Credit: Briggs & Stratton
On June 26, Governor Daniel McKee signed the treaty Energy Storage Systems Act 2024 passed into law, a milestone in Rhode Island’s journey to a 100% clean energy future. Led by Senator Dawn Euer and State Representative Arthur Handy, the bill puts Rhode Island’s energy system in a fortified position.
“Energy storage is flexible, reliable, affordable and will be a game changer for Rhode Island’s electric grid,” said Kat Burnham, Rhode Island chief executive of the national business association Advanced Energy United. “Investing in energy storage technologies will drive economic development and job creation in the clean energy sector.”
In Rhode Island and throughout New England, the electricity system is undergoing a transition to clean energy. Flexible resources such as storage will be essential to deploy more renewable energy and meet future reliability needs. Energy storage is a mature technology that can reduce pressure on the electricity grid and create opportunities for taxpayer savings.
Key features of the Energy Storage Systems Act:
- Storage Goals: Rhode Island sets goals of 90 megawatts of energy storage by 2026, 195 megawatts by 2028 and 600 megawatts by 2033.
- Infrastructure Programs: The Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank will develop programs to facilitate energy storage adoption across all sectors.
- Storage Purchase: Allows the Rhode Island Public Utility Commission to require distribution companies to purchase cost-effective storage systems.
By signing the Energy Storage Systems Act (Senate Bill 2499 and House Bill 7811), policymakers are making good on their promises to grow Rhode Island’s clean economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
News item from Advanced Energy United