Federal law strips cities of power to set local energy policy
S. 1945 — Energy Choice Act · Filed by Jim Justice (R-WV) · 6 cosponsors · Introduced Jun 4, 2025 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill prohibits states and local governments from banning or restricting the use of any energy source—including natural gas, hydrogen, renewable fuels, and electricity—in buildings or infrastructure. It overrides local zoning, building codes, and environmental policies that favor one energy type over another, preventing cities from mandating all-electric buildings or phasing out gas connections.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a federal prohibition on state/local energy restrictions. Despite the title 'Energy Choice Act,' it removes choice from local governments and citizens by preempting their ability to regulate energy sources within their jurisdictions. The framing as 'choice' masks a centralized mandate.
What the text implies
- Blocks local climate action: cities cannot mandate all-electric new construction or phase out gas infrastructure, undermining state/local climate commitments and net-zero targets.
- Preempts building codes: local governments lose authority to set energy standards in building codes, even for public health, safety, or environmental reasons tied to local conditions.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
natural gas utilities and distributors; fossil fuel producers and refiners; liquified petroleum gas (LPG) suppliers