Energy Storage Permitting Guidebook Version 1 - Flipbook - Page 30
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Energy Storage Guidebook
TA B L E 3:
Barriers That Need to be Addressed by Policymakers and Industry Leaders
Barrier
Potential Policy Strategies
Next Steps
Rapid pace of technological changes
Convene an online or in-person educational forum or both where manufacturers of ESS and related equipment
can provide ongoing trainings on new
technologies.
Assess existing forums and perform a
gap analysis.
Misalignment of update cycles of
electrical codes, building codes, and
California’s triannual code adoption
Change CBSC adoption cycle to better
align with NFPA and ICC codes.
Research the best code adoption pace
to keep California synchronized with
other codes.
Variations in how codes are applied
and in permit application requirements
across the state
Create state-level guidance in how
codes should be applied by AHJs and
create a set of statewide plan formatting standards to reduce the need to
resubmit plans for plan formatting
errors.
Research how AHJs vary and what the
main points of variation are; benchmark
California against other U.S. states.
Interpretation of fire codes and UL
9540A fire test results
Create statewide guidance on how to
apply the fire code to ESS. Establish a
contact at the Office of the State Fire
Marshal to provide additional education
and review of UL 9540A results by AHJs
or other stakeholders with questions.
Develop a request for the Office of the
State Fire Marshal. Work with UL Solutions to provide state-level trainings
for AHJs.
Slow pace of interconnection to utility
systems; Confusion over the appropriate
contact or process or both for requesting interconnection with the utility
Ensure that all IOUs and municipal
utilities have a specific process and
designated contact for interconnecting
BTM ESS; optimize and harmonize these
processes.
Review existing resources and perform
a gap analysis; create a more detailed
study that focuses on interconnection
issues.
Source: Center for Sustainable Energy (https://energycenter.org/)