WASHINGTON, D.C. – Groups representing a variety of stakeholders are urging Congress to pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA, S. 5653) as lawmakers return to Capitol Hill for the November lame-duck session.
The bipartisan bill would streamline permitting for responsible energy infrastructure and home-energy upgrades while helping ensure that the costs of powering large new data centers do not fall on ordinary households.
Phil Radford, President and CEO of Consumer Reports (CR), said: “Families are feeling the pain and stress of rising electric bills. About three in four Americans say those increases have strained their household finances. This bipartisan bill takes practical steps to make home energy improvements more affordable, helping people lower their bills. It would help ensure consumers are not on the hook to subsidize the enormous new energy demands of data centers, and it aims for a more efficient electric grid. Congress should advance this bill.”
Frank Macchiarola, Chief Advocacy Officer, American Clean Power Association (ACP), said: “Today’s vote is a critical step toward modernizing our outdated permitting process and getting ready-to-build clean energy projects moving. With energy demand climbing and families increasingly concerned about energy affordability, BAAJA is how we power more homes and bring costs down. We urge senators to vote yes on cloture and move this bill forward. It’s time to let America build.”
John Szoka, CEO, Conservative Energy Network (CEN), said: “Reliable, affordable energy is something every American should be able to count on and we have the resources and workers we need to meet our energy needs. Washington needs to get out of the way and make it easier to build. This bipartisan bill would help move responsible projects forward, bringing prices down for families and businesses. Congress should get it across the finish line.”
Contact: cyrus.rassool@consumer.org