AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology (EUT) Committee voted Wednesday to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Gerry Runte, D-York, that would direct Efficiency Maine to study the feasibility of a vehicle-to-grid electric school bus pilot project.
In an amended version of LD 519, Resolve, to Conduct a Vehicle-to-grid Pilot Project Using Electric School Buses, Efficiency Maine would undertake a two-phase evaluation. The first phase would include an initial recommendation consisting of a detailed cost and benefit analysis. The second phase would provide information on a pilot design, budget and other requirements for the project to the EUT Committee.
"The primary value of studying this pilot project is to demonstrate how vehicles might be used as storage devices to provide benefit to the grid," said Runte. "If you discharged this bus at peak hours, you would reduce demand occurring in the system. If you added up enough of these storage devices, reducing these peaks saves money for all consumers."
The vehicle-to-grid school bus pilot project would take place at the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District. In addition to the system benefits, the project could also provide backup power during outages. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has already provided a grant to the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District for the purchase of 11 electric school buses.
"Peak power is very expensive and power at 3 a.m. is not very expensive, but today's supply rates use a single price, regardless of when the power is used," explained Runte. "At some point in the future, we have to be valuing the energy at what its really worth. Anticipating that future, the pilot would also calculate any savings the district would receive by overnight charging if we had time-of-use rates."
This bill is one of four measures Runte has sponsored to improve Maine's energy system and make it more affordable and attainable to meet the state's climate goals. LD 542 would look to reform electricity rate regulations. LD 952 would seek to attract investment and increase employment in Maine by modernizing the state's electricity grid. Lastly, LD 524 would require the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new commercial and multi-family parking lot construction. These bills await further action by the EUT Committee.
LD 519 faces further votes in the House and Senate in the coming weeks.
Runte, a member of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, is serving his first term in the Maine House and represents Ogunquit, Wells and York.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Runte], c. 305-965-2744