Connecticut Moves to Set Energy Storage Target
The Connecticut House on Wednesday unanimously passed SB 952, which will set a target of 1 GW of energy storage to be deployed by 2030.
The bill, which passed the state Senate last month, establishes goals, program requirements and authority to procure energy storage.
It also requires the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to report back to the legislative General Assembly’s Energy and Technology Committee each year, beginning Jan. 1, 2023, on progress towards achieving those goals.
With its unanimous support in the House, the bill moves now to the governor’s desk for a signature, which is expected later this month.
Once the bill is signed, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will be able to issue requests for proposals for transmission and distribution grid-connected energy storage that would count towards those deployment targets.
In March, representatives of the U.S. Energy Storage Association appeared before the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Energy and Technology to express its support for the proposal and to ensure the inclusion of accountability and tracking mechanisms.
On Friday, the association’s interim CEO, Jason Burwen said, “with the passage of SB 952, Connecticut is set to become the 8th state to establish an energy storage deployment target.
“This legislation will accelerate storage deployments that meet the state’s twin goals of decarbonization and resilience while growing a local storage industry and new jobs,” he continued. “SB 952 is particularly important for creating a long-term demand signal and statutory foundation to sustain the important efforts that Gov. Ned Lamont and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Chair Marissa Paslick Gillett have initiated to drive storage deployment forward.
“We salute the leadership of Rep. David Arconti and commend his colleagues for enacting this important legislation in support of Connecticut’s clean energy transition,” Burwen said.
