New York State PSC approves roadmap for achieving 6 gigawatts of energy storage

The New York State Public Service Commission approved a new framework for the state to achieve 6 gigawatts of energy storage by 2030.

The framework is a set of recommendations to expand New York’s energy storage programs to grow renewable energy across the state and bolster grid reliability. It supports a buildout of storage deployments estimated to reduce projected future statewide electric system costs by nearly $2 billion.

“Expanding energy storage technology is a key component to building New York’s clean energy future and reaching our climate goals,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “This new framework provides New York with the resources it needs to speed up our transition to a green economy, while ensuring the reliability and resilience of our grid.”

The roadmap is geared toward procuring an additional 4.7 gigawatts of new storage projects across the bulk (large-scale), retail (community, commercial and industrial), and residential energy storage sectors. These future procurements, combined with the 1.3 gigawatts of existing energy storage being procured or already under contract with the state will allow the state to achieve the six-gigawatt goal by 2030.

The roadmap includes:

• 3,000 megawatts of new bulk storage, enough to power approximately one million homes for up to four hours, to be procured through a new competitive Index Storage Credit mechanism;
• 1,500 megawatts of new retail storage, enough to power approximately 500,000 homes for up to four hours, and 200 megawatts of new residential storage, enough to power 120,000 homes for up to two hours, to be supported through an expansion of NYSERDA’s existing region-specific block incentive programs;
• Utilization of at least 35 percent of program funding to support projects that deliver benefits to Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) and that target fossil fuel peaker plant emissions reductions, with program carve-outs for projects sited in the downstate region, given its high concentration of DACs and peaker plants;
• Requiring electric utilities to study the potential of high-value energy storage projects toward providing cost-effective transmission and distribution services not currently available through existing markets;
• Continued prioritization by existing programs on investing in research and development related to reliable long-duration energy storage technologies; and
• Payment of prevailing wage as a programmatic requirement for energy storage projects with a capacity of one megawatt and above, demonstrating the state’s continued commitment to driving family-sustaining jobs in clean energy.

“Governor Hochul has long been a staunch supporter of energy storage development in New York State, and with her steadfast support, we have been able to develop this roadmap to guide New York away from fossil-burning power plants to a clean energy economy,” New York State Public Service Commission Chair Rory Christian said.

Energy storage plays a critical role in supporting New York’s zero-emission electric grid by enabling the integration of large quantities of renewable energy, helping to smooth generation, reduce curtailment, and shift renewable generation to where and when it is needed most.

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