States Energy Storage Policy: Best Practices for Decarbonization

Decarbonization of electricity generation is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and energy storage is a key enabling technology for scaling up renewables to meet state decarbonization goals. Yet the most effective approaches to energy storage policymaking are far from clear.

This report, published jointly by Sandia National Laboratories and the Clean Energy States Alliance, summarizes findings from a 2022 survey of states leading in decarbonization goals and programs. The report, States Energy Storage Policy: Best Practices for Decarbonization, also summarizes findings from a 2022 survey of energy storage developers; and it provides a “deep dive” into key state energy storage policy priorities and the challenges being encountered by some of the leading states, in the form of a series of case studies. The report highlights best practices, identifies barriers, and underscores the urgent need to expand state energy storage policymaking to support decarbonization in the US.

This report and webinar were developed on behalf of the Energy Storage Technology Advancement Partnership (ESTAP). ESTAP is a federal-state funding and information sharing project that aims to accelerate the deployment of electrical energy storage technologies in the US. ESTAP is funded by the US Department of Energy Office of Electricity under the direction of Dr. Imre Gyuk; managed by Sandia National Laboratories; and administered by the Clean Energy States Alliance.

This report and webinar were also supported by the 100% Clean Energy Collaborative. The Clean Energy States Alliance created the Collaborative to assist states that have 100% clean energy goals by providing knowledge-sharing activities and analysis so that together they can address program challenges and opportunities. The Collaborative also provides information and technical assistance to states that may consider establishing similar goals.