House Passes Permitting Reform Legislation to Halt Federal Green Energy Mandate and Protect National Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, celebrated House passage of H.R. 4690, the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act. Led by Rep. Nick Langworthy (NY-23), the legislation repeals Section 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), which requires the Department of Energy to force all new and renovated federal buildings to stop using fossil fuel-generated electricity by 2030.
“Today, the United States produces more oil and natural gas than any country in the world, and I’ve seen firsthand at Fort Knox in my district that flexibility matters for energy independence much more than top-down, federal mandates. Forcing the use of intermittent power sources like wind and solar instead of baseload power from more reliable sources raises costs and puts our national security at risk,” said Chairman Guthrie. “The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act is a commonsense measure that ensures valuable taxpayer funding is not wasted on transitioning federal buildings. Thank you to Congressman Langworthy for his work to advance this critical legislation.”
“The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act rolls back an outdated and inefficient green energy mandate on federal buildings and military installations, allowing agencies to pursue efficient, cost-effective solutions that meet their energy needs,” said Speaker Johnson. “The one-size-fits-all electrification mandate – which endangers the stability of our critical infrastructure and jeopardizes national security – has clearly failed, and House Republicans have offered a solution that reintroduces commonsense to American energy policy. I commend Rep. Langworthy for his leadership on this legislation.”
“This bill puts reliability and affordability back at the center of energy policy, where it belongs. Through this legislation, we are ensuring that our critical federal infrastructure is tailored to meet Americans’ needs, not some arbitrary political target,” said Congressman Langworthy. “It will help rein in inflated construction costs, accelerate project timelines, and foster innovation by removing rigid, top-down mandates. Today’s passage marks a win for common-sense, and I urge the Senate to move swiftly to pass this and get it on the President’s desk.”
BACKGROUND:
H.R. 4690, the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act — Rep. Langworthy (NY-23)
When EISA was being considered by Congress, the American energy landscape was far different than it is today, dominated by concerns over dependency on other countries for energy. On December 19, 2007, when the bill was signed into law, the U.S. was producing an average of roughly 5 million barrels of oil per day.
In January 2026, Winter Storm Fern swept across 20 states, engulfing nearly half the country in dangerous winter conditions. To meet the spike in electricity demand, coal and natural gas-fired generation increased by 25 percent and 47 percent, respectively, displaying their ability to meet demand regardless of weather conditions. In stark contrast, solar and wind generation only produced at 11 percent and 23 percent, respectively, of their nameplate capacity.
The one-size-fits-all electrification mandate established by Section 433 jeopardizes the reliability and security of our nation’s critical infrastructure, including military installations.
The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act fully repeals these requirements, as well as associated enforcing regulations. By removing this unworkable mandate, the legislation improves grid reliability, prioritizes savings for American taxpayers, and ensures the protection of our national security assets.