,i  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #bgfb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,july #ai1 #bjac ,mr4 
,s5s5br5n] introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 
0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,en]gy &    
,comm]ce  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,f$]al  
,p[] ,act to e/abli% a regional         
transmission plann+ process1 & = o!r    
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,p[]+ ,am]ica = ,tomorr[   
,act4  #b4 ,am5dm5t ( ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act
 ,section #baf ( ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act 7#af
 ,u4,s4,c4 #hbdp7 is am5d$ z foll[s3    
7#a7 ,by am5d+ ! section head+ to read z
 foll[s3 ,regional transmission plans = 
! int]/ate transmission sy/em4  7#b7 ,by
 /rik+ subsection 7i7 & r$esignat+      
subsections 7j7 & 7k7 z subsections 7k7 
& 7l71 respectively4  7#c7 ,by          
r$esignat+ subsections 7d7 ?r\gh 7h7 z  
subsections 7f7 ?r\gh 7j71 respectively4
  7#d7 ,by /rik+ subsections 7a71 7b71 &
 7c7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7a7 ,purposes  
,! purposes ( ?is section are z foll[s3 
7#a7 ,to ensure electric reliability1   

fuel div]sity1 & :olesale p[] price     
/ability across ! electric transmission 
grid4  7#b7 ,to re9=ce1 /r5g!n1 &       
enhance electric transmission           
infra/ructure z an integrat$ network    
sy/em4  7#c7 ,to facilitate ! developm5t
 ( clean en]gy res\rces t _c be locat$  
ne> an exi/+ transmission facility or   
load c5t]4  7#d7 ,to assi/ ,/ates &     
electric en]gy s]vice provid]s 9 meet+ !
 requirem5ts ( applicable r5ewable      
portfolio /&>ds4  7#e7 ,to take maximum 
advantage ( sm>t grid te*nologies to    
promote electric grid improvem5ts1 en]gy
 effici5cy1 & dem& response4  7#f7 ,to  
coord9ate regional plann+ & local sit+ (
 int]/ate high-voltage electric         
transmission sy/ems4  7b7 ,def9itions ,9
 ?is section3  7#a7 ,! t]m bulk-p[]     
sy/em has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9 section
 #bae7;a77#a74  7#b7 ,! t]m designat$   
region means a region designat$ "u      
subsection 7c77#a74  7#c7 ,! t]m        
,electric ,reliability ,organization has
 ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9 section         

#bae7;a77#b74  7#d7 ,! t]m              
,int]connection has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m
 9 section #bae7;a77#e74  7#e7 ,! t]m   
regional entity has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m
 9 section #bae7;a77#g74  7#f7 ,! t]m   
regional transmission plan means a      
compreh5sive plan requir$ "u subsection 
7c77#c7 = ! developm5t ( ! int]/ate     
electric transmission sy/em 9 a         
designat$ region4  7#g7 ,! t]m regional 
transmission plann] means a p]son or    
entity approv$ "u subsection 7c77#b7 to 
develop & ma9ta9 a regional transmission
 plan requir$ "u ?is section4  7#h7 ,!  
t]m regional transmission project means 
an ov]head or und]gr\nd transmission    
facility1 consi/+ ( conductors or       
cables1 t[]s1 manhole duct sy/ems1 phase
 %ift+ trans=m]s1 reactors1 capacitors1 
sub/ations1 & any ancill>y facilities & 
equipm5t necess>y = ! prop] op]ation ( !
 facility--  7,a7 t--  7i7 op]ates at or
 above a voltage (--  7,i7 #bcj         
kilovolts alt]nat+ curr5t2 or  7,,ii7   
#cjj kilovolts direct curr5t2  7ii7 is a

 v high curr5t conductor or sup]conduct+
 cable t op]ates at or above a p[]      
equival5t to ! p[] ( a conv5tional      
transmission cable op]at+ at or above   
#bcj kilovolts alt]nat+ curr5t or #cjj  
kilovolts direct curr5t2 or  7iii7 is a 
r5ewable fe$] l9e2 &  7,b7 t is includ$ 
9 a regional transmission plan submitt$ 
to ! ,commission "u subsection 7c77#c74 
7#i7 ,! t]m r5ewable fe$] l9e means a   
transmission l9e t--  7,a7 op]ates at or
 above a voltage ( #ajj kilovolts2 &    
7,b7 is id5tifi$ 9 a regional           
transmission plan submitt$ to !         
,commission "u subsection 7c77#c7 z a   
facility t is to be develop$ to         
facilitate collection ( electric en]gy  
produc$ by r5ewable en]gy4  7c7         
,regional transmission plans  7#a7      
,designation ( regions ,n lat] ?an #ab  
mon?s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is      
subsection1 ! ,commission1 9            
consultation ) ! ,electric ,reliability 
,organization1 regional entities1       
,transmission ,organizations1           

transmission own]s1 ,/ate regulatory    
au?orities ( ! ,/ates compris+ ! ,ea/]n 
,int]connection1 & ,/ate regulatory     
au?orities ( ! ,/ates compris+ ! ,we/]n 
,int]connection1 %all designate "o or m 
regions )9 ! ,ea/]n ,int]connection & "o
 or m regions )9 ! ,we/]n               
,int]connection1 to be repres5t$ by     
regional transmission plann]s approv$ "u
 p>agraph 7#b74 ,9 det]m9+ ! appropriate
 size & scope ( a region1 ! ,commission 
%all consid] ! optimal scope ne$$ to    
ensure compreh5sive regional            
transmission plann+ & op]ational        
effici5cy1 ! size & scope ( exi/+       
,regional ,transmission ,organizations &
 op]at+ bulk-p[] sy/ems1 & me?ods =     
int]regional coord9ation agreem5ts to   
ensure a suffici5tly broad regional     
transmission plann+ process4  7#b7      
,regional transmission plann]s  7,a7    
,application & approval ,any p]son or   
entity1 includ+ a ,regional             
,transmission ,organization or o!r      
regionally bas$ plann+ entity ) an      

e/abli%$ regional transmission plann+   
process1 z det]m9$ by ! ,commission1 may
 submit an application to ! ,commission 
= approval z ! regional transmission    
plann] = a designat$ region4 ,n lat] ?an
 #ah mon?s aft] ! designation ( a region
 "u p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,commission %all   
approve "o su* regional transmission    
plann] = ea* su* designat$ region to    
develop & ma9ta9 a regional transmission
 plan requir$ "u ?is section4  7,b7     
,consid]ation ,9 approv+ a regional     
transmission plann] "u subp>agraph 7,a71
 ! ,commission %all consid] ! exi/+ or  
reasonably anticipat$ capabilities ( any
 regionally bas$ plann+ entity describ$ 
9 su* subp>agraph 9 regional            
transmission plann+4  7,c7 ,cont5ts (   
application ,an applicant entity %all   
include 9 an application = approval z ! 
regional transmission plann] = a        
designat$ region ! op]at+ proc$ures (   
su* applicant entity & any me?od su*    
applicant entity w use to adh]e to !    
requirem5ts = a regional transmission   

plann+ process describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#e74
  7,d7 ,compliance ,! ,commission may   
review ! compliance ( a regional        
transmission plann] approv$ "u          
subp>agraph 7,a7 ) ! requirem5ts ( ?is  
section & any regulations !reund]4 ,if !
 ,commission f9ds su* a regional        
transmission plann] has fail$ or is     
fail+ to comply ) su* requirem5ts or    
regulations1 ! ,commission may revoke ! 
approval ( su* regional transmission    
plann] = a designat$ region & accept    
applications = a new regional           
transmission plann] = su* region to be  
approv$ 9 accordance ) ?is section4     
7#c7 ,regional transmission plan requir$
 ,n lat] ?an #b ye>s aft] ! approval ( a
 regional transmission plann] "u        
p>agraph 7#b71 & e #b ye>s !reaft]1 su* 
regional transmission plann] %all submit
 to ! ,commission an initial or updat$  
regional transmission plan t meets !    
requirem5ts ( ?is section4 ,!           
,commission %all ensure t ea* su* plan  
is ! result ( a plann+ process t adh]$  

to ! requirem5ts = a regional           
transmission plann+ process describ$ 9  
p>agraph 7#e74 ,! ,commission %all make 
all regional transmission plans submitt$
 available to ! public4  7#d7 ,regional 
transmission plan design ,a regional    
transmission plan requir$ "u ?is section
 %all1 ) respect to a designat$ region--
  7,a7 be design$ to--  7i7 ma9ta9 &    
enhance ! economic1 reliability1 & en]gy
 security b5efits ( ! regional electric 
transmission sy/em1 includ+ rem$iation (
 electric grid conge/ion2 &  7ii7       
anticipate & facilitate developm5t (    
electric en]gy g5]ation f div]se en]gy  
res\rces2 &  7,b7 consid] :e!r proposals
 to exp& & upgrade high voltage electric
 transmission 9 ! designat$ region &    
across ! b\nd>ies ( ! designat$ region w
 m9imize conge/ion & promote s]vice     
reliability1 m>ket integration &        
effici5cy1 economic developm5t1         
deploym5t ( sm>t grid te*nologies1 l[e/ 
co/ deliv]$ electric en]gy at :olesale1 
& ! goals ( applicable r5ewable         

portfolio /&>ds4  7#e7 ,regional        
transmission plann+ process ,!          
,commission %all ensure ea* regional    
transmission plann+ process conduct$ by 
a regional transmission plann] is       
consi/5t ) ! purposes ( ?is section4 ,! 
,commission %all ensure any su* plann+  
process--  7,a7 is non-discrim9atory1   
indep5d5t1 & con=ms ) ! plann+ /&>ds (  
,commission ,ord] ,no4 #hij or any      
successor ord]2  7,b7 solicits &        
consid]s ! input ( local & ,/ate        
policymak]s1 transmission facility own]s
 & electric utilities1 & m>ket          
p>ticipants2  7,c7 is suffici5tly broad 
9 geographic & m>ket scope to produce   
economic & op]ational effici5cies2  7,d7
 is design$ to meet ! ne$ = ! timely    
con/ruction or modification ( regional  
transmission projects2 &  7,e7 takes    
into acc\nt--  7i7 all applicable laws &
 regulations gov]n+ ! procurem5t (      
electric en]gy g5]ation2  7ii7 !        
pot5tial effect on ! future op]ation ( !
 electric transmission sy/em or on !    

regional transmission plan ( rejection  
or )drawal ( a propos$ regional         
transmission project2  7iii7 !          
developm5t ( transmission facilities =  
:i* a complet$ application =            
au?orization has be5 fil$ & accept$ by a
 ,/ate regulatory au?ority or o!r       
applicable au?ority be=e ! date (       
submission ( a regional transmission    
plan "u p>agraph 7#c7 b n orig9at+ f !  
plann+ process2  7iv7 ! availability (  
non-transmission res\rces su* z         
opportunities = en]gy effici5cy1 dem&   
response1 enhancem5ts to economic       
dispat*1 di/ribut$ g5]ation1 &          
in/allation ( new control1 met]+1 or    
capacity enhancem5t te*nologies2 &  7v7 
! developm5t ( ! int]/ate electric      
transmission sy/em 9 ! designat$ region 
= ! #aj ye>s aft] submission ( a        
regional transmission plan "u p>agraph  
7#c74  7#f7 ,transmitt+ utilities & ,p[]
 m>ket+ adm9i/rations ,f$]al p[] m>ket+ 
adm9i/rations & transmitt+ utilities 9 a
 designat$ region %all integrate _!     

transmission plans ) ! regional         
transmission plans requir$ by ?is       
section & %all o!rwise p>ticipate 9 a   
regional transmission plann+ process by 
a regional transmission plann] 9        
accordance ) ?is section4  7#g7         
,commission activities ,if no regional  
transmission plann] = a designat$ region
 is approv$ "u p>agraph 7#b71 or 9 !    
ev5t t an approv$ regional transmission 
plann] does n timely submit a regional  
transmission plan z requir$ "u p>agraph 
7#c71 ! ,commission %all designate a    
plann] or und]take ! plann+ activities  
describ$ 9 ?is subsection = ! designat$ 
region conc]n$ & develop su* a plan =   
su* designat$ region exp$iti\sly1 9     
consultation ) ,/ate regulatory         
au?orities1 z applicable1 = all affect$ 
,/ates or areas1 ! ,electric            
,reliability ,organization1 regional    
entities1 ,transmission ,organizations1 
& transmission own]s )9 ! region1 z     
appropriate4  7#h7 ,co/ ,allocation ,n  
lat] ?an #ah mon?s aft] ! date (        

enactm5t ( ?is p>agraph1 ! ,commission  
%all1 by rule1 require t all regional   
high voltage electric transmission co/  
allocation processes & me?odologies     
adh]e to a cle> & consi/5t set (        
regulatory pr9ciples1 includ+1 z        
appropriate1 t ! co/s ( sit+ & !        
con/ruction or modification (           
transmission facilities %all be allocat$
 consi/5t ) ! range & di/ribution (     
b5efits )9 ! designat$ region t are     
provid$ by su* facilities1 ! use ( !    
transmission sy/em1 or ) o!r equitable &
 economic consid]ations4 ,9 issu+ a rule
 "u ?is p>agraph1 ! ,commission %all    
consid] regional co/ allocation         
processes & me?odologies be+ develop$ or
 9 exi/5ce z ( ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is  
p>agraph4  7#i7 ,plan coord9ation ,!    
,commission %all require regional       
transmission plann]s to coord9ate plann+
 across regional b\nd>ies )9 an         
,int]connection 9 ord] to a*ieve !      
purposes ( ?is section4  7d7 ,c]tificate
 ( public conv5i5ce & necessity  7#a7   

,propos$ f9d+ ( public conv5i5ce &      
necessity by regional transmission      
plann]  7,a7 ,inclusion ( propos$ f9d+ 9
 regional transmission plan ,z "p ( a   
regional transmission plan submitt$ to !
 ,commission "u subsection 7c77#c71 a   
regional transmission plann] may id5tify
 a regional transmission project or     
projects t su* regional transmission    
plann] f9ds1 bas$ on ! record ( !       
regional transmission plann+ process1 is
 requir$ by1 & consi/5t )1 ! public     
conv5i5ce & necessity4  7,b7 ,public    
conv5i5ce & necessity c]tificate reque/ 
,a regional transmission plann] may     
submit to ! ,commission a reque/ to     
issue a c]tificate ( public conv5i5ce & 
necessity = a regional transmission     
project id5tifi$ 9 a regional           
transmission plan submitt$ "u subsection
 7c77#c74 ,su* reque/ %all include a    
summ>y ( ! record develop$ = su* project
 dur+ ! regional transmission plann+    
process4 ,! reque/ %all be bas$ on :e!r 
su* regional transmission project is or 

w be--  7i7 necess>y to ensure regional 
compliance ) reliability /&>ds or rem$y 
violations ( su* reliability /&>ds2     
7ii7 necess>y to provide significant    
relief f electric transmission conge/ion
 z measur$ by objective crit]ia1 includ+
 consid]ation ( ! total co/ ( conge/ion1
 h\rs ( conge/ion1 & ! lack ( feasible  
economic alt]native means to relieve    
conge/ion2  7iii7 important to !        
div]sification ( en]gy supply ?r\gh\t ! 
designat$ region1 includ+ by meet+ !    
goals ( applicable r5ewable portfolio   
/&>ds2 or  7iv7 important to !          
developm5t ( sm>t grid te*nology t is   
consi/5t ) ! policy "u title ,,xiii ( ! 
,en]gy ,indep5d5ce & ,security ,act (   
#bjjg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agcha et seq474   
7#b7 ,issuance ( c]tificate ( public    
conv5i5ce & necessity ,! ,commission    
may1 aft] notice & opportunity = he>+1  
f9d t a regional transmission project is
 9 ! public conv5i5ce & necessity &     
issue a c]tificate ( public conv5i5ce & 
necessity = ! own]%ip & op]ation ( su*  

regional transmission project & !       
provision ( any relat$ s]vices "u !     
jurisdiction ( ! ,commission if !       
,commission f9ds t--  7,a7 a regional   
transmission plann] includ$ a propos$   
f9d+ ( public conv5i5ce & necessity =   
su* propos$ regional transmission       
project 9 "o or m relevant regional     
transmission plans submitt$ to !        
,commission "u subsection 7c77#c72  7,b7
 a regional transmission plann] submitt$
 a reque/ = ! issuance ( su* a          
c]tificate2  7,c7 ! propos$ regional    
transmission project w be us$ = !       
transmission ( electric en]gy 9 int]/ate
 comm]ce2  7,d7 ! propos$ regional      
transmission project is consi/5t ) !    
public int]e/ 9 t]ms ( its eng9e]+1     
reliability1 & o!r economic *>act]i/ics 
& ! purposes ( ?is section2 &  7,e7 !   
propos$ regional transmission project w 
maximize1 to ! ext5t reasonable &       
economical1 exi/+ rights-(-way & !      
transmission capabilities ( exi/+ t[]s &
 /ructures4  7#c7 ,consid]ations ,9     

issu+ a c]tificate ( public conv5i5ce & 
necessity "u ?is subsection1 !          
,commission %all give sub/antial def]5ce
 to any propos$ f9d+ ( public conv5i5ce 
& necessity by a regional transmission  
plann] 9 a regional transmission plan   
submitt$ "u subsection 7c77#c74  7#d7   
,multiple projects ,! ,commission may   
treat multiple propos$ regional         
transmission projects 9 any regional    
transmission plan z sep>ate = purposes (
 det]m9+ :e!r a c]tificate ( public     
conv5i5ce & necessity %\ld be issu$ "u  
?is subsection4  7#e7 ,c]tificate       
applications ,! ,commission %all issue  
rules specify+--  7,a7 ! =m ( !         
application = a c]tificate ( public     
conv5i5ce & necessity "u ?is subsection2
 &  7,b7 ! in=mation to be conta9$ 9 su*
 application4  7#f7 ,environm5tal review
  7,a7 ,propos$ f9d+ by regional        
transmission plann] ,a propos$ f9d+ by a
 regional transmission plann] ( public  
conv5i5ce & necessity reg>d+ a regional 
transmission project is exclud$ f review

 "u ! ,national ,environm5tal ,policy   
,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et    
seq471 provid$ an environm5tal assessm5t
 or environm5tal impact /atem5t is      
requir$ to be prep>$ by ! ,commission "u
 su* ,act4  7,b7 ,consid]ation by       
,commission ,9 det]m9+ :e!r a c]tificate
 ( public conv5i5ce & necessity %\ld be 
issu$ "u ?is subsection1 ! ,commission  
may consid]1 :olly or 9 "p1 any draft   
environm5tal analysis conduct$ by a     
regional transmission plann] or relevant
 transmission provid] & issu$ by !      
regional transmission plann]4  7e7 ,sit+
 au?ority  7#a7 ,exclusive ,/ate sit+   
au?ority ,a ,/ate %all reta9 exclusive  
au?ority ov] ! sit+ ( any transmission  
facility t is n a "p ( a regional       
transmission project = :i* a c]tificate 
( public conv5i5ce & necessity has be5  
issu$ "u subsection 7d77#b74  7#b7      
,f$]al sit+ au?ority ,! ,commission may1
 aft] notice & an opportunity = he>+1   
issue "o or m p]mits = ! con/ruction or 
modification ( a transmission facility  

if ! ,commission f9ds t--  7,a7 !       
transmission facility 0 id5tifi$ z "p or
 all ( a regional transmission project =
 :i* a c]tificate ( public conv5i5ce &  
necessity has be5 issu$ "u subsection   
7d77#b72  7,b7 at lea/ "o ,/ate 9 !     
designat$ region = :i* su* regional     
transmission project is id5tifi$ has    
approv$ ! sit+ ( su* transmission       
facility2 &  7,c7 7i7 a ,/ate 9 :i* su* 
transmission facility is to be sit$ does
 n h au?ority to--  7,i7 approve ! sit+ 
( ! facility2 or  7,,ii7 consid] !      
int]/ate b5efits expect$ to be a*iev$ by
 ! propos$ sit+ ( ! transmission        
facility 9 ! ,/ate2  7ii7 ! applicant = 
a p]mit is a transmitt+ utility b does n
 qualify to apply = a p]mit = su*       
transmission facility 9 a ,/ate 9 :i*   
su* transmission facility is to be sit$ 
because ! applicant does n s]ve end-use 
cu/om]s 9 ! ,/ate2 or  7iii7 a ,/ate    
commission or o!r entity t has au?ority 
to approve ! sit+ ( su* transmission    
facility--  7,i7 did n issue a decision 

on an application seek+ approval = !    
sit+ ( ! facility )9 #a ye> aft] ! date 
on :i* ! applicant submitt$ a complet$  
application to ! ,/ate commission or o!r
 au?ority2  7,,ii7 d5i$ a complete      
application seek+ approval = ! sit+ ( ! 
transmission facility )\t propos+ an    
alt]nate site2 or  7,,iii7 au?oriz$ !   
sit+ ( ! facility subject to conditions 
t unreasonably int]f]e ) ! sit+ ( !     
transmission facility4  4  7#e7 ,9      
subsection 7f71 z r$esignat$ by p>agraph
 7#c71 by /rik+ subsection 7b7 & ins]t+ 
subsection 7e74  7#f7 ,9 subsection 7g71
 z r$esignat$ by p>agraph 7#c71 by /rik+
 subsection 7b7 & ins]t+ subsection 7e74
  7#g7 ,9 subsection 7h71 z r$esignat$  
by p>agraph 7#c71 by /rik+ subsection   
7e7 & ins]t+ subsection 7g74  7#h7 ,9   
subsection 7k77#b71 z r$esignat$ by     
p>agraph 7#b71 by /rik+ ,subsection     
7h77#f7 & ins]t+ ,subsection 7j77#f74   
7#i7 ,by am5d+ subsection 7l71 z        
r$esignat$ by p>agraph 7#b71 to read z  
foll[s3  7l7 ,applicability ,?is section

 applies only to ,/ates locat$ 9 !      
,we/]n ,int]connection & ,/ates locat$ 9
 ! ,ea/]n ,int]connection & does n apply
 to ! ,/ates ( ,alaska or ,hawaii1 or to
 areas "u ! au?ority ( ! ,electric      
,reliability ,c\ncil ( ,texas4  4