Microgrid Institute Offers Comments on Maryland 'Resiliency through Microgrids' Task Force Roadmap
April 3, 2014: Microgrid Institute today submitted its comments to the Maryland Energy Administration for the Governor's "Resiliency through Microgrids" Task Force Roadmap process. In its comments, Microgrid Institute encouraged the State to foster the development of community microgrids with a transparent, market-based approach that rewards productive innovation.
"A singularly important role for policymakers in Maryland is to establish policy goals and regulatory frameworks that foster innovation in serving local energy requirements – not only with microgrids, but with a full range of demand-side services, including distributed supply and storage either behind the meter or in grid-tied configuration," the comments read. "Policy provisions that aim to encourage public purpose microgrids should – at a minimum – avoid discouraging other distributed energy solutions, and ideally the State’s policies would result from a long-term strategic plan. Such a plan might seek to foster development of a Utility 2.0 grid topology, business model, and open-access energy services marketplace in Maryland."
Gov. Martin O'Malley appointed Microgrid Institute Director Michael Burr to serve on the Resiliency through Microgrids Task Force, which was established in February 2014 and convened several meetings in Annapolis during the month of March. A broad range of microgrid market stakeholders were represented on the Task Force, demonstrating the state's interest in encouraging timely development of public-purpose microgrids -- i.e., those that provide vital community services.
Microgrid Institute's submitted comments are available at the Microgrid Institute "Resources" page.
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ABOUT MICROGRID INSTITUTE: Microgrid Institute is a collaborative organization that addresses key issues affecting the development of microgrids and distributed energy assets around the world. Efforts focus on market development and analysis, regulatory and financial models, and project feasibility and structuring. Microgrid Institute is an independent initiative of Burr Energy LLC. For more information, see www.microgridinstitute.org
"A singularly important role for policymakers in Maryland is to establish policy goals and regulatory frameworks that foster innovation in serving local energy requirements – not only with microgrids, but with a full range of demand-side services, including distributed supply and storage either behind the meter or in grid-tied configuration," the comments read. "Policy provisions that aim to encourage public purpose microgrids should – at a minimum – avoid discouraging other distributed energy solutions, and ideally the State’s policies would result from a long-term strategic plan. Such a plan might seek to foster development of a Utility 2.0 grid topology, business model, and open-access energy services marketplace in Maryland."
Gov. Martin O'Malley appointed Microgrid Institute Director Michael Burr to serve on the Resiliency through Microgrids Task Force, which was established in February 2014 and convened several meetings in Annapolis during the month of March. A broad range of microgrid market stakeholders were represented on the Task Force, demonstrating the state's interest in encouraging timely development of public-purpose microgrids -- i.e., those that provide vital community services.
Microgrid Institute's submitted comments are available at the Microgrid Institute "Resources" page.
-30-
ABOUT MICROGRID INSTITUTE: Microgrid Institute is a collaborative organization that addresses key issues affecting the development of microgrids and distributed energy assets around the world. Efforts focus on market development and analysis, regulatory and financial models, and project feasibility and structuring. Microgrid Institute is an independent initiative of Burr Energy LLC. For more information, see www.microgridinstitute.org