This storage newsletter was originally published on July 13, 2018.

Commissioner Powelson Announces Plans to Leave FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Robert Powelson announced that he is leaving FERC in August. Powelson has served on the Commission since he was appointed by President Trump in May of 2017. During his tenure, he was involved in a variety of important FERC decisions. In February, FERC ruled to allow energy storage to participate in nationwide wholesale markets.

Of the ruling, Commissioner Powelson said, “The resilience of the grid depends in part on the ability to quickly respond to unforeseen events. Flexible resources that possess unique physical and operational characteristics that will assist us in accomplishing that goal should therefore be permitted to participate in the RTO and ISO markets.”

The Commission is composed of up to five Commissioners. At this point, Powelson’s replacement has not been decided.

Storage News

In Michigan

• LG Chem, a Michigan battery manufacturer, announces plans to hire 40 more workers at a plant on the western side of the state in preparation for electric vehicles (EVs).
• In June, Michigan utility Consumers Energy proposed a plan to stop the use of coal plants in Michigan, and instead add renewable energy and battery storage.
• On Friday, July 6, Michigan utility DTE Electric filed its rate case with the Michigan Public Service Commission. In the rate case filing, DTE proposed the Charging Forward program which the utility believes will advance the deployment of EVs in Michigan and help deliver the benefits of increased EV adoption to all customers.

Across the Country

• Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that cheaper, better batteries will allow wind and solar to make up nearly half of global electricity generation by 2050.
• Massachusetts regulators face a decision on who owns the rights to energy storage projects and who gets to bid into ISO-New England’s forward capacity market.
• “We want microgrids everywhere,” says Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló.
• New York’s energy storage target is nearing 3 GW by 2030.
• Michigan EIBC member company Veolia is looking to market a battery storage system.
• A Maine island has become a testing ground for a microgrid that uses artificial intelligence to integrate solar, storage and heat pumps.
• Delta Americasdebuted its Battery Energy Storage Skid (BESS) Solution for commercial and industrial applications at Intersolar North America 2018.
• Vistra Energy, a California company, is developing a 300-megawatt battery storage project.
• A California company is developing a lithium extraction process that could significantly lower EV battery costs.
• Pacific Gas & Electric, a California utility, will replace 3 gas plants with the world’s biggest battery projects.
• Michael Lippert of Saft takes readers in-depth on battery modeling for energy storage.

Events to Watch
On July 17-19, PlugVolt will be hosting its next Battery Seminar in Plymouth, Michigan, featuring an entire day of in-depth training by EnerDelon Lithium Ion technology, alongside complementary industry updates by automotive and grid storage OEMs, global battery manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers. Attendees also get a tour of Intertek’s Battery Testing Center. Register here.

Greentech Mediainvites you to GTM Forum: Wind & Storage on July 19 in Chicago, Illinois. Learn more here.

The Battery Show is scheduled for September 11-13 in Novi, Michigan. Register here!

You’re invited to Energy Storage Innovations: Distruptive Technologies, Materials and Applications, on November 14-15 in Santa Clara, California. Register here.