Federal loan guarantees extended for emergency-designated power plants
H.R. 8262 — Build More Power Act · Filed by Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Apr 14, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill extends federal loan-guarantee programs for energy infrastructure through 2032 (from 2028) and requires the Department of Energy to actively solicit applications from power plants ordered by the Federal Power Act to operate during emergencies. It sets aside at least $20 billion in loan guarantees specifically for these emergency-designated facilities, and requires the Secretary to report on projects funded and capacity added within one year.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a federal loan-guarantee program extended and expanded with a dedicated $20 billion set-aside for emergency-designated power plants. While framed as 'reinvestment financing,' the core function is to reduce borrowing costs for legacy generators required to operate under Federal Power Act emergency orders.
What the text implies
- The $20 billion set-aside for Section 202(c) facilities effectively subsidizes the continued operation of aging coal plants and other legacy generators that would otherwise face retirement or conversion, delaying energy transition.
- Mandatory DOE solicitation of applications reverses the normal competitive process—instead of applicants seeking guarantees, the government actively recruits borrowers, lowering barriers to entry for facilities that may not otherwise qualify.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
coal-fired power plants; natural gas generators; other legacy energy infrastructure designated for emergency operation