WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, and U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy, introduced the Reconductoring Existing Wires for Infrastructure Reliability and Expansion (REWIRE) Act, new bipartisan legislation to modernize the nation’s electric grid and meet America’s growing energy demand. The Senators’ legislation cuts permitting delays, incentivizes advanced transmission upgrades, strengthens state grid planning, and accelerates the deployment of innovative grid technologies to lower costs and improve grid reliability for American families and businesses.
“We’re up against the clock when it comes to meeting America’s growing energy needs. Increasing the capacity of the grid by accelerating the permitting process and incentivizing practices like reconductoring will not only allow us to connect new and affordable clean energy to the grid—it’ll also save consumers money,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to partner with Senator McCormick on this bipartisan effort to upgrade America’s grid and meet the energy demand of the future.”
“Electricity demand in Pennsylvania and across America is rising rapidly and that requires innovative solutions to strengthen our electric grid and cut through the bureaucracy that holding us back,” said Senator McCormick. “The bipartisan REWIRE Act is exactly the kind of common-sense fix we need by using the infrastructure we already have, bringing down costs, and stopping years of unnecessary permitting delays from standing in the way of real progress.”
After two decades of stagnation, American electricity demand is projected to rise by as much as 5.7% by 2030—the fastest increase since the 1960s. Meeting this demand will require nearly 5,000 miles of new high-capacity transmission lines each year, according to the Department of Energy. Yet in 2024, only 322 miles of new high-voltage transmission were completed.
The REWIRE Act provides a commonsense path forward: rather than building from scratch, upgrade existing transmission lines with advanced conductors that can double capacity (a process known as “reconductoring”). By reducing congestion and bypassing lengthy permitting requirements, reconductoring could reduce grid costs by $85 billion by 2035 and $180 billion by 2050.
Specifically, the REWIRE Act will:
- Streamline environmental reviews by creating a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for projects that increase grid capacity within existing rights-of-way, including reconductoring with advanced conductors, deploying grid-enhancing technologies (GETs), and deploying energy storage.
- Incentivize modern transmission upgrades by directing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to improve the return on equity for reconductoring projects, encouraging wider adoption of advanced transmission conductors.
- Expand funding flexibility by allowing State Energy Offices to use Department of Energy (DOE) State Energy Program funds to conduct feasibility studies for reconductoring and GETs projects.
- Build a regional knowledge network by establishing regional collaboratives between DOE, National Laboratories, and universities to evaluate grid performance and identify high-impact opportunities for advanced conductor and GET deployment.
- Share best practices nationally by authorizing DOE to assist transmission developers and create a national clearinghouse of advanced transmission technology applications, case studies, and best practices
The REWIRE Act is supported by American Clean Power (ACP); American Conservation Coalition Action (ACC Action); AMP Coalition; Allegheny Conference on Community Development; American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE); Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action); Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES); ClearPath Action; Conservative Energy Network; CTC Global; Electricity Consumers Resource Council (ELCON); Eos Energy; EQT Corporation; Foundation for American Innovation (FAI); Grid Action; GridWise Alliance; National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA); Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC); New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA); Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association and Allegheny Electric Cooperative; PPL Corporation; Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE); Siemens; Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA); The Nature Conservancy; Third Way; and the Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO).
“ACP appreciates the work of Senators McCormick and Welch to incorporate and better utilize these technologies to improve capacity and ensure a more reliable transmission system. These tools are critical to help meet rising electricity demand,” said Frank Macchiarola, Chief Advocacy Officer, American Clean Power (ACP).
“Upgrading existing transmission lines with more efficient technology is the fastest and cheapest way to update our electric grid and meet growing electricity demand. The REWIRE Act will help break down bottlenecks to make sure tomorrow’s grid will be ready to meet tomorrow’s demand affordably and reliably,” said Ray Long, President, American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE).
“The REWIRE Act is a smart, bipartisan step that improves financial incentives, strengthens technical support, and streamlines permitting for High Performance Conductors that can deliver more capacity, faster and at lower cost to consumers. We applaud Senators Welch and McCormick for their leadership in modernizing America’s grid,” said Nathan Shreve on behalf of the AMP Coalition.
“Advanced transmission technologies, including high-performance conductors and grid-enhancing technologies, are a common-sense way to increase the overall capacity and efficiency of our existing grid infrastructure, boost reliability, and lower energy prices. We applaud Sens. Dave McCormick (R-PA) and Peter Welch (D-VT) for the introduction of the REWIRE Act, which would aid in the deployment of these next-generation grid technologies,” said Michele Stockwell, President, Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).
“As growing demand for energy puts increasing strain on the power grid and household budgets, Congress needs to take meaningful, bipartisan steps to support investment that can deliver the clean, reliable, and affordable electricity America needs. The REWIRE Act, introduced by Senators Welch and McCormick is an important, common-sense approach that will help the businesses and households who are the foundation of the U.S. economy. As we work toward sensible reforms that can help expedite the construction of new energy infrastructure, expanding electric line capacity within existing rights-of-way is exactly the kind of sensible policymaking that Americans should expect from Congress,” said Brad Townsend, Vice President, Policy and Outreach, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES).
“America needs a smarter, stronger grid to promote American energy security, AI leadership, and manufacturing competitiveness. The REWIRE Act, introduced by Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA) and Peter Welch (D-VT), positions the U.S. to optimize our existing grid through American innovation – delivering more power with greater efficiency and affordability to American homes and businesses. We commend these bipartisan efforts to streamline the permitting for and industry adoption of innovative grid technologies that let American energy move,” said Jeremy Harrell, CEO, ClearPath Action.
“At a time when families and businesses are facing rising electricity costs, the REWIRE Act offers a market-driven solution to expand grid capacity at lower cost. By enabling advanced conductors and grid-enhancing technologies within existing rights-of-way, this legislation can reduce congestion, improve efficiency, and help keep rates stable. Smart infrastructure upgrades are a win for reliability and a win for ratepayers,” said John Szoka, CEO, Conservative Energy Network.
“The REWIRE Act is exactly the kind of pragmatic, bipartisan policy needed to unlock grid capacity quickly and affordably. By accelerating reconductoring with advanced conductors in existing rights-of-way, the bill lowers costs, strengthens reliability, and delivers meaningful transmission capacity on timelines the grid urgently needs,” said Theodore Paradise, Chief Policy and Grid Strategy Officer, CTC Global.
“To maintain America’s competitive edge in manufacturing and AI, we need a grid that is both agile and affordable. By prioritizing advanced grid technologies, the REWIRE Act allows us to optimize our current energy highways, reducing congestion costs for industrial users and providing a bridge to the future as we build the next generation of transmission,” said Karen Onaran, President and CEO, Electricity Consumers Resource Council.
“We welcome the bipartisan leadership of Senators McCormick and Welch to address the urgent need for reliable and affordable power for Pennsylvanians and communities across the country through this critical legislation,” said Joe Mastrangelo, Chief Executive Officer, Eos Energy. “As energy demand continues to rise, Eos stands ready to deliver American‑made energy storage solutions that improve efficiency, accelerate speed‑to‑power, and enhance affordability for ratepayers—goals the REWIRE Act is designed to advance.”
“Grid reliability and affordability depend on faster, common-sense upgrades. FAI Action applauds Senators Welch and McCormick for introducing the REWIRE Act and supports this effort to accelerate grid development in existing corridors,” said the Foundation for American Innovation (FAI).
“The REWIRE Act is a smart, bipartisan step to unlock more capacity from the grid we already have. Reconductoring and advanced transmission technologies can deliver meaningful reliability gains and additional transfer capability faster and more cost-effectively by working within existing rights-of-way. As electricity demand accelerates, we need both near-term upgrades like this and a broader buildout of new transmission infrastructure. This bill moves the country in the right direction.” Christina Hayes, Executive Director, Grid Action.
“The GridWise Alliance applauds Senators McCormick and Welch for introducing the bipartisan REWIRE Act of 2026, which supports the GridWise Alliance’s vision for an integrated grid by removing the permitting barriers and financial disincentives that have long delayed the deployment of reconductoring and grid-enhancing technologies. These are near-term, cost-effective solutions to expand the capacity of the nation’s existing transmission capacity, and this legislation offers a pragmatic, no-regrets path to meeting surging electricity demand while reducing system-wide costs by for consumers,” said Karen Wayland, CEO, GridWise Alliance.
