Committee advances bill to fund generator capacity after Hurricane Helene

The Governmental Affairs Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 170, a committee substitute that mirrors House Bill 262, to create a grant program intended to increase generator capacity following shortfalls during Hurricane Helene.

The measure would establish a grant to increase generator capacity the committee said was “woefully insufficient” during and after Hurricane Helene. Representative Osteen, presenting the bill, said it contains the “exact same language as House Bill 262,” which passed the House 173–0.

Committee members debated the bill briefly and moved to approve it for passage back to rules. Representative Montahan made the motion to “do pass,” which the chair recognized; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair said, “Any opposed? Motion carries.”

Supporters said the grant would position the state to withstand future hurricanes by ensuring critical backup power in facilities and operations that experienced failures during Helene. Representative Osteen said the program’s goal is to increase generator capacity identified as deficient during and after the storm and added, “These critical improvements will position our state to withstand future here, hurricanes.”

No fiscal note or detailed funding source for the grants was presented during the committee discussion. The bill was described as a committee substitute using language already approved in the House; specific appropriation amounts or fiscal impacts were not specified in the committee record.

The committee advanced the bill for further consideration. No amendments or implementation timeline beyond the committee action were provided in the discussion recorded in the transcript.