Bill Summary
The "Waste Heat to Wattage Act of 2026" is a legislative proposal aimed at amending the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. The key objective of this bill is to recognize waste energy recovery as a legitimate source of renewable energy.
Specifically, the bill modifies Section 9001 of the 2002 Act by expanding the definition of renewable energy sources to include "waste energy recovery." This term refers to the process of capturing heat or pressure that would typically be wasted in commercial, residential, or industrial activities and using it to generate electricity. By including waste energy recovery in the definition of renewable energy, the legislation encourages the development of technologies that convert excess energy into usable electricity, thereby promoting energy efficiency and sustainability.
Overall, this act seeks to enhance renewable energy options and support efforts to reduce waste and optimize energy use across various sectors.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Waste Heat to Wattage Act of 2026" could affect people:
1. **Increased Access to Renewable Energy**: By recognizing waste energy recovery as a source of renewable energy, the legislation could lead to the development of new renewable energy projects. Individuals and businesses that invest in technologies to capture and utilize waste heat or pressure may benefit from incentives or subsidies, ultimately leading to lower energy costs for consumers.
2. **Job Creation in Renewable Energy Sectors**: The legislation could stimulate job growth in sectors related to waste energy recovery technologies. This includes manufacturing jobs for equipment designed to capture waste heat, as well as installation and maintenance jobs for these systems. Communities may see economic benefits as local industries expand to meet the demand for this technology.
3. **Environmental Benefits and Reduced Emissions**: By promoting the recovery of waste energy, the legislation aims to reduce the amount of energy wasted in industrial and commercial processes. This can lead to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in cleaner air and a reduced carbon footprint. Individuals may experience improved public health outcomes as air quality improves in areas near industrial operations that adopt waste energy recovery systems.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7080 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7080
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to include
waste energy recovery as a source of renewable energy, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 14, 2026
Mr. Vasquez (for himself and Mr. Baird) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to include
waste energy recovery as a source of renewable energy, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Waste Heat to Wattage Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. WASTE ENERGY RECOVERY AS A SOURCE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.
Section 9001 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 8101) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (15)(A), by striking ``or hydroelectric''
and inserting ``hydroelectric, or waste energy recovery''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(18) Waste energy recovery.--The term `waste energy
recovery' means heat or pressure that would otherwise be
vented, released, throttled, or discharged from a commercial,
residential, or industrial process that is recovered and used
as the sole input for another purpose or process that generates
electricity, including a waste heat to power or waste pressure
to power system.''.
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