November 2, 2020
ESA Recommends Higher Interim Targets, Competitive Procurements, and Streamlined Permitting for Virginia Energy Storage Target Implementation
ESA, the Virginia Advanced Energy Economy, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and Maryland-DC-Virginia Solar Energy Industries Association (MDV-SEIA) jointly submitted comments to the Virginia State Corporation Commission in response to the Commission’s Proposed Rules on the implementation of the energy storage targets of the Virginia Clean Economy Act (“VCEA”) in Docket No. PUR-2020-00120. The VCEA established the highest target for energy storage in the nation of 3100 MW by 2035. ESA has previously filed comments and proposed regulations in this docket.
ESA and its co-filers suggested a number of improvements to the Commission’s Proposed Rules, including:
- Higher interim targets on a timeline aligned with each utility’s IRP cycles in order to ensure significant near-term deployment of energy storage
- Stronger procedures to ensure competition in solicitations of energy storage systems
- More robust utility programs for behind-the-meter incentives, non-wires alternatives, and peak demand reduction
- Recommendations to remove unnecessary and duplicative permitting requirements for energy storage systems
The VCEA requires that the Commission issue final regulations by January 1, 2021.
