March 5, 2020
ESA Calls for Stand-alone Storage Procurement in Connecticut 1,000 MW Deployment Target Legislation
ESA will testify today in support of House Bill 5351 that would drive more energy storage deployment in Connecticut by establishing a target of 1,000 MW by 2030, as well as statutory authority to take on programs in support of achieving that target. In our testimony, we request two modifications: (1) In addition to the legislation’s requirement for updates from the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) on progress towards achieving the energy storage deployment goals, Connecticut should establish interim goals over the next 10 years to make the legislation more effective; and (2) DEEP should allow stand-alone energy storage resources in its solicitations and procurements, in addition to co-located energy storage resources.
The legislation also authorizes PURA to establish a program(s) for commercial and industrial as well as residential customers. ESA recommends that the legislation not assign different responsibilities to PURA regarding different customer classes to enable Connecticut to pursue the most optimal solutions for the state.
