A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill creates a Federal renewable electricity standard requiring retail electricity suppliers to meet yearly targets using renewable energy sources from 2027 through 2036. Suppliers must comply by submitting Federal renewable electricity credits or making alternative compliance payments. The legislation sets specific equity requirements for distributed generation and energy generation within impacted communities. It also establishes civil penalties for suppliers that fail to meet these requirements or submit the required credits and payments. States are given authority to receive alternative compliance payments to fund renewable energy, storage, and energy efficiency programs.
Yes· 3 of 17
- Scored +9
Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power?
Retail electricity suppliers are required to meet escalating yearly targets through renewable credits or alternative compliance payments dedicated to clean energy.
- Scored +8
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
The bill establishes a strict federal renewable electricity standard scaling up to 70 percent by 2036, significantly cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
- Scored +7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The legislation mandates reductions in criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gases, specifically prioritizing impacted and environmental justice communities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Distributed Generation: Section 3(b)(2)(A) requires retail electricity suppliers to source a specific percentage of their renewable electricity credits from distributed generation (at least 15 percent for 2027 through 2030, and at least 20 percent for 2031 through 2036). This provision encourages local, noncentralized renewable energy installations near points of use.
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Benefits for Impacted Communities: Section 3(b)(2)(B) mandates that a portion of the submitted renewable electricity credits come from generation in impacted communities (at least 15 percent for 2027 through 2030, and at least 20 percent for 2031 through 2036). This helps ensure that historically underserved populations receive direct investments and health benefits from new renewable energy projects.
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State Funding for Renewable and Efficiency Projects: Section 3(f) allows suppliers to make alternative compliance payments instead of submitting credits, with funds directed to state treasuries. Section 3(f)(3) requires states to use these funds exclusively for deploying renewable energy, storage technologies, or energy efficiency programs, with at least 50 percent of the funds directly benefiting impacted communities.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Penalties and Compliance Costs: Section 3(h)(1) imposes civil penalties on any person who fails to comply with the credit submission or alternative compliance payment requirements. The penalty is double the alternative compliance payment multiplied by the quantity of unsubmitted credits or payments. This could create a heavy financial burden for suppliers, which may ultimately affect consumer electricity prices.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — Retail electricity suppliers are required to meet escalating yearly targets through renewable credits or alternative compliance payments dedicated to clean energy. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill establishes a strict federal renewable electricity standard scaling up to 70 percent by 2036, significantly cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The legislation mandates reductions in criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gases, specifically prioritizing impacted and environmental justice communities. Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced? — By rapidly scaling up mandatory renewable electricity quotas, the policy naturally shifts generation away from fossil fuels. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill promotes dispersed renewable resources and distributed generation that can benefit rural areas with vast wind, solar, and agricultural anaerobic digestion potential.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill explicitly targets impacted communities and communities of color to reduce disproportionate burdens of environmental pollution. Would children be better off under this? — Reducing harmful air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions provides long-term health benefits particularly important for children. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Equitable clean energy deployment requirements aim to alleviate environmental injustices in historically underserved Hispanic and minority communities. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Mandates ensure that at least 50 percent of alternative compliance funds and specific renewable quotas directly benefit low-income and impacted communities. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Indian Tribes are explicitly included in cooperative coordination and benefit provisions for regional renewable deployment. Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill allows renewable credits for biogas derived from farm anaerobic digestion under specific conditions. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Vast wind, solar, and geothermal resources located in rural areas will see increased development and investment.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill creates ongoing competition among renewable electricity generators and drives investment in new clean energy deployment, which will spur job creation. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill incentivizes distributed generation up to 1 megawatt, which creates opportunities for smaller-scale renewable energy installations. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Establishing a federal renewable electricity standard encourages nationwide investments in renewable generation, storage, and energy efficiency.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — States are granted the authority to receive and distribute alternative compliance payments and preserve their own state-level renewable programs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Alternative compliance payments directed to states must be used to ensure impacted and low-income communities benefit from clean energy and efficiency upgrades.
- 9/17/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland