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Connect the Grid Act of 2026

This bill requires the Texas electric grid (ERCOT) to connect with neighboring regions to improve reliability. It aims to provide increased access to renewable energy sources.
Key points
Mandates physical connections between the Texas grid (ERCOT) and neighboring power systems by January 1, 2035.
Places the Texas grid under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Increases federal borrowing authority under the Transmission Facilitation Program from $2.5 billion to $13.5 billion.
Prioritizes building new infrastructure on degraded lands and along existing rights-of-ways like highways or railroads.
Ensures meaningful community involvement opportunities, specifically for environmental justice and Tribal and Indigenous communities.
Requires a study on the reliability, climate, and cost benefits of interconnecting the U.S. power grid with Mexico.
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Status:
Introduced
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Additional Information
Print number: 119_S_3976
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Process start date: 2026-03-03
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-3.1-pro-preview
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Connect the Grid Act of 2026

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 119_S_3976.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2026-03-03.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Mandates physical connections between the Texas grid (ERCOT) and neighboring power systems by January 1, 2035.
  • Places the Texas grid under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
  • Increases federal borrowing authority under the Transmission Facilitation Program from $2.5 billion to $13.5 billion.
  • Prioritizes building new infrastructure on degraded lands and along existing rights-of-ways like highways or railroads.
  • Ensures meaningful community involvement opportunities, specifically for environmental justice and Tribal and Indigenous communities.
  • Requires a study on the reliability, climate, and cost benefits of interconnecting the U.S. power grid with Mexico.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Introduced.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2026-03-20.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Economy Public Investments Environment