A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to establish a categorical exclusion for reconductoring within existing rights-of-way, and for other purposes.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 3947 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3947 To amend the Federal Power Act to establish a categorical exclusion for reconductoring within existing rights-of-way, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 26, 2026 Mr. McCormick (for himself and Mr. Welch) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Federal Power Act to establish a categorical exclusion for reconductoring within existing rights-of-way, 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 ``Reconductoring Existing Wires for Infrastructure Reliability and Expansion Act'' or the ``REWIRE Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Advanced transmission conductor.--The term ``advanced transmission conductor'' means a conductor, including a carbon fiber conductor, a composite core conductor, a superconductor, and any other conductor, that-- (A) has a direct current electrical resistance at least 10 percent lower than a traditional ACSR conductor of a similar diameter and weight; (B) has a potential energy carrying capacity at least 70 percent greater than a traditional ACSR conductor of a similar diameter and weight; and (C) has a coefficient of thermal expansion at least 50 percent lower than a traditional ACSR conductor of a similar diameter and weight. (2) ASCR conductor.--The term ``ASCR conductor'' means an aluminum conductor steel-reinforced cable. (3) Bulk-power system.--The term ``bulk-power system'' has the meaning given the term in section 215(a) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o(a)). (4)