In a brief submitted this week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel showed support for reforms that would allow energy from storage facilities to be bought and sold in the energy market.
Traditionally, energy is produced and sold in real time. Allowing the sale of energy from things like batteries could change this.
According to Nessel, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s reform would boost competition and facilitate a transition towards cleaner energy.
Essentially, the FERC decision would open the energy market to electricity stored in batteries, which could be particularly helpful for renewable energy. The current energy market does not allow for storage.
Ryan Jarvi is with the Attorney General’s Office.
“It’s encouraging more investment in that storage arena. I think it would bring in more competition, lower prices, and expand that capability,” he said.
Jarvi said the decision allows for a transition towards renewable energy.
“Being able to reduce those carbon emissions and use renewable energy and battery storage it’s only helping to make our air cleaner, make our environment better. Going forward it’s the way of the future.”
Supporters also argue that energy storage will allow for more reliability in the energy grid.
The decision is currently under review in a federal appeals court. The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners called for the move, arguing the rule is “not in accordance with the law.”
Specifically, the Association says that the FERC amounts to federal overreach.