Grid Resilience and Infrastructure Depot Act of 2022 or the GRID Act of 2022
This bill establishes a program to improve the resiliency of the electric grid and critical electric grid equipment (e.g., large transformers and power conversion equipment) to physical attacks, cyberattacks, severe weather, and other harms. In carrying out the program, the Department of Energy may establish federally owned strategic reserves of critical electric grid equipment.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6779 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6779
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to reduce the
vulnerability of the electric grid to physical attack, cyber attack,
and other events, including by ensuring that large power transformers
and other critical electric grid equipment are strategically located to
ensure timely replacement of such equipment as may be necessary, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 18, 2022
Mr. Lamb (for himself and Mr. Gonzalez of Ohio) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to reduce the
vulnerability of the electric grid to physical attack, cyber attack,
and other events, including by ensuring that large power transformers
and other critical electric grid equipment are strategically located to
ensure timely replacement of such equipment as may be necessary, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Grid Resilience and Infrastructure
Depot Act of 2022'' or the ``GRID Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. STRATEGIC TRANSFORMER RESERVE AND RESILIENCE PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program to
reduce the vulnerability of the electric grid to physical attack, cyber
attack, electromagnetic pulse, geomagnetic disturbances, severe
weather, climate change, and seismic events, including by--
(1) ensuring that large power transformers, generator step-
up transformers, power conversion equipment, and other critical
electric grid equipment are strategically located to ensure
timely replacement of such equipment as may be necessary to
restore electric grid function rapidly in the event of severe
damage to the electric grid due to physical attack, cyber
attack, electromagnetic pulse, geomagnetic disturbances, severe
weather, climate change, or seismic events; and
(2) establishing a coordinated plan to facilitate
transportation of large power transformers, generator step-up
transformers, power conversion equipment, and other critical
electric grid equipment.
(b) Transformer Resilience.--In carrying out the program
established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
(1) improve large power transformers, generator step-up
transformers, power conversion equipment, and other critical
electric grid equipment by reducing their vulnerabilities;
(2) develop, test, and deploy innovative equipment designs
that are more flexible and offer greater resiliency of electric
grid functions;
(3) coordinate with industry and manufacturers to
standardize large power transformers, generator step-up
transformers, power conversion equipment, and other critical
electric grid equipment;
(4) monitor and test large power transformers, generator
step-up transformers, power conversion equipment, and other
critical electric grid equipment that the Secretary determines
may pose a risk to the bulk-power system or national security;
and
(5) facilitate the domestic manufacturing of large power
transformers, generator step-up transformers, power conversion
equipment, and other critical electric grid equipment through
the issuance of grants and loans, and through the provision of
technical support.
(c) Strategic Equipment Reserves.--
(1) Authorization.--In carrying out the program established
under subsection (a), the Secretary may establish one or more
federally owned strategic equipment reserves, as appropriate,
to ensure nationwide access to large power transformers,
generator step-up transformers, power conversion equipment, and
other critical electric grid equipment.
(2) Consideration.--In establishing any federally owned
strategic equipment reserve, the Secretary may consider
existing spare transformer and equipment programs and
requirements established by the private sector, Regional
Transmission Organizations, Independent System Operators, and
State regulatory authorities.
(3) Iron and steel.--
(A) In general.--In establishing any federally
owned strategic equipment reserve, no Federal funds
shall be used for the purchase of large power
transformers, generator step-up transformers, power
conversion equipment, or other critical electric grid
equipment unless all of the iron and steel products
used in such equipment are produced in the United
States.
(B) Waiver.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary shall waive
application of subparagraph (A) in any case or
category of cases in which the Secretary finds
that--
(I) applying subparagraph (A) would
be inconsistent with the public
interest;
(II) iron and steel products are
not produced in the United States in
sufficient and reasonably available
quantities or of a satisfactory
quality; or
(III) inclusion of iron and steel
products produced in the United States
will increase the cost of the
applicable large power transformers,
generator step-up transformers, power
conversion equipment, or other critical
electric grid equipment by more than 25
percent.
(ii) Process.--Before issuing a waiver
under this subparagraph, the Secretary shall--
(I) make publicly available in an
easily accessible location on a website
designated by the Office of Management
and Budget and on the website of the
Department of Energy a detailed written
explanation for the proposed
determination to issue the waiver; and
(II) provide a period of not less
than 15 days for public comment on the
proposed waiver.
(C) International agreements.--This paragraph shall
be applied in a manner consistent with United States
obligations under international agreements.
(D) Definitions.--In this paragraph--
(i) the term ``iron and steel products''
includes electrical steel used in the
manufacture of--
(I) transformers; and
(II) laminations, cores, and other
transformer components; and
(ii) in the case of iron and steel
products, the term ``produced in the United
States'' means that all manufacturing
processes, from the initial melting stage
through the application of coatings, occurred
in the United States.
(d) Consultation.--The program established under subsection (a)
shall be carried out in consultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council, the
Electric Reliability Organization, manufacturers, and owners and
operators of critical electric infrastructure and defense and military
installations.
(e) Prevailing Wages.--Any laborer or mechanic employed by any
contractor or subcontractor in the performance of work funded directly,
or assisted in whole or in part, by the Federal Government pursuant to
this section shall be paid wages at rates not less than those
prevailing on work of a similar character in the locality, as
determined by the Secretary of Labor under subchapter IV of chapter 31
of title 40, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Davis-
Bacon Act). With respect to the labor standards in this subsection, the
Secretary of Labor shall have the authority and functions set forth in
Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.)
and section 3145 of title 40, United States Code.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $75,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2026, and such amounts shall remain available until
expended.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Bulk-power system; electric reliability organization.--
The terms ``bulk-power system'' and ``Electric Reliability
Organization'' have the meaning given such terms in section 215
of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o).
(2) Critical electric infrastructure.--The term ``critical
electric infrastructure'' has the meaning given such term in
section 215A of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o-1).
(3) Independent system operator; regional transmission
organization state regulatory authority.--The terms ``Regional
Transmission Organization'', ``Independent System Operator'',
and ``State regulatory authority'' have the meaning given such
terms in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
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