Senators Coons (D-DE), Moran (R-KS), Stabenow (D-MI) and Murkowski (R-AK) joined arms across chambers with Representatives Poe (R-TX), Thompson (D-CA), Welch (D-VT), Gibson (R-NY) and Gardner (R-CO) to introduce today the Master Limited Partnership (MLP) Parity Act. This legislation will provide opportunities to a variety of industries—including energy storage—that have previously been excluded from a benefit that has long been available to other energy industries.

The Electricity Storage Association (ESA) applauded Reps. Chris Gibson (R-NY) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) on their announcement to introduce legislation that will level the playing field for a technology that has enormous potential to increase the reliability, security and efficiency of the nation’s electric grid. The Storage Technology for Renewable and Green Energy Act (STORAGE) Act H.R. 1465 will create a much needed tax credit for a technology that should not be excluded from the same incentives that have proven to help other technologies.

Before the Senate Energy Committee yesterday, energy secretary nominee, Ernest Moniz, agreed to announce a formal timeline for his energy storage plan within thirty days of his confirmation. Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) initially asked for a full plan within the next sixty days but Moniz preferred the thirty days from his confirmation, citing several conversations that need to be conducted with DOE officials and outside experts.

The Board of Directors for the Electricity Storage Association (ESA) formally announced the passage of a Resolution with the goal of increasing the commercial deployment of electricity storage into the grid. Brad Roberts, Executive Director of ESA, accompanied the announcement with the following remarks:

“Along with the Board of Directors and our member companies, I share in the excitement of today’s announcement because we believe 2013 is poised to be a banner year for electricity storage. Fortunately, our mission is no longer just concerned with establishing the science behind electricity storage—that’s been proven. Rather, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in interest across the country– especially the California Public Utilities Commission decisions - to use energy storage to make our electric grid more reliable and cost effective.  This is a trend we plan to build upon over the coming months. It’s been encouraging to see that lawmakers, regulators and utilities alike are responding to the  value and versatility of energy storage, as well as the grid stability and economic security that the technology provides.”
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new survey of over 400 global PV inverter customers revealed the growing need for energy storage in the implementation of solar power. The survey, conducted by IHS Inc., revealed that over a third of the 400 survey respondents are confident that they will be relying on energy storage in over 40% of their PV installations by 2015.

"Energy storage is becoming an increasingly important feature for PV systems and if suppliers are able to deliver products in line with the industry’s expectations, the market for energy storage in PV could increase significantly over the next two years," said Sam Wilkinson, Manager of Power and Energy Research at HIS.