Policy Resolution ETE-24-01

WHEREAS, the mix of resources used to generate electricity in the United States has changed dramatically over the last decade and are increasingly cleaner;

WHEREAS, approximately 40 percent of America’s electricity came from clean carbon-free resources in 2021, including nuclear energy, hydropower, solar, and wind;

WHEREAS, by 2025, the Energy Information Administration projects approximately 125 GW of renewables capacity will be online, and further, that in the United States the share of renewables in the electricity generation mix will more than double by 2050;

WHEREAS, electric power infrastructure, including but not limited to the transmission and distribution system, is the backbone of our nation’s energy grid and plays an important role in facilitating a pathway to our clean energy future;

WHEREAS, electric power infrastructure enables the delivery of lower cost and clean energy to customers and maintains reliability and resiliency; and

WHEREAS, energy infrastructure investment is needed to maintain the reliability and resilience of the grid against extreme weather conditions and increasing security threats, and to meet the demands of customers and facilitate the continued transformation to a clean energy economy.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) recognizes the crucial role played by electric power companies in investing and developing the cost-effective electric power infrastructure needed to meet local, state, and federal clean energy goals, while continuing to provide affordable and reliable electricity for consumers;

BE IT FURTHER RESOVED, that the NBCSL will work to develop policies that facilitate an efficient permitting process for the deployment of electric infrastructure, while ensuring that deployment is done in a safe manner that deploys infrastructure equitably in all communities;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL encourages Congress to adopt policies that facilitate  a safe and efficient permitting process that respects state and local ability for oversight in order to accelerate the deployment of critical electric infrastructure and to help the nation achieve a clean energy future for all communities; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

• Resolution ID: ETE-24-01
• Sponsored by: Rep. Karen Camper (TN)
• Policy Committee: Energy, Transportation, and Environment (ETE)