WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a news conference call with Michael Beirne, Vice President of External Affairs at American Municipal Power and Executive Director of the Ohio Municipal Electric Association, to discuss the bipartisan push to strengthen the U.S. transformer supply chain, an important part of energy grids, after the Department of Energy proposed a new rule that would force manufacturers to rely on foreign imports for a key component needed for the production of transformers.
Last Thursday, Brown introduced the Distribution Transformer Efficiency & Supply Chain Reliability Act of 2024.The new bipartisan legislation would protect Ohio manufacturing jobs in the energy industry and help prevent power outages by fixing the new Department of Energy rule that threatens U.S. transformer manufacturing. The legislation would also set realistic energy efficiency standards that help stabilize domestic transformer manufacturing and protect U.S. energy independence. Ferrite Core Inductor
“This time of year, Ohioans know all too well how important reliable electricity is. When storms knock out transformers and power lines, it takes too many communities too long to get the power back on,” said Brown. “Transformers are crucial to our electric grid, and too many power companies and co-ops are forced to wait too long to get new transformers when they stop working. A reliable supply of efficient transformers, made with American materials, is critical to keeping the power on and keeping energy costs under control for Ohioans.”
“Distribution transformers are a critical piece of the electric industry infrastructure, and we appreciate Sen. Brown for leading the bipartisan effort to address this important issue. Many of our member municipal electric systems are experiencing costs and delays in securing transformers, threatening the resiliency of the electric grid and the reliability of power delivered to customers,” said Michael Beirne, Vice President of External Affairs at American Municipal Power and Executive Director of the Ohio Municipal Electric Association. “The Distribution Transformer Efficiency and Supply Chain Reliability Act of 2024 could help mitigate those costs and delays through the phased-in adoption of high-efficiency distribution transformers.”
Brown introduced the Distribution Transformer Efficiency & Supply Chain Reliability Act of 2024 with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), along with original co-sponsors Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Fetterman (D-PA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Todd Young (R-IN), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Ted Budd (R-NC).
This bill is supported by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association; National Electrical Manufacturers Association; Edison Electric Institute; National Association of Home Builders; Leading Builders of America; United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW); UAW Local 3303; UAW Local 4104; Cleveland-Cliffs; and Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives.
The Distribution Transformer Efficiency & Supply Chain Reliability Act builds upon another bipartisan Senate effort from last June when Senators Brown, Cruz, and Hagerty sent a bipartisan letter to Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm signed by an additional 13 Democrats and 32 Republicans.
Isolation Transformers Background on the legislation is available here.