Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) to introduce the Community Health Access Through Resilient Grid Energy (CHARGE) Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill would help make Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) more resilient by giving them the resources needed to install solar energy and energy storage systems.
“Federally Qualified Health Centers are a lifeline for families across the Central Valley, and we need to make sure they can stay open—even when emergencies happen,” said Congressman Valadao. “The CHARGE Act creates a new grant program to help FQHCs install reliable energy storage systems so they can keep serving patients without interruption. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Smith on this bipartisan effort to strengthen local healthcare and lower energy costs.”
“Community health centers are the backbone of care in underserved communities. Too many face dangerous gaps in power reliability during extreme weather or emergency situations,” said Congressman Smith. “The CHARGE Act is a smart and forward-looking investment that will help centers stay open, protect patients, and strengthen energy resilience across the country.”
“Community health centers are an essential part of the healthcare delivery system in rural and underserved regions across the country—especially here in the Central Valley. Central Valley Health Network applauds the leadership of Congressman Valadao and Smith in introducing the CHARGE Act of 2025, which will invest in improving healthcare in our communities while promoting renewable energy solutions,” said Jason Vega, Chief Executive Officer, Central Valley Health Network.
“When natural disasters and other grid-straining emergencies hit, solar and energy storage are critical to providing reliable power to those that need it most. We applaud Congressmen Smith and Valadao for championing this legislation which will enhance access to solar and storage for the Federally Qualified Community Health Centers working every day to provide essential care to communities across America,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO, Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA).
“Electricity powers every step of health care. When Community Health Centers lose power, diabetic patients miss visits, pregnant women miss prenatal care, children forgo vaccinations, and patients needing behavioral health services miss therapy. After Hurricane Helene alone, power outages caused more than 10,000 patient appointment cancellations in one state alone. The bipartisan CHARGE Act, led by US Representatives Adam Smith (D-WA) and David Valadao (R-CA) will help health centers deploy solar energy and battery storage systems so they can continue serving as lifelines for their communities during disasters,” said Ben Money, SVP of Population Health, National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).
“Ensuring clean, reliable, and safe energy technologies isn’t just smart policy—it’s a direct investment in the community health and the well-being of the diverse communities we serve,” said Healthpoint.
“We appreciate Rep. Smith’s work with community health centers to develop this program that advances clean energy goals, helps reduce long-term energy costs, and supports local renewable energy jobs,” said the Washington Association for Community Health.
The CHARGE Act would:
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Establish a new grant program at the Department of Energy (DOE) to help Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) deploy solar energy systems and/or energy storage technologies.
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Authorize $50 million per year to fund installation projects and technical assistance programs nationwide.
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Allow broad participation by state and local governments, nonprofits, and a provider consortia or network that is majority owned or majority controlled by one of more FQHCs.
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Support technical assistance to ensure that FQHCs can design, install, and operate these systems effectively and sustainably.
Background:
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are the backbone of the healthcare system in underserved communities—providing critical care, including preventative healthcare, vaccinations, and chronic disease management to more than 34 million Americans per year. Yet, too many of these centers lack the reliable, affordable, and sustainable power needed to maintain operations during grid disruptions, extreme weather, or emergencies. The CHARGE Act provides a targeted, fiscally responsible solution to ensure community health centers have access to clean, resilient power while reducing long-term energy costs and supporting local renewable energy jobs. This bipartisan proposal promotes energy resilience, community health security, and economic efficiency—all while empowering local stakeholders to determine the best solutions for their communities.
Read the full bill here.
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