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Maine hearing spotlights long-duration energy storage as a tool to integrate renewables; debate centers on cost, technology neutrality
Summary
LD 11 30 would add a statutory target for long-duration energy storage (LDES) — 300 megawatts by Dec. 31, 2035 — to complement existing short-duration storage goals. Supporters, including the Governor's Energy Office and conservation groups, said LDES can avoid overbuilding transmission and increase grid flexibility; opponents raised questions on
Representative Sophie Warren introduced LD 11 30, a bill proposing an additional statutory target for long‑duration energy storage in Maine: develop at least 300 megawatts of long‑duration battery storage by Dec. 31, 2035. Supporters argued the target would attract investment and provide a cost‑effective tool to integrate variable renewables, while critics urged a technology‑neutral approach and questioned near‑term cost effectiveness.
“Long duration energy battery storage has been identified as a cost‑effective option to help get more renewable energy onto the grid while avoiding the need to overbuild transmission,” Representative Warren said, citing the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) reports that informed the proposal.
Conservation organizations and conservation‑oriented nonprofits supported the bill. Karen Blaklock of The Nature Conservancy noted that storage…
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