“Modernizing the electric grid is essential to keeping America competitive. The REWIRE Act takes bipartisan steps to cut red tape and accelerate capacity additions on existing infrastructure, including reconductoring, grid-enhancing technologies, and storage,” said Spencer Pederso, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, NEMA. “This bill helps move more energy faster along existing corridors without sacrificing responsible oversight, and it’s a commonsense, near-term way to add capacity and strengthen reliability.”
“Senators McCormick and Welch recognize the urgent need to modernize and expand our aging transmission system. The REWIRE Act helps meet this challenge by speeding up efforts to upgrade the system in places where transmission is already built. With rising electricity rates, it is more important than ever that we are ensuring our grid can move the electricity we need quickly and cheaply,” said Sam Goodstein, Managing Director of Federal Affairs, NRDC.
“In a time of rising energy demand, we must do everything we can to increase access while lowering costs for American consumers. By removing unnecessary bureaucratic burdens hindering grid reconductoring, empowering state energy offices, and fostering innovation through cross-sector collaboration, the REWIRE Act will do just that. We thank Senator Welch and Senator McCormick for their efforts to power America’s reindustrialization,” said the New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA).
“The electric industry is facing unprecedented challenges. In order to keep up with increasing demand while still maintaining affordable and reliable service, utilities need to have access to every tool in the toolbox. This legislation would help utilities increase capacity along existing transmission corridors and do so quickly while reducing costs. I applaud Sen. McCormick and Sen. Welch for working in a bipartisan manner to address these critical infrastructure issues and I urge the Senate to take up this legislation,” said Steve Brame, President & CEO, Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association and Allegheny Electric Cooperative.
“PPL is building the utilities of the future by deploying advanced technologies across our grid. In 2022, PPL Electric Utilities became the first U.S. electric utility to fully integrate dynamic line ratings—a grid‑enhancing technology—into real‑time operations with PJM. While not a substitute for needed new transmission, GETs can unlock additional capacity from existing infrastructure, improve efficiency, and reduce congestion costs for customers. We applaud Senator McCormick’s leadership in introducing the REWIRE Act and welcome continued collaboration with our federal partners to help scale proven solutions nationwide for the benefit of our customers,” said Vincent Sorgi, President and Chief Executive Officer, PPL Corporation.
“Rising electricity demand related to reindustrialization, electrification, and U.S. leadership in AI is one of the most pressing issues facing policymakers today,” said Avery Ash, CEO, Securing America’s Future Energy. “The REWIRE Act charts a decisive path to expand the capacity of our electric grid, fortifying America’s national security and economic strength. It recognizes that scaling advanced transmission technologies and deploying energy storage are essential tools to unlock that capacity, delivering results now as we build the grid of the future.”
“Solar + storage is the fastest — and in most cases the cheapest — way to meet skyrocketing energy demand while keeping Americans’ energy bills down,” said Darren Van’t Hof, Interim President and CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association. “In the race to ensure global A.I. leadership and energy independence at home, we need every electron on the grid that we can get. The bipartisan REWIRE Act takes critical steps to strengthen the grid, reduce delays to getting more energy onto the grid, and keep energy prices down for Americans. We thank Sens. Welch and McCormick for their work to champion this legislation.”
“Modernizing America’s transmission system is imperative to meeting rising energy demand with reliable, affordable clean power. By making smarter use of the infrastructure we already have, we can lower costs, shorten permitting timelines and reduce impacts on nature and communities. REWIRE advances two practical solutions—upgrading existing power lines to carry more electricity and using new technologies that increase grid efficiency. We applaud Senators Welch and McCormick for their bipartisan leadership behind this effort to strengthen our nation’s energy future,” said Jason Albritton, North America Climate Mitigation Program Director, The Nature Conservancy.
“At a time of surging energy demand, we cannot afford to let grid constraints hold back American economic growth and innovation. The REWIRE Act takes an important step to modernize energy infrastructure by accelerating the use of advanced transmission technologies, utilizing current rights-of-way, and increasing existing grid capacity. These are cost-effective, commonsense solutions that can help meet growing demand in the short term while we ramp up deployment of new generation and transmission infrastructure,” said Ryan Fitzpatrick, Vice President of Climate and Energy Program, Third Way.
Learn more about the REWIRE Act.
Read and download the full text of the bill.
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