Business leaders head to Capitol Hill to call on Congress to pass bipartisan permitting and grid package this year

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ceres this week will convene major energy, manufacturing, and technology companies to advocate on Capitol Hill for permitting certainty and transmission policy solutions to address energy affordability.  

A diverse group of companies, including Lucid, Michelin, Siemens, and Workday, among others, will join Ceres today and tomorrow for meetings with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to emphasize the need to pass bipartisan reforms this year that expand and modernize the grid and help drive down energy prices. The event follows yesterday’s announcement of a bipartisan deal on such a package — The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act.   

“American businesses and consumers need policy solutions to ensure the U.S. can accelerate deployment of affordable, reliable homegrown clean energy. Policymakers have an urgent opportunity to deliver by passing yesterday’s deal this year,” said Zach Friedman, senior director for federal policy, at Ceres. “We’re proud to have a diverse cross-section of the American economy behind us advocating for a permit certainty and grid modernization package that will deliver benefits and reduce costs across the country.” 

U.S. energy demand and prices are rising, straining American businesses, consumers, and an aging, undersized power grid. The U.S. needs more energy, and an expanded, modern power grid to reduce costs and capture economic opportunity, and Congress must remove the political and procedural barriers that stand in the way. Businesses need reforms to provide investment certainty and streamline processes for permitting, planning, and financing for the long-distance transmission lines required to keep energy affordable and reliable over the long term. 

Congress has a chance to deliver permit certainty, transmission planning, and grid modernization policies that will maximize private sector investment in affordable, homegrown clean energy and bring more advanced clean industries to America. Ceres is building support for the following priorities included in the package: 

• Technology-neutral permit certainty to unleash private investment in urgently needed affordable American clean energy.  

• Stronger transmission planning, siting, and permitting authority to accelerate the buildout of a modern, secure American grid to improve reliability and affordability.  

• Reforms to scale proven cost-saving technologies that modernize and optimize the current grid to quickly and cost-effectively meet rising demand. 

Permitting and transmission reform was also a major focus of LEAD on a Clean Economy 2026, Ceres’ marquee policy event, which brought 37 companies, investors, and trade associations for meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill earlier this year. 

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About Ceres 

Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and resilient economy. With data-driven research and expert analysis, we inspire investors and companies to act on the world's sustainability challenges and advocate for market and policy solutions. Together, our efforts transform industries, unlock new business opportunities, and foster innovation and job growth – proving that sustainability is the bottom line. For more information, visit ceres.org.