The House of Representatives passed H.R. 4690, the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act, on Apr. 22, which would repeal Section 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The legislation, led by Representative Nick Langworthy and supported by House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie, aims to end requirements for new and renovated federal buildings to stop using fossil fuel-generated electricity by 2030.
Supporters say the bill addresses concerns about energy reliability and costs for federal infrastructure. The act comes after Winter Storm Fern in January caused increased demand for electricity across nearly half the country. During this event, coal and natural gas-fired generation increased significantly while solar and wind produced less than a quarter of their nameplate capacity.
Chairman Brett Guthrie said, “Today, the United States produces more oil and natural gas than any country in the world, and I’ve seen firsthand at Fort Knox in my district that flexibility matters for energy independence much more than top-down, federal mandates. Forcing the use of intermittent power sources like wind and solar instead of baseload power from more reliable sources raises costs and puts our national security at risk.”
Speaker Johnson added support: “The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act rolls back an outdated and inefficient green energy mandate on federal buildings and military installations, allowing agencies to pursue efficient, cost-effective solutions that meet their energy needs... I commend Rep. Langworthy for his leadership on this legislation.”
Representative Langworthy said, “This bill puts reliability and affordability back at the center of energy policy... It will help rein in inflated construction costs, accelerate project timelines, and foster innovation by removing rigid, top-down mandates.” He called on the Senate to pass it swiftly.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is responsible for legislation related to energy policy as well as health care issues according to its official website. The committee has played a role in shaping policies such as broadband deployment initiatives as reported by its official website. Established in 1795 as one of Congress’s oldest standing committees according to its official website, it continues influencing key areas including environmental protection since its origins as described on its official website.
Broader implications include potential changes in how future federal infrastructure projects approach energy sourcing if Section 433 is repealed. Supporters believe these changes could improve grid reliability while prioritizing taxpayer savings.
