Plain English summary not yet available
The full original text is available below. Check back soon as we process this bill.
II
116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 3109
To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to initiate a rule-
making to reform the interregional transmission planning process, and
for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
DECEMBER 19, 2019
Mr. HEINRICH introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
A BILL
To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to
initiate a rulemaking to reform the interregional trans-
mission planning process, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Interregional Trans-
4
mission Planning Improvement Act of 2019’’.
5
VerDate Sep 11 2014
15:52 Dec 28, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S3109.IS
S3109
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2
•S 3109 IS
SEC. 2. RULEMAKING TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS
1
OF INTERREGIONAL TRANSMISSION PLAN-
2
NING.
3
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the
4
date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Energy Regu-
5
latory Commission shall initiate a rulemaking to con-
6
sider—
7
(1) the effectiveness of existing planning proc-
8
esses for identifying transmission projects across re-
9
gions that provide economic, reliability, operational,
10
and public policy benefits, taking into consideration
11
the public interest, the integrity of markets, and the
12
protection of consumers;
13
(2) changes to the processes described in para-
14
graph (1) to ensure that efficient, cost-effective, and
15
broadly beneficial transmission solutions are selected
16
for construction, taking into consideration—
17
(A) the public interest;
18
(B) the integrity of markets;
19
(C) the protection of consumers;
20
(D) the broad range of benefits that inter-
21
regional transmission provides;
22
(E) the need for single projects to secure
23
approvals based on a comprehensive assessment
24
of the multiple benefits provided;
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
15:52 Dec 28, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S3109.IS
S3109
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3
•S 3109 IS
(F) that projects that meet interregional
1
benefit criteria should not be subject to subse-
2
quent reassessment by regional entities;
3
(G) the importance of synchronization of
4
planning processes in neighboring regions, such
5
as using a joint model on a consistent timeline
6
with a single set of needs, input assumptions,
7
and benefit metrics;
8
(H) that evaluation of long-term scenarios
9
should align with the expected life of a trans-
10
mission asset;
11
(I) that transmission planning authorities
12
should allow for the identification and joint
13
evaluation of alternatives proposed by stake-
14
holders;
15
(J) that interregional planning should be
16
done regularly and not less frequently than
17
once every 3 years; and
18
(K) the elimination of arbitrary project
19
voltage, size, or cost requirements for inter-
20
regional solutions; and
21
(3) cost allocation methodologies that reflect
22
the multiple benefits provided by interregional solu-
23
tions.
24
VerDate Sep 11 2014
15:52 Dec 28, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S3109.IS
S3109
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4
•S 3109 IS
(b) TIMING.—Not later than 18 months after the
1
date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Energy Regu-
2
latory Commission shall promulgate a final rule to com-
3
plete the rulemaking initiated under subsection (a).
4
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
15:52 Dec 28, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\S3109.IS
S3109
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS