,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #edje ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #b1 #bjbd,mr4 ,markey 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 and ,mr4 ,welch7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,federal ,power ,act to establish an ,office of ,transmission in the ,federal ,energy ,regulatory ,commission1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,office of ,transmission ,act of #bjbd4 #b4 ,office of ,transmission ,part ,,iii of the ,federal ,power ,act is amended by inserting after section #cag 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #hbep7 the following3 #cah4 ,office of ,transmission 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,energy ,regulatory ,commission4 7#b7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,office described in subsection 7c74 7#c7 ,distributed renewable energy resource ,the term distributed renewable energy resource means any non-bulk1 renewable energy system resource1 including-- 7,a7 small-scale solar1 wind1 geothermal1 or energy storage projects connected at the distribution level and serving on-site energy demand2 7,b7 community-based solar or energy storage projects located in or very near the customers served by the projects2 and 7,c7 microgrids or generators powered by renewable energy4 7#d7 ,energy burden ,the term energy burden has the meaning given the term in section #bfjc of the ,low-,income ,home ,energy ,assistance ,act of #aiha 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hfbb74 7#e7 ,interregional transmission facility ,the term interregional transmission facility means a transmission facility that-- 7,a7 is located within #b or more neighboring ,transmission ,planning ,regions2 and 7,b7 significantly impacts the ability of #a or more ,transmission ,planning ,regions to transmit electric energy among neighboring ,transmission ,planning ,regions4 7#f7 ,office ,the term ,office means the ,office of ,transmission established under subsection 7b74 7#g7 ,public interest stakeholder ,the term public interest stakeholder means an individual or entity impacted by the electric grid or working to improve transmission planning and outcomes with respect to reducing consumer costs1 improving reliability and resilience1 advancing clean energy1 reducing energy burden1 creating and retaining good-paying union jobs1 reducing local pollution1 or reducing greenhouse gas emissions1 including-- 7,a7 a resident2 7,b7 a worker2 7,c7 a labor union2 7,d7 a consumer advocacy organization2 or 7,e7 a nonprofit organization representing residents or workers4 7#h7 ,transmission ,planning ,region ,the term ,transmission ,planning ,region-- 7,a7 when used in a geographical sense1 means a region for which the ,commission determines that electric transmission planning is appropriate1 such as a region established in accordance with ,order ,no4 #ajjj of the ,commission1 entitled ,transmission ,planning and ,cost ,allocation by ,transmission ,owning and ,operating ,public ,utilities 7#gf ,fed4 ,reg4 #dihdb 7,august #aa1 #bjaa772 and 7,b7 when used in a corporate sense1 means the ,transmission ,organization or other entity responsible for planning or operating electric transmission facilities within a region described in subparagraph 7,a74 7b7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,there shall be established in the ,commission an office1 to be known as the ,office of ,transmission4 7#b7 ,requirement ,the ,office shall be established not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,office of ,transmission ,act of #bjbd4 7c7 ,director ,the ,office shall be administered by a ,director1 who shall be appointed by the ,chairman of the ,commission4 7d7 ,duties ,the ,office shall-- 7#a7 provide independent review and oversight of transmission planning and operation at each ,transmission ,planning ,region subject to the jurisdiction of the ,commission to ensure robust1 forward-looking1 and transparent planning1 including by-- 7,a7 reviewing-- 7i7 inputs1 assumptions1 and modeling relevant to transmission planning and operation2 7ii7 regional1 interregional1 and local transmission plans and planning processes1 including asset condition projects2 7iii7 the consistency of transmission plans with local1 ,state1 ,federal1 and ,tribal public policies2 7iv7 transmission outcomes1 as compared to-- 7,i7 the plans reviewed and any findings made under clause 7ii72 and 7,,ii7 any findings made under subparagraph 7,b77ii72 and 7v7 stakeholder engagement2 7,b7 identifying inefficiencies in transmission planning and outcomes1 including inefficiencies that-- 7i7 may lead to-- 7,i7 unjust and unreasonable rates2 7,,ii7 undue discrimination2 7,,iii7 delaying or preventing the integration of new renewable energy2 7,,iv7 undue burdens on households with a high energy burden2 7,v7 undue burdens on sensitive environmental areas and cultural heritage sites2 or 7,,vi7 reliability concerns1 including the ability to maintain functionality during extreme weather and wildfire scenarios1 in coordination with the ,electric ,reliability ,organization 7as defined in section #bae7;a772 and 7ii7 could be addressed by-- 7,i7 updated1 best-available1 and science-based data1 including on cost and reliability2 7,,ii7 forward-looking transmission and interconnection planning2 7,,iii7 advanced transmission technologies 7as defined in section #abbc7;a7 of the ,energy ,policy ,act of #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #afdbb7;a7772 7,,iv7 transmission facilities1 including regional and interregional transmission facilities2 7,v7 distributed renewable energy resources2 7,,vi7 weatherization and energy efficiency2 7,,vii7 demand-response technologies2 or 7,,viii7 other process and market enhancements1 including those based on practices from other ,transmission ,planning ,regions2 and 7,c7 tracking estimated and actual project costs and verifying benefits and commitments derived from-- 7i7 any competitive solicitation process2 or 7ii7 capital investments that transmission owners propose for existing assets identified as being at the end of their useful lives or needing replacement due to damage2 7#b7 provide technical assistance to ,transmission ,planning ,regions to improve transmission planning1 outcomes1 and rates prior to publication or filing with the ,commission1 including by supporting coordination and joint planning among neighboring ,transmission ,planning ,regions on interregional transmission facilities2 and 7#c7 for each ,transmission ,planning ,region1 compose and present a public annual report that includes-- 7,a7 information on the performance of the planning process2 7,b7 any planning deficiencies or inefficiencies identified2 7,c7 comparisons to other ,transmission ,planning ,regions2 and 7,d7 recommended enhancements to planning and cost recovery rules4 7e7 ,data collection and sharing2 assessment 7#a7 ,in general ,all ,transmission ,planning ,regions shall share with the ,office all operating data and planning assumptions needed for the ,director to carry out the duties described in subsection 7d74 7#b7 ,assessment ,the ,commission shall collect such data as are necessary to assess the operating data and planning assumptions shared with the ,office under paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,sharing ,the ,commission shall share the data described in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 with public interest stakeholders1 as requested1 to assist the public interest stakeholders in providing alternatives analyses1 unless the ,commission determines that confidentiality is necessary to protect confidential energy infrastructure information1 confidential business information1 or confidential personnel information4 7f7 ,employment ,the ,director may appoint1 without regard to chapter #ea1 or subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ec1 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 any experts that the ,director determines are necessary to carry out the functions of the ,office under this section4 7g7 ,savings provision ,nothing in this section overrides or inhibits the existing authority of the ,commission4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section4 4