliability and speeding up the construction of new energy projects. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., will introduce the 96-page "Permitting Our Way to an Energy Resurgence (POWER) Act" on Wednesday, describing it as a "discussion draft" as the panel continues to hear feedback from lawmakers and industry stakeholders. The measure combines nearly 20 Republican proposals that would streamline approvals for pipelines, transmission lines, power plants and manufacturing projects while addressing rapidly growing electricity demand tied to artificial intelligence data centers. Beyond permitting, the mammoth legislation seeks to shield ratepayers from price hikes by requiring data centers to bear the costs of grid upgrades. TRUMP’S REINDUSTRIALIZATION AGENDA FACES ITS BIGGEST HURDLE — AMERICANS The legislation would also give dispatchable power plants priority over intermittent sources such as wind and solar in interconnection queues, expand federal regulators' authority to keep power plants online and overhaul portions of the Clean Air Act. "To win the race to AI dominance, onshore jobs, and deliver reliable and affordable power for families, America needs a permitting system that works for their communities," Guthrie said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. "The POWER Act cuts the red tape holding back American energy, protects hard-working families from higher electricity costs, and keeps the lights on for generations to come," he continued. Guthrie said the energy package is the result of months of collaboration among GOP members across the committee. "For too long, burdensome regulations that fail to meet the moment have held back American innovation and growth," he said. "I’m proud to introduce commonsense legislation that will make ene…