The Energy Storage Systems Act, signed into law on Wednesday, June 26, will help build a more resilient and sustainable grid in Rhode Island by increasing energy storage capacity.
“Rhode Island is a leader in our commitment to ending our reliance on polluting carbon-emitting energy. Keeping that commitment means we need to innovate and we need to do it at speed,” said Chairwoman Euer (D-District 13, Newport, Jamestown). “Moving to renewable electricity means we are going to need the structures — both physical and regulatory — to store energy. This bill sets concrete goals and action plans to build a resilient grid that can accommodate the green energy transition that is happening now. This is just one of many actions we will need to meet our diverse energy goals and ensure that Rhode Island keeps its commitment to a carbon-neutral future.”
“We need energy storage to take full advantage of all the clean, renewable energy that will be coming online as we reach toward our climate goals. This legislation is critical to both take advantage of the renewable energy we have to bring online and to build a sustainable grid in the face of severe storms and other effects of climate change,” said Representative Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston).
The law also requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to adopt by September 1 a framework for the adoption of electric rate tariffs to apply to energy storage systems connected to the electric grid.
“This legislation will help the state achieve its goal of transitioning to renewable energy sources by providing a framework for the adoption of electric rate tariffs that apply to energy storage systems connected to the electric grid. This will ensure that the ratepayers of the electric grid have access to the costs of energy storage so that they can continue to afford electricity at a lower cost,” said Senator Euer.
In addition, the legislation will require the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank and the Office of Energy Resources to develop and fund programs to meet the benchmarks set by the law for the storage capacity of renewable energy projects. This will help the state to meet its goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.
“The legislation also requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to adopt a framework for the adoption of electric rate tariffs to apply to energy storage systems connected to the electric grid,” said Representative Handy.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.