The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee is scheduled to meet on March 12 to consider House Bill 1412 (Barrar-R-Delaware) proposing a regulatory framework to encourage energy storage and microgrids to improve electric grid resiliency during disaster emergencies and other circumstances (sponsor summary).

Microgrid systems offer many potential benefits to the electrical grid, including increased resiliency during large scale electric disruption, increased integration of highly efficient Distributed Energy Resources (like solar energy and combined heat and power systems) and potential cost savings for consumers, ratepayers and utilities.

Microgrids serve a small number of electricity users with a local source of power that is able to function independently from the larger electricity grid, but is still connected to it.

The Committee held two hearings on the bill on June 19 and November 15 and found general support for the legislation, along with suggestions for improving the bill.

The meeting will be held in Room 205 of the Ryan Building starting at 11:00.  Committee meetings are typically webcast through the House Republican website.

Rep. Stephen Barrar (R-Delaware) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee, and can be contacted by sending email to: sbarrar@pahousegop.com. Rep. Chris Sainato (D-Lawrence) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to: csainato@pahouse.net.

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Electric Microgrids And Their Potential Benefits Topic Of House Hearing

[Posted: March 7, 2018]

3/12/2018