WASHINGTON D.C. [08/24/18]— U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said legislation she is introducing would significantly increase America’s energy storage capabilities and help expand the role that renewable energies like wind and solar play in the nation’s energy portfolio.
“Expanding the nation’s energy storage capabilities will not only help expand use of renewables like wind and solar energy but will contribute to our nation’s energy and economic security,” said Sen. Smith. “This bill will help to significantly improve our nation’s efforts to store energy, and jump start energy storage research and the deployment of energy storage technologies.”
Sen. Smith’s “Advancing Grid Storage Act” would authorize $500 million over five years to:
- Ensure better coordination of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) energy storage research efforts, which are currently fragmented and spread over several programs.
- Fund DOE grants to state, local and tribal governments and to private entities looking to boost their energy storage capabilities.
- Provide grants to help fund the deployment of promising energy-storage technologies.
The bill was also sponsored by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Angus King (I-Maine).
You can read more about the “Advancing Grid Storage Act” here.
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