Update: US Senate Energy Bill with Implications for Microgrids Stalls over Unrelated Issue

By Ethan Howland, Microgrid Knowledge

Sweeping energy legislation with implications for microgrid development stalled last week in the US Senate over a dispute on limiting hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), an unrelated issue.

It appeared the bipartisan American Energy Innovation Act was set for a quick vote after its was introduced in late February by Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Joe Manchin, D-W.V., the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

The bill (S. 2657) bundled provisions from about 50 bills that were considered by the committee in the last year.

The legislation deals with a range of issues, including grid modernization, energy storage, renewable energy and energy efficiency. One section specifically deals with microgrids. Within discussion of grid modernization, the legislation directs the Department of Energy to set up a program to promote microgrid systems that use alternative power sources for isolated communities and microgrid systems to increase the resilience of critical infrastructure.

Issues with the legislative process emerged...Continue reading on Microgrid Knowledge.