Following Massive Aliso Canyon Gas Leak, California Legislature Takes Smart Look at Energy Storage Bills

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In light of the massive recent gas leak at Aliso Canyon, the role of energy storage solutions in diversifying the grid's power resources and increasing electricity reliability has magnified and become more urgent. Four complementary energy storage bills are poised to advance through the California legislature this week. These bills will collectively ensure that energy storage solutions are poised to help California improve reliability and achieve its renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. Through these bills, the California Legislature is rising to the challenge of creating a more affordable, cleaner electric grid for all Californians. The California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) strongly supports these four bills.

How the bills work together:

• Addressing Permitting Challenges – AB 2713 (Chiu and Mullin) helps cities and counties safely and efficiently permit customer-located energy storage projects through the creation of a handbook of best practices.
• Smoothing Interconnection to the Grid – AB 2861 (Ting) establishes a process to ensure customer-located energy resources including energy storage can plug into the grid in a timely manner and without unreasonable costs.  This bill allows disputes on interconnections to be resolved through a fast, independent review.
• Saving Customers Money – AB 2868 (Gatto) directs the major electric utilities to help homes and businesses install energy storage systems that save money on their electric bills and support a reliable electric grid.  This bill focuses first on low-income, commercial and industrial customers, all of whom are heavily affected by rising electricity costs.
• Moving Towards More Green Power – SB 886 (Pavley) directs longer-term planning with an eye towards energy storage, reducing reliance on natural gas and using energy storage to capture renewable energy sources, which will account for 50% of grid resources in 2030.  Importantly, this bill supports energy storage deployments through customer-focused actions and establishment of a new utility storage procurement goal for 2030, building on the 2020 goal initiated by AB 2514 (Skinner) in 2010.  

Janice Lin, Executive Director of CESA, notes, "These four bills will work together to prepare California for a cleaner, more reliable, affordable and resilient energy future. Adding energy storage to the grid supports renewable energy and electric vehicle integration, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps customers manage their electricity costs. These bills are yet another way in which California is leading the way in fostering advanced energy solutions."

About The California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA)

The California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) is a 501c(6) non-profit committed to advancing the role of energy storage in the electric power sector through policy, education, outreach, and research.  CESA's mission is to make energy storage a mainstream resource to promote a cleaner, more efficient, reliable, affordable and secure electric power system.

SOURCE CESA (California Energy Storage Alliance)

Related Links

www.storagealliance.org