III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 224 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States must seize the 

opportunity to create millions of jobs, become a net exporter of clean 

energy, and secure a better, more equitable future by accelerating the 

electrification of households, buildings, and businesses in the United 

States, modernizing the United States electricity grid, and continuing 

on the path towards decarbonizing electricity generation in the United 

States by 2035. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 18, 2021 

Mr. HEINRICH (for himself, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. PADILLA, 

Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. BENNET, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WYDEN, Ms. ROSEN, Ms. 

WARREN, Mr. LUJA ́N, and Mr. KING) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States 

must seize the opportunity to create millions of jobs, 

become a net exporter of clean energy, and secure a 

better, more equitable future by accelerating the electrification of households, buildings, and businesses in 

the United States, modernizing the United States electricity grid, and continuing on the path towards 

decarbonizing electricity generation in the United States 

by 2035. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 224 IS 

Whereas the United States enjoys an abundance of clean energy resources, world-class research facilities, cuttingedge industrial capabilities, and an unrivaled culture of 

entrepreneurship and technological innovation; 

Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, technology exists to power the majority of energy systems in 

the United States with zero-emission electricity; 

Whereas achieving widespread electrification— 

(1) will reduce the overall energy needs of the 

United States economy by up to 50 percent; and 

(2) can substantially decrease overall consumer energy costs while maintaining the same or better lifestyles 

for individuals and families in the United States; 

Whereas national and subnational economies around the 

world, including in the United States, are engaged in a 

fundamental transition away from energy systems based 

on fossil fuels to zero-emission energy systems; 

Whereas the United States has the opportunity to become a 

clean energy superpower, and in the process has the opportunity— 

(1) to become a net exporter of bulk zero-emission 

electricity and of products made with zero-emission electricity; 

(2) to capture new and expanding power and technology markets; 

(3) to benefit from the ongoing global transition 

away from fossil fuel energy towards widespread electrification using zero-emission electricity; and 

(4) to become an international leader in the production and adoption of zero-emission vehicles; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 224 IS 

Whereas climate change caused by human activities, especially by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion, represents a serious, present, and growing 

threat— 

(1) to human health, security, and economic wellbeing; and 

(2) to the environment; 

Whereas low-income communities and communities of color 

are disproportionately impacted by the harmful effects of 

climate change and air pollution, including being at a 

higher risk of experiencing— 

(1) severe floods, droughts, and wildfires; 

(2) economic dislocation; and 

(3) significant health problems, including pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, heart attacks, strokes, and 

lung cancer; 

Whereas transitioning the energy systems of the United 

States to zero-emission electricity would— 

(1) drastically reduce net greenhouse gas emissions 

in the United States; 

(2) improve air and water quality throughout the 

United States; and 

(3) improve numerous health conditions associated 

with the burning of fossil fuels for millions of individuals 

in the United States; 

Whereas the work required to electrify the economy of the 

United States would produce millions of high-paying, sustainable jobs that would— 

(1) be created throughout the United States, including in urban, rural, suburban, and Tribal communities; 

and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 224 IS 

(2) require directly translatable skills from individuals who, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, 

hold jobs in— 

(A) the fossil fuel industry; 

(B) the construction and building industry; 

(C) the electricity industry, including residential 

and commercial electricians; and 

(D) the automotive industry; 

Whereas the average household in the United States spends, 

as of the date of adoption of this resolution, approximately $4,500 per year on energy, including $2,000 per 

year on vehicle fuel; 

Whereas, with supportive policy, households in the United 

States can save up to half of their annual energy costs 

by electrifying their household energy systems, including 

through— 

(1) the installation of— 

(A) rooftop or distributed photovoltaic solar and 

home battery systems; 

(B) electric heat pumps and electric heat pump 

water heaters; and 

(C) electric household appliances; and 

(2) the purchase of electric vehicles; 

Whereas many low- and moderate-income families in the 

United States lack access to credit and financing options 

that would enable those families to install money-saving 

electrified household energy systems; 

Whereas reaping the benefits of electrification could be made 

more accessible and cost-effective for individuals in the 

United States, so that the access and costs compare more 

favorably with other countries, by— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
5 

•SRES 224 IS 

(1) reducing the up-front capital outlays typically required; and 

(2) decreasing the cost of local permitting and regulations for rooftop solar and other distributed renewable 

energy generation in the United States; 

Whereas investments in energy efficiency programs can— 

(1) reduce the size and cost of electric heating systems; 

(2) help increase systemic resiliency to periods of extreme temperature; and 

(3) in addition to other investments in infrastructure, help improve the ability of the electric power grid 

to serve peak electric demand; 

Whereas utility-scale wind and solar installations are among 

the lowest-cost sources of electricity available in the 

United States; 

Whereas additional interregional high-voltage direct-current 

electricity transmission capacity— 

(1) is critical to the development of new clean energy 

generation; and 

(2) can help ensure reliable and consistent electricity 

supply; and 

Whereas supporting rapid electrification and innovation in all 

sectors of the United States economy while transitioning 

to zero-emission electricity production using proven generation technologies is one of the fastest, most efficient 

ways to reduce United States greenhouse gas emissions, 

reduce the average energy bills of people of the United 

States, and create millions of good-paying jobs to put individuals in the United States back to work in response 

to the COVID–19 pandemic: Now, therefore be it 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
6 

•SRES 224 IS 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that— 

2 (1) the United States must seize the oppor3 tunity to create millions of jobs, become a net ex4 porter of clean energy, and secure a better, more eq5 uitable future by accelerating the electrification of 

6 households, buildings, and businesses in the United 

7 States, modernizing the United States electricity 

8 grid, and continuing on the path towards decarboni9 zing electricity generation in the United States by 

10 2035; 

11 (2) the goals described in paragraph (1) are 

12 consistent with, and should be achieved through, ef13 forts that prioritize the objectives of— 

14 (A) creating millions of good-paying jobs, 

15 with collective bargaining agreements, and ad16 vancing a thriving, equitable economy with an 

17 expanded middle class; 

18 (B) maintaining the global leadership of 

19 the United States in innovation; 

20 (C) ensuring that not less than 40 percent 

21 of the benefits of Federal investments in elec22 trification efforts flow to historically margina23 lized communities and individuals dispropor24 tionately affected by the health and environ25 mental impacts of fossil fuels; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
7 

•SRES 224 IS 

1 (D) rehiring through place-based policies, 

2 retraining, and certifying, for electrification and 

3 clean energy jobs, individuals that, as of the 

4 date of adoption of this resolution, hold jobs in 

5 the fossil fuel industry (referred to in this reso6 lution as ‘‘energy veterans’’); 

7 (E) advancing strong labor and safety 

8 standards throughout the supply chain by using 

9 certain Federal provisions, including— 

10 (i) chapter 83 of title 41, United 

11 States Code (commonly known as the 

12 ‘‘Buy American Act’’); and 

13 (ii) subchapter IV of chapter 31 of 

14 part A of subtitle II of title 40, United 

15 States Code (commonly known as the 

16 ‘‘Davis-Bacon Act’’); 

17 (F) decreasing the harmful health and en18 vironmental impacts of climate change, which 

19 fall disproportionately on low-income people and 

20 communities of color in the United States; 

21 (G) ensuring access to low-cost, reliable 

22 electricity for individuals, families, and busi23 nesses, while recognizing and addressing the 

24 infrastructural challenges in rural and Tribal 

25 communities; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
8 

•SRES 224 IS 

1 (H) modernizing the electric power grid of 

2 the United States and its operations to increase 

3 the security, resilience, reliability, fairness, and 

4 flexibility of the electric power grid; 

5 (I) transforming existing industries in the 

6 United States into 21st century industries that 

7 use and produce clean energy; and 

8 (J) enhancing the national security of the 

9 United States, including the cybersecurity of 

10 the electric power grid; and 

11 (3) to succeed, the goals described in paragraph 

12 (1) and the objectives described in paragraph (2) 

13 should be accomplished through efforts that— 

14 (A) electrify the activities of high-emissions 

15 sectors, such as the residential and commercial 

16 construction, transportation, and industrial sec17 tors, including by— 

18 (i) supporting and incentivizing the 

19 residential and commercial deployment of 

20 electric technologies, including battery 

21 storage systems, electric heat pumps, elec22 tric induction stoves, electric vehicle char23 gers, and electric water heaters; 

24 (ii) supporting the expansion of resi25 dential, commercial, and public electric veVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:09 May 18, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR224.IS SR224

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
9 

•SRES 224 IS 

1 hicle charging infrastructure, including in 

2 rural areas and low- and moderate-income 

3 communities; 

4 (iii) supporting the widespread elec5 trification of public transportation systems, 

6 including the expansion of public transpor7 tation systems in rural and suburban com8 munities; and 

9 (iv) investing in research, develop10 ment, demonstration, and deployment pro11 grams for electrification of key industrial 

12 processes; 

13 (B) increase the deployment of zero-emis14 sion electricity resources, including by— 

15 (i) expanding investment in zero-emis16 sion electricity generation; 

17 (ii) lowering the permitting and hard18 ware costs, and streamlining the process, 

19 of installing distributed energy systems; 

20 (iii) improving the permitting and 

21 leasing processes for zero-emission elec22 tricity generation facilities on public land 

23 and offshore waters within the jurisdiction 

24 of the United States; and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
10 

•SRES 224 IS 

1 (iv) ending subsidies for fossil fuel de2 velopment on both public and private land; 

3 (C) invest in energy efficiency programs 

4 paired with electrification measures, including 

5 household weatherization and high efficiency 

6 electric heating and cooling systems; 

7 (D) expand interregional transmission ca8 pacity and planning to promote widespread and 

9 reliable zero-emission electrification; 

10 (E) adopt and expand the use of tech11 nologies and processes that will make the elec12 tric power grid more resilient, reliable, and effi13 cient; 

14 (F) improve commercial, infrastructural, 

15 and manufacturing capacity for zero-emission 

16 electrification, including by— 

17 (i) identifying and encouraging best 

18 practices for organizing electrification mar19 kets across communities and streamlining 

20 local regulations and permitting require21 ments; 

22 (ii) upgrading home-load centers to 

23 support the power supply necessary for 

24 widespread household electrification; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
11 

•SRES 224 IS 

1 (iii) setting national standards for 

2 electrification projects that align elec3 trification markets across jurisdictions, 

4 while still allowing for private sector inno5 vation and technological advances; and 

6 (iv) expanding and electrifying manu7 facturing facilities so that the United 

8 States can produce and export products 

9 made with clean energy; 

10 (G) increase the available financing for 

11 zero-emission electrification supporting tech12 nologies at all scales, from utility-scale power 

13 stations and transmission lines to individual 

14 homes and businesses, including by— 

15 (i) providing seed funding for a clean 

16 energy and sustainability accelerator that 

17 will leverage public and private investment 

18 in zero-emission electricity across the 

19 United States; 

20 (ii) adopting policies to increase avail21 able financing for distributed zero-emission 

22 electricity generation, especially by low23 and moderate-income households and indi24 viduals historically denied access to credit; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
12 

•SRES 224 IS 

1 (iii) increasing financial incentives at 

2 the Federal, State, and local levels for do3 mestic manufacturing of electric appli4 ances, vehicles, technologies, and systems; 

5 and 

6 (iv) creating accessible financing me7 chanisms to make electrification projects 

8 affordable for all households, including for 

9 both homeowners and renters, across rural, 

10 urban, suburban, and Tribal communities 

11 across the United States; 

12 (H) expand access to, and increase the 

13 quality of, higher education, vocational training, 

14 and certification programs for workers contrib15 uting to the goals described in paragraph (1) 

16 and the objectives described in paragraph (2) 

17 with an emphasis on— 

18 (i) ensuring and encouraging access to 

19 those programs for— 

20 (I) low-income individuals; and 

21 (II) people of color; 

22 (ii) eliminating gender-based and 

23 race-based pay gaps; 

24 (iii) protecting the right of workers to 

25 organize and bargain collectively; and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
13 

•SRES 224 IS 

1 (iv) rehiring through place-based poli2 cies and retraining of energy veterans; 

3 (I) facilitate the modernization of Federal, 

4 State, and local building, electric, and other 

5 codes to encourage the adoption of low-cost 

6 zero-emission electricity resources, including 

7 through grant and technical assistance pro8 grams; 

9 (J) invest in achieving full access to zero10 emission electricity for rural and Tribal commu11 nities through a combination of new trans12 mission and distribution, and new generation, 

13 such as through distributed solar and 

14 microgrids; 

15 (K) pursue a Federal Government-wide ap16 proach to zero-emission electrification; 

17 (L) increase understanding of the health 

18 impacts of indoor and outdoor air pollution cre19 ated by fossil fuel appliances and electricity 

20 generation, especially on the most vulnerable 

21 members of society; 

22 (M) invest in research, development, and 

23 demonstration on the efficient use, recycling, 

24 and waste management of materials used in 

25 clean energy technologies, including the sustainVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:09 May 18, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR224.IS SR224

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
14 

•SRES 224 IS 

1 able sourcing and recycling of critical minerals 

2 used in the technologies; and 

3 (N) increase research, development, and 

4 demonstration funding for the next generation 

5 of cutting-edge zero-emission electricity re6 sources, deployment techniques, and grid mod7 ernization technologies. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS