Congressman Jimmy Panetta introduced the Better Energy Storage and Safety (BESS) Act, bipartisan legislation that would allow the federal government to implement critical improvements to ensure safe energy storage.
Co-authored by Rep. Pat Harrigan (NC-10), the move directs the Department of Energy to conduct energy storage safety research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities within its energy storage programs.
The bill is in addition to existing authorizations to conduct RD&D activities on battery system failures and includes improving early detection methods and preventative techniques to reduce risks of fires or explosions, such as the one at Moss Landing, while promoting research on the causes of battery failure.
“As we continue to move towards renewable energy, we must ensure that the corresponding and critical technology is safe and secure,” Panetta said in a press release. “Although state-level public utility commissions have the authority and are responsible for ensuring safe and reliable energy service, my bipartisan bill would allow the federal government to make necessary improvements for the research, development, and testing of critical battery storage and clean energy systems.”
Harrigan added that the systems are going into homes, the power grid and communities across the country, but stressed that testing and safety standards have not kept pace with how fast the technology is moving.
“This bill closes that gap, puts the right agencies to work on the hard problems, and makes sure we are stress-testing these systems before failures happen in the field, not after,” he said.
Additionally, the BESS Act would:
• Authorize $30 million annually from FY 2027–2031 for energy storage safety activities.
• Improve coordination among Department of Energy, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the U.S. Fire Administration to strengthen testing and safety standards for grid-connected energy storage systems.
• Incorporate energy storage safety into program direction and strategic planning.
• Expand demonstration programs with two additional projects to improve the safety of short- and long-duration energy storage systems.
Full text of the bill is available at panetta.house.gov
