Bill Summary
This resolution acknowledges the economic advantages of renewable electricity generation compared to fossil fuel power generation. It highlights that renewable energy facilities, such as those using wind or solar power, have significantly lower operating costs. As the demand for electricity in the U.S. increases, the reliance on fossil fuel-based power—which has higher costs due to fuel and maintenance—leads to higher wholesale electricity prices. The resolution calls for recognition of the need to shift towards renewable energy sources to meet growing power demands more economically.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the legislation described in the resolution could affect people:
1. **Lower Electricity Bills for Consumers**: As the resolution highlights that renewable electricity facilities have lower operating costs compared to fossil fuel facilities, increasing the reliance on renewable energy could lead to lower wholesale electricity prices. This reduction in prices could be passed on to consumers, resulting in decreased electricity bills for households and businesses.
2. **Job Creation in Renewable Energy Sector**: As the demand for renewable energy facilities grows in response to the resolution's recognition of their cost-effectiveness, there may be an increase in investments and projects in the renewable energy sector. This could create new job opportunities in areas such as solar panel manufacturing, wind turbine installation, and maintenance, thereby benefiting workers and local economies.
3. **Health and Environmental Benefits**: Transitioning away from fossil fuel-generating facilities, which have higher operating costs and contribute to pollution, could lead to improved air quality and public health outcomes. Communities that rely heavily on fossil fuels might experience reduced rates of respiratory illnesses and other health issues associated with air pollution, resulting in a healthier population overall. Additionally, the shift towards renewable energy would contribute to efforts to combat climate change, benefiting the environment in the long term.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 565 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 565
Recognizing that facilities that produce renewable electricity are the
cheapest power-generating facilities to operate and reliance on fossil
fuel-generating facilities to meet growing power demand drives up
wholesale electricity prices.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 17, 2025
Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Markey, Mr.
Van Hollen, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Welch, and Ms. Blunt
Rochester) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing that facilities that produce renewable electricity are the
cheapest power-generating facilities to operate and reliance on fossil
fuel-generating facilities to meet growing power demand drives up
wholesale electricity prices.
Whereas electricity prices are generally determined by the level of demand for
power and the cost of generating such power used to meet the demand;
Whereas the demand for power in the United States is growing faster than at any
point in the past 2 decades;
Whereas power generators with the lowest operating costs are typically
dispatched first, thereby meeting the demand for power at the lowest
cost;
Whereas, as the demand for power increases, power generators with higher
operating costs are dispatched, thereby driving up wholesale electricity
prices;
Whereas fossil-power generation from coal, fossil gas, and oil has high
operating costs due to the cost of fuel and maintenance; and
Whereas the generation of wind, solar, and other renewable resources has near-
zero operating costs: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate recognizes that--
(1) facilities that produce renewable electricity are the
cheapest electricity-generating facilities to operate to meet
the demand for power; and
(2) reliance on fossil fuel-generating facilities to meet
the growing demand for power drives up wholesale electricity
prices.
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