Sarbanes Bill to Modernize America’s Electric Grid Passes Favorably Out of Subcommittee [Video]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Subcommittee on Energy today passed the 21st Century Power Grid Act, a bill authored by Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) to modernize America's electric grid, improve its resiliency to withstand cyberattacks and extreme weather events and enable it to integrate clean technologies.

During the markup, Congressman Sarbanes underscored the urgent need to upgrade and strengthen America's electric grid.

"This bill would provide financial assistance for projects that help to modernize our aging electric grid," said Congressman Sarbanes. "The National Academy of Science has called electrification one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century. While it's amazing to see how far we've come, our electric grid is now over a century old. It is absolutely imperative that our nation upgrade the electric grid to support our current needs. We are facing 21st-century challenges that require a 21st-century grid."

Sarbanes continued: "In the wake of climate change, we've seen an increased intensity in incidents of extreme weather events that have put added stress on our already aging infrastructure. To ensure the resiliency of our electric grid, we must make upgrades now that account for our changing environment…. As our nation moves to de-carbonize the energy sector and spurs energy innovation, we will need a 21st century grid that can integrate the new technologies and renewable sources securely and reliably."

Sarbanes concluded: "Modernizing our grid is not a small task. This bill is a step forward in achieving that goal."

See below for the Congressman's full remarks.

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