Energy Storage Policy Best Practices from New England

A new report by the Clean Energy Group and the Clean Energy States Alliance explores energy storage policy best practices and lessons learned from the New England states. The report aims to inform state policymakers and regulators seeking to expand energy storage markets.  

New England has taken a leadership position in energy storage policy development, with several states implementing first-in-the-nation programs. As a result, energy storage deployment in the region has leapt ahead of many areas of the country. About 20 MW of grid-scale battery storage projects have come online in the region since 2015, but this is only the precursor to a much larger expected level of growth. According to ISO New England, energy storage now accounts for 15 percent (3,771 MW) of the region’s proposed new energy resources. 

Though there are many successes, the report notes that challenges remain. Even where states have taken the lead in goal setting and program implementation, energy storage uptake has sometimes been hampered by interconnection barriers, out-of-date regulations, and immature markets. Many of the potential health, safety, efficiency, and economic benefits that can be provided by energy storage are still not monetizable. And despite having the greatest need for these benefits, low-income and underserved communities in New England have not yet gained equitable access to energy storage and related clean energy technologies. 

In this webinar, report author and CESA Senior Project Director Todd Olinsky-Paul discussed the findings of the report. He was joined by Sean Burke, a Policy Associate at the Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC).