Rep. Mark Takano Reintroduces Legislation to Expand Clean Energy Storage and Reduce Energy Waste
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) reintroduced two pieces of legislation to expand clean energy storage and reduce energy waste, the Storage Technology for Operational Readiness and Generating Energy Act (STORAGE 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 its utility ratemaking authority. The Advancing Grid Storage Act requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish certain energy storage programs designed to reduce energy waste, improve grid resiliency, increase industrial competitiveness, and promote local economic development.
“As people across the country and around the world experience the devastating effects of climate change, it’s more important than ever that we implement policies that expand clean energy storage, reduce energy waste, and protect our environment,” said Rep. Mark Takano. “We must move away from dependence on harmful fossil fuels and unsustainable energy sources and toward renewables. Battery storage will be a key investment in this effort. Battery energy storage is transformative technology that can lead to a safer, more reliable, and more affordable energy grid. I am committed to improving our energy infrastructure and tackling the environmental challenges that we will continue to face in the coming years.”
Battery energy storage has the power to save consumers money, keep the national energy grid safer and more secure, and promote cleaner energy sources. As renewable energy sources such as wind and solar become more cost-effective and widely utilized, the use of batteries will allow us to maximize their usage and eliminate the problem of reliability gaps that can occur when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining, which in turn, reduces energy waste. This legislation invests in these renewables, creates stability across the grid, and allows for localized energy storage during peak and off-peak periods.
Last Congress, Rep. Takano’s bill, the Battery Storage Innovation Act, was included in a government funding bill, H.R. 133, and signed into law. It expanded the categories of projects that are eligible for innovative technology loan guarantees to include a category of projects for battery storage technologies for residential, industrial, or transportation applications.
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