Springfield Standard

Congressman Eric Burlison from Missouri has reintroduced the Reliable Grid Act, aiming to counteract what he describes as harmful regulations imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Democratic leadership. The bill seeks to prevent the EPA from enforcing regulations that limit power plant operations or reduce dispatchable power capacity unless it can be proven that these actions will not affect grid reliability or security.

Burlison criticizes past policies, stating, "The grid is on the brink because of years of reckless Democrat policies that shut down reliable energy in the name of climate extremism." He references previous initiatives like the Obama-era Clean Power Plan and President Biden's carbon-capture rule as detrimental to affordable energy.

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation's 2023 Long-Term Reliability Assessment indicates that much of the U.S. faces elevated risks of blackouts and energy shortages. The Reliable Grid Act stipulates that before any new EPA regulation on power plants can be enforced, affected regions must meet a "normal risk" standard set by NERC—a condition currently unmet due to prior policies.

Industry support for the act comes from Alex Epstein, president of the Center for Industrial Progress. Epstein states, "America’s grid is in a state of rapidly worsening crisis," pointing to increased demand from electrification mandates and data centers. He supports Burlison's bill, saying it would halt premature shutdowns of reliable generators until supply and capacity safety margins are assured.

Rep. Brandon Gill from Texas cosponsors the bill alongside Burlison.