American Renewable Energy Act of 2026

This bill would create a federal renewable electricity standard for electric utilities that sell at least 1,000,000 megawatt hours of electricity a year. Starting in 2027, these utilities would have to turn in renewable electricity credits to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission covering a rising share of their sales, from 20 percent in 2027 to 70 percent in 2036, with further increases set by regulation through 2046. Part of the credits would have to come from small local generation and from generation in communities defined as impacted by environmental or economic harm. Utilities could instead make alternative payments of $50 per credit, adjusted for inflation, which would go to states for renewable energy, storage, and efficiency programs. The bill also states that states may set rates for renewable energy sales under voluntary state production incentive programs.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Peter Welch Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors