The Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act directs the Department of Energy to establish a publicly available clearinghouse within one year that catalogs federal projects and funding sources related to advanced transmission technology, analyzes the efficiency benefits and costs of these technologies, and examines how geography and weather affect their deployment. The bill authorizes the Energy Secretary to provide technical assistance to electric utilities, transmission organizations, and state regulators who request help in understanding the clearinghouse resources, planning transmission upgrades, or developing regulatory frameworks for advanced transmission technologies. The legislation also requires the Secretary to develop best practices within one year for electric utilities to reduce wildfire ignition risks from power lines, including recommendations for vegetation management, engineering improvements, and safer operational procedures. Additionally, federal funding for advanced transmission technology deployment is exempted from lengthy environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that nothing in it allows the federal government to mandate that utilities actually adopt any of these technologies or practices.
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