CHAPTER 863
An Act to direct the State Corporation Commission to create a task force to evaluate and analyze the potential for bulk energy storage resources to help integrate renewable energy into the electrical grid.
[H 1183]
Approved April 8, 2020
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. The State Corporation Commission shall create a task force to evaluate and analyze the regulatory, market, and local barriers to the deployment of distribution and transmission-connected bulk energy storage resources to help integrate renewable energy into the electrical grid, reduce costs for the electricity system, allow customers to deploy storage technologies to reduce their energy costs, and allow customers to participate in electricity markets for energy, capacity, and ancillary services. The task force shall include representatives of municipalities, the Virginia Solar Energy Development and Energy Storage Authority, the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, the Office of the Attorney General, and at least one representative each from the following sectors: regulated electric service providers, competitive electric service providers, rural utility consumer services cooperatives, commercial or industrial energy customers or an association representing such customers, and energy storage companies or an association representing such companies. The task force may consult with the regional transmission organization. In its evaluation, the task force shall (i) assess the potential costs and benefits, including impacts to the transmission and distribution systems, of such energy storage resources and (ii) assess how electric utilities, competitive service providers, customers, and other third parties are able to deploy energy storage resources in the bulk market, in the utility system, and in behind-the-meter applications. The State Corporation Commission shall submit a copy of the task force's evaluation and analysis to the General Assembly no later than October 1, 2021.