LPPC Endorses Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act to Accelerate Critical Energy Infrastructure
“America needs to build energy infrastructure faster to meet growing electricity demand, strengthen reliability, and keep electricity affordable for customers. BAAJA makes federal permitting more timely and predictable and recognizes the local, not-for-profit governance that keeps public power accountable to the communities we serve. As it is implemented, we look forward to working with FERC, the Treasury Department, and other stakeholders in the best interests of customers.”
- Tom Falcone, President, LPPC
LPPC has formally endorsed the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA, S. 5653), as improved by the manager's amendment, citing the legislation's permitting reforms and provisions recognizing the unique governance and financing structure of not-for-profit public power utilities.
In a November 9 letter to congressional leadership, LPPC expressed support for the bipartisan legislation, emphasizing the urgent need for a faster, more predictable federal permitting process to meet growing electricity demand, strengthen grid reliability, and protect customer affordability.
LPPC's 29 member utilities collectively serve 30.5 million Americans, support 648,000 jobs across the U.S., and plan to invest more than $166 billion in energy infrastructure over the next decade, expanding their owned or contracted generation capacity from 109 to 168 gigawatts and high-voltage transmission infrastructure to more than 50,000 miles by 2036.
BAAJA would help accelerate these investments by improving federal permitting timelines while preserving environmental protections and opportunities for public engagement. The legislation also includes provisions addressing hydropower, nuclear energy, and federal power marketing administrations.
LPPC specifically acknowledged the leadership of Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Mike Lee, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Martin Heinrich, and their efforts to incorporate provisions recognizing public power's locally governed, not-for-profit business model.
As the bill is implemented, LPPC will work to honor the choices it gives public power, support cost-effective transmission, ensure that data centers pay the costs of serving them, and protect the tax-exempt financing that keeps electricity affordable.
LPPC urges Congress to enact the legislation before the conclusion of the 119th Congress.
