Energy Storage Association lauds principles promoted by EEI and partners to advance energy storage growth
The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and 32 energy companies and organizations sent a letter to leaders of the Energy Storage Association (ESA) on Wednesday to support its efforts in advancing energy storage and to highlight principles seen as critical to helping the nation achieve a cleaner, more reliable and affordable energy system.
The letter addressed to Kelly Speakes-Backman, ESA president and CEO, and ESA Chairman Praveen Kathpal coincided with ESA’s annual conference taking place in Boston this week.
“Today, energy storage is positioning itself as an essential component of the future energy grid: allowing for greater penetration of renewable energy; creating more dynamic generation, transmission, and distribution systems; enhancing the customer experience; and enabling transportation electrification, microgrids, smart grids, and smart communities,” the letter said.
Seeking to ensure the long-term growth of the energy storage industry, the letter promoted the need for state and local regulatory authorities to evaluate and choose the business and ownership models that will best facilitate growth in their state.
In addition, the companies and organizations that signed the letter called for all stakeholders, including electric companies, customers and third parties, to be given the opportunity to own and operate energy storage assets, though bound by regulatory oversight.
The letter also stated that energy storage deployed at scale could strengthen electric company operations and reliability, while modernizing the energy grid and lowering overall costs.
“As we continue to grow the energy storage industry and develop new markets, technologies, and services, as well as new participation and business models, we will work together with ESA and all stakeholders to meet the ultimate goals of enhancing safety and reliability, increasing clean energy deployment, improving customer satisfaction, and driving economic efficiency,” the groups wrote.
ESA, representing more than 150 member organizations, said it welcomed the letter led by EEI, which represents all investor-owned electric companies. Other groups that signed the letter include the National Association of State Energy Officials, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Duke Energy, National Grid, Dominion Energy, Southern Company and Exelon Corp., among others.
“As our industry continues to grow, we look forward to productive conversations with EEI to further advance energy storage solutions that enable a more efficient, reliable and resilient, sustainable and affordable electric grid,” Speakes-Backman said.
“ESA agrees with EEI’s assessment that energy storage, deployed at scale, has the potential to enhance, optimize and support the energy grid at lower overall costs while improving the customer experience. We also recognize the different business and ownership models emerging. ESA will continue to support the development of these models at the local, state and federal level as they evolve,” said Speakes-Backman.
“However, ESA also advocates for open and fair competition among all market participants and we look forward to working with valuable stakeholders from the EEI community in the months and years to come,” she added.
