Energy Storage Target

H.B. 1526, enacted in April 2020, required, among other things, the Virginia Public Service Commission to develop energy storage capacity within the Commonwealth. The target calls for one or more energy storage facilities to be built within the Commonwealth by 2035, having in the aggregate a rated capacity of no more than 3,100 Megawatts (MW). The statute creates different goals for Phase I and Phase II utilities. The utilities must petition for approval to construct the level of storage required below. For Phase I Utilities (i.e. Appalachian Power Company) the storage requirements are:25 MW by December 31, 2025Add on 125 MW (Total 150MW) by December 31, 2030Add on 250 MW (Total: 400 MW) by December 31, 2035For Phase II Utilities (i.e. Dominion Energy Virginia) the storage requirements are:250 MW by December 31, 2025Add on 950 MW (Total 1,200 MW) by December 31, 2030Add on 1,500 MW (Total: 2,700 MW) by December 31, 2035The maximum energy storage project is 500 MW in size, except for Phase II Utilities, which can produce up to 800 MW in a single project. Beginning July 1, 2020, at least 35% of energy storage facilities put into service must be purchased by the utility from an entity other than the utility itself.