Protecting Americans from High Electricity Prices Act of 2026

Jeff Merkley

Democrat · OR · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

2026-06-10

Source: Congress.gov

The bill would create a formal process for federal agencies to evaluate whether projects and policies serve the public interest by considering their greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts. This would affect companies planning major infrastructure projects, energy development, and other activities that require federal approval, as they would need to demonstrate how their plans account for climate concerns. The measure aims to give environmental considerations a structured role in how the government makes decisions about projects that emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4735 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4735 To establish procedures for determining the public interest with respect to greenhouse gas emissions, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 10, 2026 Mr. Merkley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To establish procedures for determining the public interest with respect to greenhouse gas emissions, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Americans from High Electricity Prices Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. PUBLIC INTEREST CRITERIA UNDER THE NATURAL GAS ACT. (a) Public Interest Criteria.--Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)-- (A) in the third sentence, by striking ``The Commission may'' and inserting the following: ``(3) Authority.--The Commission may''; (B) in the second sentence-- (i) by inserting ``, subject to subsection (c)'' after ``public interest''; and (ii) by striking ``The Commission shall'' and all that follows through ``will not be'' and inserting the following: ``(2) Public interest.--The Commission may issue such order upon application, after an opportunity for hearing, if the Commission finds that the proposed exportation or importation is''; and (C) by striking ``(a) After six months'' and inserting the following: ``(a) Authorization Order.-- ``(1) In general.--After 6 months''; and (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following: ``(c) Public Interest Criteria.-- ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection: ``(A) Country of concern.--The term `country of concern' means-- ``(i) Russia; ``(ii) China; ``(iii) North Korea; ``(iv) Iran; and ``(v) any other country that, after public notice and comment, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Director of National Intelligence, determines to be engaged in conduct that is detrimental to the national security or foreign policy of the United States. ``(B) Scope 1 emissions.--The term `scope 1 emissions' means direct emissions that occur from sources that are controlled or owned by an organization. ``(C) Scope 2 emissions.--The term `scope 2 emissions' means indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. ``(D) Scope 3 emissions.--The term `scope 3 emissions' means all indirect greenhouse gases produced in a value chain of a company, excluding purchased electricity. ``(2) Public interest activities and outcomes.-- ``(A) In general.--For the purposes of subsection (a)(2), with respect to the import or export of natural gas-- ``(i) the Commission shall consider the public interest broadly, including environmental impacts and affordability; and ``(ii) the activities and outcomes described in subparagraph (B) are not consistent with the public interest. ``(B) Activities and outcomes.--The activities and outcomes referred to in subparagraph (A) are: ``(i) Increasing the price of natural gas for households or industries in the United States. ``(ii) Increasing greenhouse gas emissions, including the consideration of all scope 1 emissions, scope 2 emissions, and scope 3 emissions. ``(iii) Supplying energy to a country of concern. ``(3) Rulemaking.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Protecting Americans from High Electricity Prices Act of 2026, the Commission shall promulgate regulations establishing the procedures and criteria to be used for determining whether an import or export of natural gas is consistent with the public interest under subsection (a)(2), including consideration of the matters described in paragraph (2), and, with respect to greenhouse gas emissions, the…

consideration of all scope 1 emissions, scope 2 emissions, and scope 3 emissions.''. (b) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act-- (1) is intended as a statement of congressional intent with respect to the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or the Secretary of Energy under the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717 et seq.); (2) precludes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or the Secretary of Energy from considering the impact of export of natural gas on households, businesses, or natural gas- dependent industries in the United States when carrying out the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717 et seq.) or any other applicable law; (3) precludes the Secretary of Energy from determining that the export of natural gas is not consistent with the public interest pursuant to section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b); or (4) precludes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from determining that the export of natural gas is not in service of public convenience or necessity pursuant to section 7 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) because it raises prices on households, businesses, or natural gas-dependent industries in the United States. (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) is amended-- (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``(b) With respect to'' and inserting the following: ``(b) Free Trade Agreement.--With respect to''; (2) in subsection (d), by striking ``(d) Except as'' and inserting the following: ``(d) Construction With Other Laws.--Except as''; (3) in subsection (e)-- (A) by striking ``(e) (1) The Commission'' and inserting the following: ``(e) LNG Terminals.-- ``(1) Authority.--The Commission''; (B) in paragraph (2)-- (i) by striking ``(2) Upon the filing'' and inserting the following: ``(2) Filing.--On the filing''; and (ii) by indenting subparagraphs (A) through (D) appropriately; (C) in paragraph (3)-- (i) by striking ``(3) (A) Except as provided'' and inserting the following: ``(3) Discretion.-- ``(A) In general.--Except as provided''; (ii) by indenting subparagraphs (B) and (C) appropriately; (iii) in subparagraph (B)-- (I) by striking ``(B) Before January'' and inserting the following: ``(B) Limitations.--Before January''; (II) by indenting clauses (i) and (ii) appropriately; and (III) in clause (ii), by indenting subclauses (I) through (III) appropriately; and (iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``(C) Subparagraph (B) shall'' and inserting the following: ``(C) Sunset.--Subparagraph (B) shall''; and (D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``(4) An order'' and inserting the following: ``(4) Limitations.--An order''; and (4) in subsection (f)-- (A) in paragraph (1)-- (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a period; and (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``(B) does not include'' and inserting the following: ``(B) Exclusion.--The term `military installation' does not include''; (B) by striking the subsection designation and all that follows through ``means a base'' in paragraph (1)(A) and inserting the following: ``(f) Military Installations.-- ``(1) Definition of military installation.-- ``(A) In general.--In this subsection, the term `military installation' means a base''; (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(2) The Commission shall'' and inserting the following: ``(2) Memorandum of understanding.--The Commission shall''; and (D) in paragraph (3), by striking ``(3) The Commission shall'' and inserting the following: ``(3) Concurrence.--The Commission shall''. <all>

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