DATE INTRODUCED:

3/2/2026

WHAT:

The Reconductoring Existing Wires for Infrastructure Reliability and Expansion (REWIRE) Act streamlines and incentivizes the deployment of innovative grid technologies, including advanced conductors and grid-enhancing technologies.

The REWIRE Act makes it easier to deploy innovative grid technologies and promotes their greater adoption by:

• Creating categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act for advanced conductors, grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and energy storage projects that increase grid capacity within existing rights-of-way;
• Directing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to improve the return on equity for reconductoring projects;
• Making feasibility studies for reconductoring and GETs projects eligible for Department of Energy State Energy Program funds;
• Establishing regional collaboratives between DOE, National Laboratories and universities to evaluate grid performance and identify high-impact opportunities for advanced conductor and GET deployment; and
• Directing DOE to create a national clearinghouse of advanced transmission technology applications, case studies and best practices in order to share best practices.

WHY IT MATTERS:

America needs to build more transmission and increase the capacity of existing lines to meet rapidly rising demand, ensure reliability and keep energy affordable for households and businesses. To meet this moment, we must modernize our infrastructure by aggressively deploying advanced conductors and grid-enhancing technologies. Doing so will:

• Lower costs for consumers by improving efficiency, reducing congestion and avoiding more expensive fixes down the road;
• Unlock greater capacity on existing transmission corridors faster and more affordably than building new lines, helping meet growing demand from homes, businesses and data-intensive industries; and
• Boost grid reliability and resilience by lowering the risk of outages, equipment failures and wildfire starts.

WHAT'S NEXT:

Growing the economy and achieving energy dominance requires building more transmission and increasing the capacity of existing powerlines.. Advanced conductors and grid-enhancing technologies optimize the performance of our existing grid, providing faster, more affordable solutions to meet near-term grid needs.

ORIGINAL SPONSOR:

Sen. David McCormick (R-PA)

COSPONSOR:

Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT)

SUPPORT:

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)

CONGRESS.GOV LINKS:

S. 3947

PRINTABLE SUMMARY:

Printable summary of S. 3947