Energy storage is seen as essential to firming the volumes of renewable resources to meet California's 100% carbon-free mandate adopted into law in September 2018. Since the passage of AB 2514 in 2010, California's utilities have contracted for over 1,000 MW of energy storage projects. Costs have also dropped dramatically, to the point that energy storage now competes with generation and transmission and distribution (T&D) options for system reliability and upgrades.

We will discuss whether California policy-makers should continue to mandate energy storage procurement to insure this market's continued evolution, or whether it should be left to Load Serving Entities (LSEs) and grid operators to define the products they need and let the market respond with the resource combinations that best meet these products.

Our roundtable panel will describe the current forecast for energy storage in California, identify the policy and market drivers for energy storage, and discuss whether mandating energy storage or allowing the market to offer solutions is the best approach to meeting our renewable energy and carbon-free energy goals.

Moderator:
Frank DeRosa, Former CEO of NextLight Renewable Power and GM of The Americas at First Solar

Speakers:
Karl Meeusen, Senior Advisor Infrastructure and Regulatory Policy, California Independent System Operator
Katherine Ryzhaya, Chief Commercial Officer, Lightsource BP
Ed Randolph, Energy Division Director, California Public Utilities Commission