Utah Law Expands Energy Storage Markets to Meet Growth of Renewables

On March 29, 2016, Utah signed into law the Sustainable Transportation and Energy Plan Act (SB 115), which establishes utility investments in battery storage, electric vehicle infrastructure, and several clean energy programs. The new law seeks to boost energy storage solutions to improve the reliability and cost-efficiency of the electric grid, and joins a list of states enacting similar measures, including California, New York, and Texas. New regulatory measures at the state level will expand opportunities for emerging storage technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries, flywheels, and sodium-sulfur battery systems, to provide better operational flexibility and faster response.