The report “Local Governments Can Achieve Texas-Sized Impacts from Distributed Energy Assets and Virtual Power Plants” by RMI highlights that distributed energy resources and virtual power plants can empower Texas communities to lead the transition to a more resilient, affordable, and sustainable energy system.
Known as distributed energy resources (DERs), these small-scale assets connect to the electric distribution grid and can generate, store, or shift the demand for electricity. These assets, especially when combined to create virtual power plants (VPPs) — also known as aggregate distributed energy resources (ADERs) — are emerging as key tools that can be deployed quickly in support of a more reliable, resilient, and affordable electricity system.
Texas is actively exploring how these technologies can support its grid, and local governments statewide can play crucial roles in increasing the scale and speed of DER and VPP deployment. Through their roles in zoning, permitting, procurement, and program administration, municipalities and counties can maximize the adoption of these resources and the benefits they provide to communities and the broader grid.
Access the report here
