Energy Storage Industry Bets on Technology

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Electricity Storage Association (ESA) fully supports advanced energy storage companies. These technologies provide frequency regulation to stabilize our electric grid, increase reliability of our system, and reduce the cost of electricity to consumers. Energy storage provides a resource-neutral ability to use energy when we need it at the price we want it. As we add electric vehicles, renewable energy, and other systems that affect the dynamics of our electric grid, we will need the flexibility, reliability, efficiency and security that energy storage solutions provide.

Advanced energy storage innovators have proven technologies on the grid but are often in start-up mode building their first manufacturing plants. We have seen keen interest from system operators and utilities that have tested applications installed on the grid, in communities, at industrial and commercial facilities, and in residential settings. The recent FERC ruling (Order 755) allows for these services to be appropriately compensated and should help these companies become more profitable. It is because of the very nature of start-ups that we need to continue to leverage federal support—through the tax code, through financial instruments like loan guarantees, and through FERC regulation—to level the playing field and spur this critically important sector.

ESA supports all advancement in these energy storage technologies and will continue to advocate for public policy that provides funding and incentives to increase innovation and manufacturing in the U.S.

About ESA
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., ESA is the preeminent trade association dedicated to fostering the development and commercialization of energy storage technologies as a means to solving the nation's energy and power challenges.

ESA's membership is comprised of a diverse group of electric utilities; energy service companies (ESCOs); independent power producers (IPPs); energy storage technology developers and suppliers; and those in the energy storage research community.  The ESA Advocacy Council currently has eleven members, including: A123 Systems, Inc., AES Energy Storage, Altairnano, Aquion Energy, Beacon Power, FIAMM, Prudent Energy Corporation, S&C Electric Company, Saft America, Inc., SustainX, and Xtreme Power. The ESA is a 501(c)(6) trade association that was formed in 1996.  

SOURCE Electricity Storage Association