Representative Eugene Vindman introduces H.R. 10989: Smart Transmission Line Placement Act

We have received text from H.R. 10989: Smart Transmission Line Placement Act. This bill was received on 2026-11-10, and currently has no cosponsors.

Here is a short summary of the bill:

This bill would make it easier to approve certain electric grid projects by reducing or removing some of the environmental review normally required under federal law.

What it covers

The bill focuses on work done in or near existing electric transmission and distribution rights-of-way, such as:

• repairing, maintaining, replacing, upgrading, rebuilding, modifying, optimizing, or slightly relocating existing power lines or related equipment;
• reconductoring, which means replacing power line wires to increase capacity;
• raising operating voltage;
• adding or adjusting circuits;
• installing advanced transmission technologies;
• adding energy storage near existing grid facilities; and
• adding a parallel circuit within an existing right-of-way.

It also covers the minimum widening of an existing right-of-way needed to meet electrical safety and reliability standards.

Environmental review changes

For the covered activities, the bill says they would be categorically excluded from environmental assessments and environmental impact statements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In other words, agencies would not have to do the usual full federal environmental review for those projects.

The bill also says these activities would not count as a “major Federal action” under NEPA, and would not count as an “undertaking” for purposes of the National Historic Preservation Act section referenced in the bill.

New agency rulemaking

Within 180 days after enactment, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture would each have to create or adopt one or more NEPA categorical exclusions to help speed permitting for certain electric grid projects.

Those exclusions would apply to:

• placing transmission or distribution facilities in approved right-of-way corridors;
• repairing, maintaining, replacing, upgrading, modifying, optimizing, or slightly relocating existing electric facilities in existing rights-of-way or on previously disturbed or developed land, including reconductoring and grid-enhancing technologies; and
• constructing, operating, upgrading, or decommissioning battery storage or other energy storage projects on previously disturbed or developed land.

The rulemaking would also allow for “extraordinary circumstances,” meaning some projects could still lose the categorical exclusion if special conditions apply.

Plain-language effect

Overall, the bill would try to speed up certain electric grid upgrades and additions by limiting the amount of environmental review and permitting delay for projects that are mainly located along existing utility corridors or on land that has already been disturbed.

Relevant Companies

• NEE - NextEra Energy could benefit if transmission expansion, grid upgrades, and energy storage projects move through permitting faster.
• DUK - Duke Energy could be affected by faster approval of transmission and distribution upgrades in areas it serves.
• SO - Southern Company could see impacts on grid modernization and transmission projects requiring federal approvals.
• EXC - Exelon could be affected by changes that speed certain electric infrastructure upgrades and reconductoring work.
• ETR - Entergy could be directly affected by streamlined review for transmission and distribution projects.
• AEP - American Electric Power could benefit from faster permitting for transmission-line upgrades and additions.
• PCG - PG&E could be affected by the bill’s treatment of grid upgrades, reconductoring, and related work.

Representative Eugene Vindman Bill Proposals

Here are some bills which have recently been proposed by Representative Eugene Vindman:

• H.R.10989: Smart Transmission Line Placement Act
• H.R.10988: Lower Electricity Bills Act
• H.R.10987: Local Transmission Accountability Act
• H.R.10970: Cardiovascular Disease Early Detection and Prevention Act of 2026
• H.R.10950: Data Center Oversight Act
• H.R.10905: No Personal Data in Grocery Pricing Act

You can track bills proposed by Representative Eugene Vindman on Investivoq's politician page for Vindman.

Representative Eugene Vindman Net Worth

Investivoq estimates that Representative Eugene Vindman is worth $1.2M, as of November 12th, 2026. This is the 321st highest net worth in Congress, per our live estimates.

Vindman has approximately $354.2K invested in publicly traded assets which Investivoq is able to track live.

You can track Representative Eugene Vindman's net worth on Investivoq's politician page for Vindman.

2026 Virginia's 7th Congressional District Election

There has been approximately $24,800,495 of spending in Virginia's 7th congressional district elections over the last two years, per our estimates.

Approximately $699,141 of this has been from outside spending by PACs and Super PACs. Some of the groups who are spending money in this race include:

• VOTEVETS ($270,000)
• AMERICAN MAJORITY ACTION PAC ($211,590)
• THE CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS DBA AMERICANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY ($83,538)
• AB PAC ($59,555)
• HMP ($28,044)

The rating for this race is currently "Likely D".

You can track this election on our matchup page for the 2026 Virginia's 7th congressional district election.

This article is not financial advice. See Investivoq's disclaimers for more information.