Lawmaker Calls for Approved Energy Projects To Move Forward

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2026 – Energy projects that already secured permits and investment commitments should be allowed to move forward as the United States faces rising electricity demand and mounting pressure on the electric grid, Rep. Kathy Castor , D-Fla., said Tuesday.

“What can you do to end the sabotage on energy projects that had capital investment and were permitted and were ready to come on the grid?” Castor said during a fireside chat at a United States Energy Association event in Washington.

Castor, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, said lawmakers must focus on transmission expansion, grid modernization, and energy efficiency as electricity demand accelerates.

Artificial intelligence infrastructure has intensified congressional focus on grid expansion and transmission capacity.

“We’ve got to build the modern electric grid to serve our nation for decades to come,” she said.

The congresswoman said Congress has lagged behind in understanding newer grid technologies, including virtual power plants, dynamic line ratings, and battery storage systems designed to improve efficiency and resilience.

According to Castor, the nation’s electric grid is built for peak demand but typically operates at roughly 53 percent utilization, leaving room for efficiency gains through grid-enhancing technologies.

Lawmakers have increasingly focused on transmission upgrades and grid-enhancing technologies aimed at expanding capacity along existing power lines while avoiding lengthy permitting battles.

Castor criticized efforts to roll back clean energy tax credits, arguing the changes were coming at the “exact wrong time” as electricity demand increases.

She said bipartisan conversations around permitting reform continue, though progress has stalled amid disputes over canceled energy projects and ongoing litigation surrounding approved developments.

Castor pointed to growing concerns around grid resilience following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which triggered widespread communications and power outages across the Southeast last year.

“Any infrastructure being constructed right now really should take into account the challenges,” Castor said, referring to climate-related risks including hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and extreme heat.

She called for stronger domestic critical mineral processing and recycling capabilities, warning the United States remains heavily dependent on China for mineral supply chains tied to batteries and energy technologies.

“Processing is where the weakness is,” Castor said