Bill > HR5121

This bill, the Advancing Grid Storage Act of 2016, aims to bolster energy storage capabilities across the United States by requiring the Secretary of Energy to establish and oversee three key programs: a research program, a loan program, and a technical assistance and grant program. The research program, allocated $50 million, will focus on developing new energy storage systems, which are defined as technologies that improve the ability to shift energy delivery over time. The loan program will provide financial assistance to eligible entities, including states, tribal organizations, educational institutions, and various types of electric utilities, for projects that demonstrate and deploy energy storage systems. These projects are intended to improve the feasibility of microgrids (integrated energy systems that can operate independently from the main grid, a concept known as "islanding"), enhance grid reliability in rural areas, integrate renewable energy sources, and optimize grid operations. Finally, the technical assistance and grant program, authorized at $250 million for fiscal years 2017-2021, will offer information, guidance, and financial support to both non-profit and for-profit entities to help them identify, evaluate, plan, and design energy storage systems, with a priority on projects that promote renewable energy, grid resilience, and job creation.