Senators Collins, Smith Introduce Bill to Improve Nation’s Energy Storage Capabilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tina Smith (D-MN) led a bipartisan group in introducing the Promoting Grid Storage Act of 2019, legislation to boost research and development of cutting-edge technologies to increase energy storage capabilities for America’s electric grid and enable the expanded use of clean energy.  The legislation complements the Better Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act Senators Collins and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced last week, which would support grid-scale energy storage research and development and improve the efficiency of the nation’s electric grid.

The Promoting Grid Storage Act of 2019 is also supported by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.).

“Unlocking the next generation of energy storage technology will unleash the potential of renewable energy and will be a powerful tool to help slow climate change.  This legislation takes a holistic approach to advance promising research and support technical assistance for all types of energy storage,” said Senator Collins. “Together with the BEST Act, which I introduced along with Senators Heinrich, Smith, Gardner, and a bipartisan group of Senators to promote grid-scale energy storage, we are making significant strides to promote clean, renewable energy. I urge our colleagues to join us in this bipartisan effort.”
 

The Promoting Grid Storage Act of 2019 would authorize $1.05 billion in funding over five years to:

• Improve coordination and collaboration of the Department of Energy (DOE) energy storage research efforts, which are currently fragmented across several programs;

• Fund DOE grants to assist and boost public and private entities wishing to expand their energy storage capabilities; and

• Provide grants for pilot storage systems with a goal of moving promising energy-storage technologies from the laboratory to wide-scale deployment.

Several organizations have endorsed the Promoting Grid Storage Act of 2019, including the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the American Public Power Association, and the Energy Storage Association.