News

Energy Updates


Mar 18, 2025
Press Release

Chairmen Guthrie and Latta Announce Energy Subcommittee Hearing on Regional Grid Reliability

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, announced a hearing titled Keeping the Lights On: Examining the State of Regional Grid Reliability . “The continued safety and reliability of our electric grid is essential to supporting small businesses, manufacturing processes, the agriculture industry, hospitals, and homes across the United States. Numerous electric-generating facilities have been prematurely retired in recent years, making it critical that we look for solutions to once again harness and expand the baseload power our communities rely on as new and emerging technologies increase the need,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “During this hearing, we will have the opportunity to hear from our nation’s regional grid operators and to discuss how we can meet the growing demand for power, the need to secure it, and address the reliability challenges confronting our electric industry.”  Subcommittee on Energy hearing titled Keeping the Lights On: Examining the State of Regional Grid Reliability.   WHAT : Subcommittee on Energy hearing examining how the nation’s regional grid operators plan to address grid reliability challenges, as demand for power increases across the nation. DATE : Tuesday, March 25, 2025        TIME : 10:15 AM ET LOCATION : 2123 Rayburn House Office Building   This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Calvin Huggins at Calvin.Huggins1@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov .   ###



Mar 6, 2025
Press Release

Subcommittee on Energy Holds Hearing on Energy Demand and Grid Reliability

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Yesterday, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing titled  Scaling for Growth: Meeting Demand for Reliable, Affordable Electricity. “In the coming years, it’s critical we produce the power needed to meet the demands of the electric grid, while also powering the data centers that are being built to support the critical advancement of AI technology,”   said Chairman Latta.   “During yesterday's Energy Subcommittee hearing, we discussed ways to increase baseload power generation, support our grid, and ensure the availability of affordable and reliable energy for American households and small businesses.”  Watch the full hearing  here .  Below are key excerpts from yesterday's hearing: Representative Rick Allen (GA-12):   “The United States has an abundant energy supply, and the question is not, do we have enough energy resources, but can we produce energy at the levels needed to meet the nation's future demand? My state of Georgia, the top state to do business in 12 years in a row, and with that new manufacturing and data centers are coming to the state. This is leading to high demand for the grid, and we must continue to ensure we can provide reliable, affordable energy as we power our nation's needs. In my district, the 12th District of Georgia, we have plant Vogel, the largest nuclear energy clean power station in the country. Nuclear injury will play a critical role in meeting our growing needs to ensure US leadership in the next generation economy .” Representative Troy Balderson (OH-12):  “It's been talked a little bit about here this morning. PJM's existing installed capacity mix is overwhelmingly made up of dispatchable power generation, such as natural gas, nuclear and coal. However, 97% of PGM's queue capacity comes from renewable generation. Mr. Haque, in, your testimony, you note that unlike traditional thermal generation renewable resources do not provide certain essential reliability services that are necessary to balance and maintain the power grid. Do you have any concerns with the lack of dispatchable power generation entering PJM's interconnection queue and are there enough of these projects to offset premature retirements and meet rising growth demand? ” Mr. Haque:  “Thank you, Representative. Great to see you. We certainly have concern with not having dispatchable resources in the generation interconnection queue and the grid is a machine and it is a machine governed by the laws of physics. North American Electric Reliability Corporation, has published papers and published analyses that say that we need essential reliability services. Which are things like control, ramp and voltage and things that as a lawyer, I don't quite understand, but that are necessary. So, we do need our spinning mass resources. We do need our thermal resources, nuclear, coal, gas to continue to run a power grid the size of PJM interconnection. Having said all that, we need these dispatchable resources to find their way in the system. We can integrate more renewables onto our system.” Representative Julie Fedorchak (ND-AL):   “Mr. Brickhouse, you're seeing significant demand increase. Do you expect that you can meet that demand with renewables alone?  Mr. Brickhouse: “No.” Representative Fedorchak:   “How about you, Mr. Black?” Mr. Black:   “No, not renewables alone.” ###



Mar 5, 2025
Press Release

Chairmen Guthrie and Latta Applaud the Passage of a Congressional Review Act Resolution to stop the Weaponization of Energy Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, issued the following statement after the House passed H.J. Res. 42, to rescind a Biden-Harris Administration rule that places additional costs and red tape on appliance manufacturers and ultimately American consumers by a vote of 222 to 203. “The passage of H.J. Res. 42 is another important step toward keeping our commitment to lower prices for American families,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s DOE energy efficiency standards have led to less choice for Americans, more expensive products, and a system that is biased against affordable and reliable natural gas. Thank you to Congressman Clyde for his work on this issue and his commitment to supporting the American households and families who ultimately have borne the cost of the Biden-Harris Administration’s failed policies.”  “House Republicans passed legislation to remove the Biden Administration’s handcuffs on American energy and protect American workers, consumers, and businesses. We are working alongside the Trump Administration to restore American energy dominance,” said Speaker Johnson. “From a harmful EPA rule standing in the way of the rubber tire manufacturing industry, to radical unnecessary energy efficiency standards, House Republicans are putting a stop to the Biden Administration’s damaging regulations that hurt the American people. We will continue helping President Trump implement his energy agenda to ensure lower costs, create jobs and restore consumer choice.” Background:  H.J.Res.42 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Certification Requirements, Labeling Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions for Certain Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment" would rescind a rule creating new certification, labeling, and enforcement provisions for various consumer products and commercial equipment. This final rule amended or created new certification, labeling, and enforcement requirements for 20 products, including dishwashers, central AC and heat pumps, clothes washers, and more. Additional certification, labeling, and reporting requirements will increase costs and slow the development of products. Further, the Department of Energy estimates these requirements will increase annual costs by $213,000 for manufacturers and result in an additional 2,905 hours of paperwork for companies to complete. ###



Feb 28, 2025
Press Release

Chairmen Guthrie and Latta Announce Energy Subcommittee Hearing on Energy Demand and Grid Reliability

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, announced a hearing to explore the challenges facing utilities in delivering reliable, affordable electricity to meet the growing demand for power across the United States. “Affordable and reliable electricity is vital to both our economy and national security. Experts have been sounding the alarm about vulnerabilities in the reliability of our electric grid for a number of years. Now, with the growing demand for AI, it is even more essential that we shore up, and grow, the capacity to generate and deliver power to homes and businesses as well as new data centers,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “This hearing is an opportunity for us to address this important issue and work toward solutions in order to meet the demands of our electric grid.” Subcommittee on Energy hearing titled Scaling for Growth: Meeting the Demand for Reliable, Affordable Electricity . WHAT: Subcommittee on Energy hearing on energy demand and grid reliability  DATE: Wednesday, March 5, 2025      TIME: 10:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Calvin Huggins at Calvin.Huggins1@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov .  ###



Feb 27, 2025
Press Release

Chairmen Guthrie and Latta Applaud Passage of a Congressional Review Act Resolution to Reverse the Biden-Harris Administration’s Ban on Gas Water Heaters

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, issued the following statement after the House passed H.J. Res. 20, to rescind a Biden-Harris Administration rule that restricts the water heaters millions of Americans rely on and assures consumer choice and affordability are prioritized. “During President Biden’s final weeks in office, the DOE issued a final rule setting a new energy efficiency standard that would significantly increase the cost of gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. Allowing this misguided rule to continue would raise prices and limit choices for American families,”   said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta .  “We are grateful to Congressman Palmer for his leadership on this issue and his work to protect consumers.” “Today, House Republicans voted to end the Biden Administration’s radical ban on gas-fired water heaters. We refuse to allow this unnecessary, ridiculous last-minute rule to continue to raise prices, eliminate jobs, and restrict affordable, reliable choices for American households,”  said Speaker Johnson . “The American people made it clear they want lower costs and more choices, and we are keeping our promise to undo the damage of the last administration by cutting costs, protecting choice, and rejecting these damaging regulations.” “I applaud my House colleagues in passing my Congressional Review Act to reverse the previous administration’s egregious attempt to ban gas-fired water heaters,”  said Congressman Palmer .  “This is a major step towards prioritizing consumer choice, protecting natural gas appliances, keeping prices affordable, and undoing the damage inflicted on the American people by the Biden-Harris Administration for the past four years.”  Background: H.J. Res 20 ,  Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters ,   led by Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06), is yet another step toward keeping President Trump’s promise to the American people to undo the damage done by the failed policies of the Biden-Harris Administration. Forty percent of customers directly impacted by the rule would see a net cost increase from this rule. Those seeing cost savings would only be saving a mere $5.60 per year on a life-cycle cost basis of the appliance. ###



