CEO Kelly Speakes-Backman’s Statement on Georgia Public Service Commission’s Long-Term Energy Plan
“We commend the Georgia Public Service Commission for its approval this week of an ambitious, long-term energy plan that includes includes 80 MW of battery storage for the state,” said Kelly Speakes-Backman, CEO of the U.S. Energy Storage Association. The commission’s strategy also calls for pilot programs to re-purpose used batteries to enable fast-charging of electric vehicles.
“With this decision, Georgia takes a lead role among southeastern states on energy storage and will more affordably and reliably address its energy needs through in-state renewable resources. States are clearly taking action: Georgia’s regulators and utilities, like those in states as diverse as Arizona, Utah, and Indiana, are bringing much-needed storage onto the grid to better meet reliability and resilience needs and diversify their energy supply. This is all the more reason the federal government should step up its game: Congress can help states accelerate the deployment of cost-effective storage by passing the bipartisan, bicameral Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act (S. 1142 / H.R. 2096).”