Bill Overview
Title: CHARGE Act of 2022
Description: This bill modifies planning, transparency, cost allocation and pricing, interconnections, and other aspects of the regulation and operation of transmission networks with a particular focus on improving the resiliency of the electric grid and integrating renewable energy sources into the grid. It also provides funding for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to implement specified provisions of the bill.
Sponsors: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Target Audience
Population: individuals relying on electric grids
Estimated Size: 329500000
- This bill focuses on improving the electric grid's resiliency and integrating renewable energy sources.
- Improvements in grid resiliency and renewables integration will primarily impact regions that are currently hard to reach with existing energy infrastructure.
- Incorporation of renewable energy will affect energy producers, energy consumers, and potentially lower greenhouse gas emissions.
- Regulatory changes will also impact utility companies and potentially lower energy costs for consumers.
Reasoning
- The CHARGE Act of 2022 targets improving the electric grid, which affects nearly everyone in the U.S. since they rely on electricity.
- With a budget of $2 billion initially, the policy will focus on areas most in need of connectivity and reliability improvements, commonly rural or remote regions.
- Large urban areas, though reliant on the grid, may experience less direct impact in terms of infrastructure upgrades.
- Consumers in regions with poor connectivity may see a notable improvement in service, potentially reducing energy costs and increasing reliability.
- Businesses in energy sectors and consumers alike may benefit from a transition to more renewable energy sources, aligning with environmental goals.
- Interviews will include perspectives from a diverse group to analyze differential impacts.
Simulated Interviews
Farmer (Rural Montana)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy will solve the power outages we deal with constantly.
- Switching to renewable energy sounds promising, especially if it reduces costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Software Engineer (Suburban Ohio)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improving the grid is a smart move, hopefully it lowers my energy bills.
- I support renewable energy integration for a cleaner future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Business Executive (Urban San Francisco)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While grid reliability is crucial, I'm more concerned about the broader benefits of renewable energy.
- This policy aligns with necessary environmental trends.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
School Principal (Rural Alabama)
Age: 43 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Upgrading the grid would be fantastic, especially if it cuts down on outages.
- If renewable energy makes bills cheaper, that's a win.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Public Transit Operator (Urban New York City)
Age: 39 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An efficient and resilient power grid will make public transit more reliable.
- I'm concerned about how well this will integrate renewable energy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired (Suburban Illinois)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hoping for a decrease in energy costs with this new policy.
- Reliable electricity is very important, especially in extreme weather.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Wind Turbine Technician (Rural Texas)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill could mean more job opportunities in my field.
- I am excited about the positive impact on sustainability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 6 |
Entrepreneur (Urban Los Angeles)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The integration of renewable energy is necessary for sustainable growth.
- This policy could open avenues for tech innovation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Factory Worker (Rural Nebraska)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reducing energy costs could really help the factory's bottom line.
- I'm glad to hear about improving reliability of power.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Utility Manager (Suburban Pennsylvania)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill will directly affect our operations, likely for the better.
- Renewable energy integration is a step toward modernizing our infrastructure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000000 (Low: $1700000000, High: $2300000000)
Year 2: $2200000000 (Low: $1900000000, High: $2500000000)
Year 3: $2400000000 (Low: $2000000000, High: $2800000000)
Year 5: $2700000000 (Low: $2200000000, High: $3200000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Technological challenges in grid integration with renewables.
- Potential resistance from existing energy providers due to market disruptions.
- Legislative and regulatory cooperation required for successful implementation.