Clarke, Welch, Van Hollen Reintroduce Bicameral Bill to Create 70% Renewable Energy Resource Standard by 2036, Speed U.S. Clean Energy Transition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 21 2026 MEDIA CONTACT: e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov c: 202.913.0126 Legislation would establish ambitious energy standard to rapidly reduce emissions and achieve up to 100% renewable energy generation by 2046 WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) joined U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in reintroducing the bicameral American Renewable Energy Act (AREA) , legislation to establish an ambitious 70% renewable energy resource standard by 2036 to drastically reduce emissions, decrease pollution, and promote community resilience. To achieve this goal, AREA prioritizes the development and implementation of solar, wind, and geothermal energy, as well as marine energy, limited hydropower, and methane digesters for smaller farms and wastewater plants. The bill also seeks to ensure the equitable distribution of economic, health, and resiliency benefits of renewable energy deployment by establishing an enforcement mechanism that requires at least 50% of collected funds be spent on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and storage projects in impacted communities. “As we witness the devastating impacts of climate change on communities across our nation, we can no longer afford the luxury of inaction. The choices we make today will determine the world we leave to our children and grandchildren. We have the tools, the technology, and the knowledge to build a cleaner future; we need Congress to act,” said Rep. Clarke . “Investing in renewable energy also means confronting the environmental injustices that have left our nation’s most underserved communities bearing the greatest burden. My legislation puts clean energy technology and innovation to work, reducing emissions, improving air quality and health outcomes, and creating millions of good-paying renewable energy jobs. We cannot leave future generations to pay the price for problems we have the power to solve today.” “Taking immediate, ambitious action to reduce emissions and build a clean energy future is essential to combating the climate crisis. Now is the time to enact a national renewable energy standard. Vermont has long led the nation in the clean energy transition, passing historic legislation just this summer that puts us on the path to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2046,” said Senator Welch . “This bill will help the country follow in Vermont’s footsteps to speed the transition to renewables and build energy independence.” “As Americans face skyrocketing electricity bills and the increasingly harmful impacts of the climate crisis, unleashing the power of clean energy has never been more important. This legislation will help us accelerate bringing cleaner options for consumers online while reducing emissions, lowering our dependence on fossil fuels and volatile global markets, creating new jobs, and cutting costs for working Americans. This is a key step in our fight towards a cleaner, healthier, and more affordable energy future,” said Senator Van Hollen. AREA would require retail electricity suppliers to achieve at least 20% renewable energy generation in 2027, with an increase to 70% by 2036, and up to 100% by 2046. The bill would also require retail electricity suppliers to strengthen energy resilience by contributing an increasing share of their generation through distributed renewable energy, such as rooftop solar, starting with 15% in 2027, with an increase to 20% deployment requirement after five years. Additionally, AREA also stipulates that electricity suppliers must meet their requirements by submitting renewable energy credits or paying an alternative compliance payment that begins at $50/megawatts per hour (MWh) and increases with inflation. Compliance with the bill would be facilitated by the creation of six regional credit trading markets to track retail electricity suppliers’ transition to renewable energy and ensure the benefits of renewable energy development are spread across the country. Further, AREA seeks to ensure the equitable distribution of economic, health, and resiliency benefits and investments created by renewable energy deployment by establishing an enforcement mechanism that requires at least 50% of collected funds to be spent on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and storage projects in impacted communities. The legislation would also require utilities to produce 20% of their energy generation from renewables in impacted communities, reducing the need for polluting fossil fuel power plants in historically marginalized areas. The American Renewable Energy Act is endorsed by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network; Evergreen Action; Sierra Club; Indivisible; and Vote Solar. “The American Renewable Energy Act (AREA) is a major step toward building an electric grid that is cleaner, more affordable, and more just. By setting a strong national renewable electricity standard while ensuring that the benefits of the clean energy transition reach frontline and impacted communities, AREA will help reduce harmful pollution, create good-paying jobs, and protect families from the rising costs of fossil fuels. Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund proudly supports AREA and urges Congress to move this bill forward to deliver the clean energy future that American families across the country deserve,” said Quentin Scott , Federal Policy Director , CCAN Action Fund . “Shifting to renewable energy is no longer just an option, it is the necessary next step for the United States to meet the urgency of the climate crisis. The American Renewable Energy Act is the bold legislation we need to meet rising electricity demand, while improving public health, reducing American reliance on fossil fuels, and creating new jobs to supercharge our clean energy economy,” said Lena Moffitt , Executive Director , Evergreen Action. “The transition to clean energy is well underway and the federal government must be a leader in ensuring Americans benefit from the lower energy costs and cleaner air that renewable energy can deliver.” “In the last year, electricity cost increases rapidly outpaced the rate of inflation while toxic and deadly emissions from coal plants spiked significantly,” said Patrick Drupp , Climate Policy Director , Sierra Club . “It is more urgent than ever that we invest in affordable, reliable, and clean energy to relieve families from soaring bills and protect our communities from more deadly pollution. Despite Donald Trump’s persistent attacks on clean energy, it is evident that Americans want more clean energy because of how much cleaner, cheaper, and faster it is. We applaud Senator Peter Welch for his work as a steadfast champion of the American Renewable Energy Act and look forward to working together more in the future.” “A strong federal renewable energy standard establishes a clear national floor for clean energy while preserving states’ ability to pursue even more ambitious policies,” said Nathan Phelps , Managing Director , Vote Solar . “This legislation provides the certainty needed to accelerate investment in affordable, reliable clean energy, expanding access to solar and the benefits of the clean energy transition. By complementing state renewable energy standards, a federal RPS ensures that communities across the country can benefit from lower energy costs, cleaner air, and a stronger economy.” Learn more about the American Renewable Energy Act of 2026. Read the full bill text here . ###