S. 1324: Affordable Reliable Electricity Now Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-05-13 · Environmental Protection · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 283.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2015-05-13 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 283. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Affordable Reliable Electricity Now Act of 2015

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Affordable Reliable Electricity Now Act of 2015 (Sec. 3) This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to meet certain conditions prior to issuing, implementing, or enforcing a rule under the Clean Air Act that: (1) establishes a performance standard for greenhouse gas emissions from new, modified, or reconstructed fossil fuel-fired power plants (new power plants); and (2) addresses carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants (existing power plants). In issuing those rules for new power plants, the EPA must: (1) place power plants fueled with coal and natural gas into separate categories, and (2) establish a separate subcategory for power plants using coal below a specified average heat content. The EPA must base greenhouse gas standards for new power plans on existing carbon capture and storage technology. Before the EPA can establish a greenhouse gas standard based on the best system of emission reduction for new power plants, the standard must first be achieved for at least one year at representative power plants throughout the country. The EPA may not use results obtained from demonstration projects when setting the standard. (Sec. 4) In order to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants, the EPA must: report on the quantity of projected greenhouse gas emission reductions, assess the impacts of a rule to EPA's climate indicators, and issue state-specific model plans demonstrating how each state can meet the required greenhouse gas emission reductions. States need not adopt or implement a state plan, or be subject to a federal plan, that addresses carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants if the plan would negatively affect: (1) economic growth, competitiveness, and jobs; (2) the reliability of its electricity system; or (3) electricity ratepayers by causing rate increases. The bill extends the compliance dates of those rules for existing power plants pending final judicial review. (Sec. 5) State noncompliance with any of those rules for new or existing power plants does not constitute a reason for imposing a highway project sanction. (Sec. 6) The bill nullifies specified rules under the Clean Air Act concerning greenhouse gases from power plants. (Sec. 7) The EPA may regulate an existing power plant for either hazardous air pollutants or non-hazardous pollution, but not both.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Affordable Reliable Electricity Now Act of 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate without amendment)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] · 35 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 1324, Affordable Reliable Electricity Now Act of 2015 (2015-10-08)

Cosponsors on this site

Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Thune (R-SD), John Barrasso (R-WY), John Boozman (R-AR), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hoeven (R-ND), Rand Paul (R-KY), James E. Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger F. Wicker (R-MS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Scott (R-SC), James Lankford (R-OK)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] reported raising $5.4 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate without amendment)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114s1324.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/s>

Record fed-us-cong114-s1324 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114