The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and 32 energy companies and organizations sent a letter to leaders of the Energy Storage Association (ESA) on Wednesday to support its efforts in advancing energy storage and to highlight principles seen as critical to helping the nation achieve a cleaner, more reliable and affordable energy system.
The letter addressed to Kelly Speakes-Backman, ESA president and CEO, and ESA Chairman Praveen Kathpal coincided with ESA’s annual conference taking place in Boston this week.
“Today, energy storage is positioning itself as an essential component of the future energy grid: allowing for greater penetration of renewable energy; creating more dynamic generation, transmission, and distribution systems; enhancing the customer experience; and enabling transportation electrification, microgrids, smart grids, and smart communities,” the letter said.
Seeking to ensure the long-term growth of the energy storage industry, the letter promoted the need for state and local regulatory authorities to evaluate and choose the business and ownership models that will best facilitate growth in their state.
In addition, the companies and organizations that signed the letter called for all stakeholders, including electric companies, customers and third parties, to be given the opportunity to own and operate energy storage assets, though bound by regulatory oversight.
The letter also stated that energy storage deployed at scale could strengthen electric company operations and reliability, while modernizing the energy grid and lowering overall costs.
“As we continue to grow the energy storage industry and develop new markets, technologies, and services, as well as new participation and business models, we will work together with ESA and all stakeholders to meet the ultimate goals of enhancing safety and reliability, increasing clean energy deployment, improving customer satisfaction, and driving economic efficiency,” the groups wrote.
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