This is too often the “excuse” used, the reality IS that these same rote IOU electric utilities also have the option of analyzing and installing energy storage along the grid both locally and regionally. NOT ONE utility has had the foresight to install several GWh of redox flow battery energy storage to meet from after hours to dispatchable demand after the solar PV generation day is done. Instead of depending on fueled generation for capacity, they need to capture and store over generation from wind or solar PV then time shift to later in the day and at night.

““Utilities, by and large, are fairly conservative by nature, but they still need to look ahead. I think they see the writing on the wall. Storage is not going to go away,” Olinsky-Paul said. “Utilities see this coming and that they’re going to have to deal with it. Some will deal with it by resisting as long as they can, and others are trying to get ahead and incorporate it into their portfolios.””

That vaunted utility “death spiral” gets steeper for those who try the low hanging fruit of excuses and recriminations against solar PV adopters. The moving target is at least 25% more energy available than the grid’s peak demand at any time of the day or night.

We do not want to discourage states from setting storage targets – but we do want to encourage states to better align storage incentives with policy goals.