Pennsylvania House Sends Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Battery Storage to the Senate

H.B. 2380 would require electric utilities to set targets and procure grid-stabilizing battery storage as part of their resource planning     

HARRISBURG, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation that would require electric utilities to set targets for and procure 3.5 GWs of battery storage. 

“The nor’easter in September was a good reminder that you prepare for a storm before it hits, not after. The same goes for the electric grid. Battery storage gives Pennsylvania a way to put energy in reserve when it’s plentiful, so it’s ready when demand spikes. That flexibility can help keep the grid reliable, make better use of the infrastructure we already have and keep costs down for consumers,” said Chris D’Agostino, Pennsylvania Principal at Advanced Energy United. 

Battery storage can help reduce the need for additional generation and infrastructure to serve a limited number of peak-demand hours. By shifting electricity use across hours, storage can help utilities better manage system demand, improve grid flexibility and defer costly transmission and distribution upgrades. 

• Batteries promote affordability: It would save $397 million in grid costs, translating to an extra $29 per household per year. 

• Energy storage reduces blackouts and brownouts: In Texas, the risk of grid emergencies during the summer peak fell from 16 to 1 percent over the course of a year due to increased battery storage deployment. 

The legislation now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration.