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To prohibit States and local governments from prohibiting or limiting the connection, reconnection, modification, installation, transportation, distribution, or expansion of a renewable energy service based on the type or source of energy to be delivered, and for other purposes.
Summary
- Prohibits states and local governments from banning, limiting, or restricting the connection or expansion of renewable energy services based on energy type or source
- Defines renewable energy as wind, solar, energy storage, and geothermal
- Specifically prohibits permanent bans on renewable energy projects and moratoria lasting longer than 6 months
- Prohibits height restrictions below 525 feet, setback requirements over 1,000 feet, or sound limits below 50 decibels for renewable energy projects
- Prohibits refusing road use agreements or charging permitting fees that differ from those imposed on similar energy projects
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
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![Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/M001176.thumb.jpg)
Sen. Merkley, Jeff (D-OR)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Jeff Merkley’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- Employer not reported $19,422
- CG 7600 LP $6,600
- DIGITAL VISION INC $4,629
- PAHLISCH HOMES INC. $3,000
- SCHAEFFER MFG. $2,900
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Jeff Merkley → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Jun 11, 2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. · senate
- Jun 11, 2026 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 11, 2026
Mr. Merkley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
A BILL
To prohibit States and local governments from prohibiting or limiting the connection, reconnection, modification, installation, transportation, distribution, or expansion of a renewable energy service based on the type or source of energy to be delivered, 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 “Renewable Energy Choice Act”.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.
In this Act, the term “renewable energy” includes—
(1) wind;
(2) solar;
(3) energy storage; and
(4) geothermal.
SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON REGULATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY CHOICE.
A State or local government, including any instrumentality or regulatory agency of a State or local government, may not adopt, implement, or enforce a law, regulation, ordinance, building code, standard, or policy that prohibits or limits, or has the effect of directly or indirectly prohibiting or limiting, the connection, reconnection, modification, installation, transportation, distribution, or expansion of, or access to, an energy service based on the type or source of renewable energy sold in interstate commerce to be delivered to an end-user of that energy service, including by—
(1) permanently banning renewable energy projects;
(2) executing a moratorium on renewable energy projects for a period greater than 6 months, including any extensions;
(3) limiting project height to less than 525 feet;
(4) creating a setback requirement greater than 1,000 feet;
(5) setting a sound limit below 50 decibels;
(6) refusing to enter into a road use agreement; or
(7) charging a permitting fee the cost of which deviates from the average fee imposed on other energy projects of similar capacity. <all>
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