Architects of California's Unprecedented 50% Renewable Energy Goal to Speak at Energy Storage North America

Energy Storage North America (ESNA), the largest gathering of policy, technology and market leaders in energy storage, announced that the 2015 conference will feature a major keynote session that will bring together the legislative architects of the country’s most far-reaching climate change bill: California’s SB 350. The landmark bill increases California’s renewable energy commitment to 50 percent by 2030, while also calling for increased use of energy storage.
 
The ESNA keynote panel on October 15th, entitled “Storage in California’s 50% RPS: The Political Path and Grid Implications,” will feature Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, the author of SB 350; Senator Ben Hueso, Chair of the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee; and Cliff Rechtschaffen, Senior Advisor to Governor Jerry Brown. The moderator will be Nancy Skinner, Policy Fellow at UC Davis, former California State Assembly Member and author of AB 2514, the landmark legislation that created California’s 1.325 GW energy storage procurement goal.
 
SB 350 contains language that calls for greater deployment of energy storage resources where their benefits and value have been well proven. Article 17 states in part: “Where feasible, authorize procurement of resources to provide grid reliability services that minimize reliance on system power and fossil fuel resources and, where feasible, cost effective, and consistent with other state policy objectives, increase the use of large- and small-scale energy storage with a variety of technologies.”
 
“SB 350 builds on California’s historic commitment to lead the world in the fight against climate change and build a healthy and livable planet for our children and grandchildren,” said California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León. “Energy storage will play a vital role in our transition to a clean energy economy, enabling a larger role for renewable power in both our electricity and transportation sectors.”
 
“This bill is the biggest thing to happen to the energy storage industry this year,” said Janice Lin, Managing Partner of Strategen Consulting and Chair of Energy Storage North America. “It appropriately recognizes the game-changing role energy storage can play in helping to integrate renewable energy and ensure cost-effective grid reliability. We’re honored to host this keynote panel of energy legislation visionaries.”    
 
ESNA 2015 takes place October 13-15, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.  The California keynote panel will occur on October 15 at 9:00 am. During the conference, more than 150 expert speakers from around the world will provide industry insight and perspective in 40-plus keynote and panel sessions across six storage-focused conference tracks. 
 
Energy Storage North America (ESNA)