Feb 14, 2025
Press Release

Chairman Guthrie Commends the Creation of the National Energy Dominance Council

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, released the following statement on the formation of the National Energy Dominance Council, led by Secretary Wright and Secretary Burgum. “Energy security is national security. By utilizing our domestic energy resources to create baseload power, we can lower prices, secure our grid, and provide the energy needed to grow manufacturing, heat our homes, and fill our gas tanks,” said Chairman Guthrie . “The creation of this council under the leadership of Secretary Wright and Secretary Burgum is a strong step toward securing our energy future, and ensuring we have the resources necessary to meet the demands that AI will place on our grid. President Trump is continuing to fulfill his promise to the American people to return our nation to energy dominance, and I look forward to working together to achieve that goal.”   ### 



Feb 5, 2025
Press Release

Chairman Latta Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Energy Hearing on Ensuring American Energy Dominance

Subcommittee Chairman Latta’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:   Welcome to today’s hearing 'Powering America’s Future: Unleashing American Energy.' Today, we are discussing the state of our nation’s energy system, reviewing Biden administration actions that have undermined our economic and national security, and, importantly, looking forward to how our subcommittee will meet our ever-expanding need for more energy.    Unleashing American Energy  "Welcome to today’s hearing “Powering America’s Future: Unleashing American Energy. "Today, we are discussing the state of our nation’s energy system, reviewing Biden administration actions that have undermined our economic and national security, and, importantly, looking forward to how our subcommittee will meet our ever-expanding need for more energy. "In the last Congress, I asked our witnesses: do we need more or less energy?  "Every witness responded by saying “we need more energy, and we need it now”.  "The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that the United States will consume record amounts of electricity in 2024 and 2025. The Department of Energy’s Berkeley Lab estimates that U.S. data center load growth, which already encompasses half the data centers in the world, is projected to double or triple by 2028.  "Last Congress, we heard extensive testimony from grid experts and operators about the impacts of burdensome regulations like the Clean Power Plan 2.0 that will drive out resources that are essential to keeping the lights on and our economy flowing.  "Households and businesses alike continue to struggle under high energy prices that have followed excessive federal spending and anti-fossil fuel policy decisions of the Biden administration.  "In 2008, House Republicans first showcased the “all-of-the-above” energy strategy that supports this diverse mix of energy sources without the government picking winners and losers – which is better for meeting demand and better for the environment.  "Intermittent energy sources, such as solar and wind, have a role to play in a diverse energy mix. However, we must maintain our baseload power that is delivered from fossil fuels, nuclear, and hydropower.  "While resources are strained, the next generation economy will require massive amounts of reliable, affordable, and abundant energy. My district in Ohio is home to over 86,000 manufacturing jobs and is seeing the data center energy demand arrive. "When it comes to winning the AI race, all energy solutions need to be on the table: small modular nuclear reactors, traditional nuclear power, intermittent renewables, batteries, natural gas, and fuel cells, just to name a few.  "But our nation’s energy future is at a turning point, and the world is not waiting for us." Maintaining Global Leadership  "Adversarial nations actively seek to exploit our energy demand to undermine our position on the world stage. "Unfortunately, misguided actions from the Biden administration, like the LNG export ban, handicapped diplomatic tools of energy abundance. "Instead, the Biden administration’s “electrification or nothing” and “rush to green” approach has only emboldened adversaries like communist China who manipulate critical mineral markets and limit exports of key materials for our manufacturing sector and defense industrial base.  "Meanwhile, China is doubling down on their efforts to gain a leadership position in the global race for AI development and the next generation economy.  "Here’s the good news: it’s a new day in America and President Trump has led a necessary reset of our national energy strategy.  "As we look to the future of our nation’s energy needs, this subcommittee will be essential to ensure our electric grid is secure against physical and cyber-attacks and natural disasters. We will unlock our abundant resources through permitting reforms that can ensure innovations and advancements are happening here in America. "We will build on the bipartisan success of the ADVANCE Act and the Nuclear Fuel Security Act to usher in next generation nuclear, discuss innovative solutions for spent fuel like recycling and storage, and expand America’s nuclear fuel infrastructure to restore our global nuclear leadership. "This committee must address the growing energy demand, and all of the issues that come with it. I look forward to the constructive dialogue today as we embark on a path to reassert North American energy dominance.  "With that, I yield 30 seconds of my time to the gentleman from Colorado." ###



Feb 5, 2025
Press Release

Subcommittee on Energy Holds Hearing on American Energy Dominance

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, led a hearing titled  Powering America’s Future: Unleashing American Energy . Chairman Latta issued the following statement following the hearing: “Today, we are discussing the state of our nation’s energy system, reviewing Biden administration actions that have undermined our economic and national security, and, importantly, looking forward to how our subcommittee will meet our ever-expanding need for more energy,”   said Chairman Latta.   “In the last Congress, I asked our witnesses: ‘Do we need more or less energy?’ Every witness responded by saying ‘we need more energy, and we need it now.’” Watch the full hearing  here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Subcommittee Vice Chairman Randy Weber (TX-14) :  "The world benefits from our clean, reliable and affordable LNG shipped right to their doorstep. The Biden Administration’s LNG export ban had severe consequences in my district that impacted real people—not just companies. Real people, real families, and their lives. President Trump has taken decisive action on day one to reverse this ban in Southeast Texas applauds him for that. So, as we worked on unleash American energy, this impact will be felt worldwide. What role do you see going forward for Ellen Jane it's got to include Texas now, you know that. Do you see going forward, domestically, with jobs and revenue for our communities, as well as for our allies abroad who depend on it for their own energy security. I yield to you."   Amanda Eversole :  "Thank you very much for your question, Mr. Vice Chairman. The role that U.S. LNG plays, not only in our country, helps drive down emissions to a once in a generation low, but also this is geopolitical strength. Not to mention the fact that just last year alone, $14.4 billion came back to the United States because of exports. And the fact that the fact of the matter is, it helps us produce the affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy that we need." Congressman Rick Allen (GA-12) :  "Nuclear energy is vital to our nation's economic national environmental security. To unleash American energy, we need an all of the above approach and we need energy projects completed with greater speed than before. Mr. McCown, my Nuclear Licensing Efficiency Act focused on timely and predictable licensing. Given the demand for energy domestically, how critical it is for nuclear companies to have regulatory certainty at the nuclear regulatory Commission and how could that to more investment and innovation to ensure US global leadership in nuclear technologies?"   Brigham McCown:   "Yes, thank you, Mr. Allen. It's absolutely critical. It's crucial to deploy capital. You must have regulatory certainty, and we have to make this simpler, we have to make this better, faster for companies in order to invest." Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08) :  "Now, we keep hearing that the US is producing record amounts of, energy, but it's not enough. We just heard commentary about what we're importing from Canada. Specific to my area, United Power, one of my local electric utilities, is projecting that they're going to need triple the amount of power in 10 years that they have now, and that's after doubling it in the last 10 years. And so that means relying on all of the above energy policies, including natural gas. And so the question to you is, what can we do as federal policymakers to create an environment that's more hospitable to domestic energy development, particularly around oil and gas, and particularly, in difficult states like Colorado?"   Amanda Eversole :  "Congressman, thank you very much for your question. One thing that we haven't talked a lot about today is about 25% of exploration and production for oil and gas takes place on federal lands and in federal waters. And the last administration, unfortunately, last year alone. was the first year since 1966 that there wasn't a lease sale in federal waters. And it really, it just doesn't have to be that way. We can’t. We need to have access to our raw materials, but we can do it in a way that's responsible because the American consumer is the one who benefits through affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy." ###



Jan 29, 2025
Hearings

Chairmen Guthrie and Latta Announce Energy Subcommittee Hearing to Address a Return to American Energy Dominance

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, announced the first hearing of the 119th Congress for the Subcommittee on Energy titled Powering America’s Future: Unleashing American Energy . “Affordable and reliable energy is key to America’s economic success and national security. Alongside President Trump, we will work to return our nation to energy dominance, lower prices at the gas pump, and help to create family-sustaining careers in the energy industry” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “This hearing is an opportunity to hear from key stakeholders on ways to achieve our goals and return to a golden age of American energy.” Subcommittee on Energy hearing titled Powering America’s Future: Unleashing American Energy . WHAT : Subcommittee on Energy hearing to discuss unleashing American energy dominance. DATE : Wednesday, February 5, 2025    TIME : 10:15AM ET    LOCATION : 2123 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Kaitlyn Peterson at Kaitlyn.Peterson@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov . ###