Americans are looking to leaders in Congress to take action on environmental causes and identify new and innovative solutions to address climate change. Part of that strategy must include the development and expansion of energy storage. Battery energy storage is the future of renewable energy, and cheap grid-scale storage means that renewables can compete with fossil fuels on cost alone. Advanced energy storage is also a technology that can improve the integrity and resilience of our energy infrastructure and grid.
We must explore battery energy storage and invest in it to improve America’s energy infrastructure and make our national grid more secure. That is why I co-founded the Advanced Energy Storage Caucus along with Congressman Chris Collins. The bipartisan Advanced Energy Storage Caucus will serve as a way for members of Congress to come to a better understanding of energy storage technologies and how energy storage systems are providing Americans with access to reliable and sustainable electric power. Members of this caucus will advocate for policies that promote battery storage technology. They will advance initiatives for renewable energy and storage technology that will tackle challenges in our nation’s aging energy infrastructure.
In addition to serving as co-chair of the Advanced Energy Storage Caucus, I have introduced three energy storage bills: the STORAGE Act, the Battery Storage Innovation Act, and the Advancing Grid Storage Act. The STORAGE Act amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to add energy storage systems to the list of strategies states should consider when developing energy plans and using their utility rate-making authority. The Battery Storage Innovation Act would amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to include battery storage technologies in the categories of projects eligible for loan guarantees. Finally, the Advancing Grid Storage Act requires the U.S. Department of Energy to establish certain energy storage programs.
This trio of legislative proposals represents a sensible package that will incentivize the development of advanced energy storage technologies and shore up existing efforts to build up energy storage capacity in homes and businesses all across the United States. It is a bold environmental effort that will move us away from dependence on fossil fuels and unsustainable energy sources.
With renewed interest in energy storage from members of the Advanced Energy Storage Caucus, we can push the United States to a new greener future.
Whereas batteries can and do indeed work, I’m disappointed to see them treated as the end-all and be-all of energy storage. Whatever battery sub-technology is used, battery-based storage solutions require… Read more »
I totally agree. Even at $100 per kilowatt-hour, batteries would be an order of magnitude too expensive to provide the amount of storage that would be needed if the grid… Read more »
I agree, low-cost energy storage is a key link in the clean energy systems of the future. Like Jeff Hubbs, I think it is crucial that any legislation to encourage… Read more »
Hi, Ed – I wouldn’t characterize my preferred approach to storage as being “tech-neutral” as much as an approach that is very careful about the tech it chooses with respect… Read more »
Energy storage is essential for a resilient, reliable, and stable electric grid, infrastructure, buildings, and transportation. For the electric grid, batteries provide frequency control and electric power quality to endusers… Read more »
Hi, Scott – Energy storage isn’t just “good” for wind and photovoltaics; past a point, it’s essential. Those techs’ utility runs up against limits in an always-on civilization like the… Read more »
Energy storage technology suitable for utility-scale use has already been developed. It’s called uranium.
How many batteries would it take to run an aluminum smelter? Get real!
Hi, Tom – Uranium is a generation tech, not a storage tech, and even then only when elaborately refined and prepared. The refinement/preparation issue as well as its extractive nature… Read more »
Yes, advancing energy storage technology is key. Do not exclude emerging technologies, such as hydrogen, in the bills’ language. Supporters of storage innovation should also co-sponsor the bipartisan Energy Innovation… Read more »
I agree with many of Jeff Hubbs’ concerns. Yes, it is a challenge to get energy and energy storage technologies developed and deployed that don’t offer substantial return for investors… Read more »
I suspect I will be the one you will least pay attention to because if you look me up you will not see anything more than my architectural credits. Why… Read more »