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What is ‘Community Storage’ and Why Should I Care?

with Community Storage Initiative Advisory Council Members Robin Roy, NRDC; Alex Hofmann, APPA; Keith Dennis, NRECA, and Steve Rosenstock, EEI; Moderated by Steve Koep, Vaughn Thermal and PLMA Behind-the-Meter Storage Interest Group Co-Chair

Recorded on June 30, 2016

Thank you for your interest in this PLMA Demand Response Dialogue. This will be a 30-minute conversation with a few Powerpoint slides.

You have access to review the recording on this page.

Join us for an interactive discussion of the definition and market potential of ‘Community Storage’ and learn more about the upcoming Community Storage Initiative Leadership Forum, to be held July 20-21 at the Univ. of MN Law School in Minneapolis.

In recent months, it has become increasingly apparent that overall interest in energy storage is rapidly accelerating. From the introduction of the Tesla ‘Powerwall’ to a recent RMI Report entitled “The Economics of Demand Flexibility”, there is an emerging consensus that the country needs a wide variety of dynamic energy storage resources. At the same time, the Community Solar business model has experienced growing acceptance by the electric utility industry as a valid renewable production strategy. These realizations have led directly to the recent announcement that NRECA, NRDC, EEI, APPA and PLMA have launched a coordinated market development effort entitled ‘The Community Storage Initiative’. Following the recent release of The Brattle Group research, “The Hidden Battery” (sponsored by NRECA, NRDC and PLMA), The Community Storage Initiative has emerged as an inclusive national market development collaborative that has garnered the support of the electric utility industry, the environmental community, the renewable energy industry and the public policy community.

Come with your questions and comments for these industry thought leaders.

Additional Resources:

“The Hidden Battery: Opportunities in Electric Water Heating,”authored by The Brattle Group available at CLICK HERE

"The Economics of Demand Flexibility"authored by Rocky Mountain Institute available at CLICK HERE

NRECA TechSurveillance Report: "Implementing Community Storage Programs" authored by by Christine Grant, Patrick Keegan, and Amy Wheeless, available at CLICK HERE

Steve Koep, Moderator Vaughn Thermal Corporation and PLMA Grid-Interactive Behind-the-Meter Storage Interest Group Co-Chair

Steve Koep has over 25 years of experience working with the electric utility industry to develop new markets for leading-edge energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Vaughn Thermal Corporation builds long-life, high-efficiency electric water heaters and thermal storage tanks for the Demand Response, Renewable Storage and Geothermal Heat Pump markets.

Robin Roy NRDC Director, Building Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Strategy, Energy & Transportation Program

Robin Roy aims to help meet society’s need for secure, affordable, and environmentally sound energy by focusing on the practicalities of effective public policy, the capabilities of businesses, and the opportunities that technological and institutional innovation create. As a member of NRDC’s senior management team for energy and climate, Roy identifies and pursues new directions for federal energy policy for buildings and advocates for the advancement of building energy and clean energy initiatives at the state, regional, and international levels. He is a cofounder and a director of Next Energy, an Australia-based consultancy advising government and industry on energy policy and strategy. He has also worked for the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment and the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Roy holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, a master’s degree in engineering–economic systems, and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from Stanford University. He works out of NRDC’s San Francisco office.

Alex Hofmann American Public Power Association Director, Energy & Environmental Services

Alex works with electric utilities that are entities of state and local government on topics such as reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. The American Public Power Association (APPA) is the national service organization for the more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities in the U.S. Collectively, these utilities serve more than 48 million Americans in 49 states (all but Hawaii). APPA was created in 1940 as a nonprofit, non-partisan organization to advance the public policy interests of its members and their customers.

Keith Dennis National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Senior Principal, End-Use Solutions and Standards

Prior to joining NRECA two years ago, Keith served in the U.S. Department of Energy as Team Lead for Policy, Guidance, and Communications for the $3.2 billion Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and served as a Senior Program Manager for the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Steve Rosenstock, P.E. Edison Electric Institute Senior Manager, Energy Solutions

Steve works with EEI member companies on the issues of appliance energy efficiency standards, building codes, national key accounts, Smart Grid, and Electric Transportation. He holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Maryland.

Who Should Attend.Utility and regulatory staff as well as other energy industry trade allies and organizations seeking thought leadership and insight on innovative demand response methods to meet peak energy load needs, mitigate price, and manage variable generation.

How DR Dialogue Works. When you register, you may submit a comment or question in advance. After brief introductions, the two featured speakers will have an informal 30-minute conversation. You're welcome to use a speaker phone so an unlimited number of people may participate. After the Dialogue, you will receive a recording web link. Unable to participate on this day and time? Register anyway and you will automatically receive the recording link.