PLEASE NOTE: The Minnesota Energy Storage Alliance has transitioned over from ETL to the Clean Grid Alliance in Sept 2018. Read more about this transition here! Information on this page will no longer be updated.
About the Minnesota Energy Storage Alliance (MESA)
The Minnesota Energy Storage Alliance (MESA) was formed by interested volunteer stakeholders, based on the shared view that our state and region will be a strong market for energy storage. We aspire to be a Midwest forum to share knowledge; connect industry, utilities, researchers, policymakers, regulators, experts, and clean energy advocates; and advance smart policies to support energy storage. MESA is convened by the University of Minnesota’s Energy Transition Lab with support from the McKnight Foundation.
Mission
To lead in accelerating the development of energy storage in Minnesota and the Midwest Region.
Vision
Energy storage is a transformative technology that can enable a clean, smart, reliable, flexible, resilient and efficient modern grid. We will advance the innovative use of energy storage in our region through education, policy, regulatory, technology, and market solutions.
Principles
- Foster broad stakeholder participation
- Identify and remove barriers to fully valuing energy storage’s contributions to a resilient and efficient grid.
- Support a diversity of applications, ownership models, and business models.
- Be entirely technology neutral, from electric vehicles to thermal storage to batteries to pumped hydro.
- Advocate for all scales from customer to utility to grid operator.
- Identify best practices that support Minnesota’s clean energy and carbon reduction policies.
- Provide high quality information and knowledge opportunities.
- Highlight broad economic benefits of job creation and industry growth.
- Promote storage where it is a prudent alternative to additional investment in conventional infrastructure.
- Work with stakeholders including policy makers, regulators, and utility/regional operators to determine and implement better policy, regulatory, and market rules.
- Partner with stakeholders across MISO states for regional impact.
What We Do
- Organize and host the Energy Storage Summit. Learn more about the Summit here.
- Monitor and comment on energy storage-related activities at the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the U.S. Department of Energy. See our comments here.
- Provide expert information and recommendations to Minnesota regulators and policymakers. See our comments here.
- Leverage our expert membership to provide thought leadership in many forums.
- Support energy storage research, industry, and economic development.
Our Structure
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee represents a broad cross-section of energy stakeholders and experts.
Committees
- Policy & Markets Barriers and Solutions Committee: focuses on overall energy storage legal, regulatory, policy, and market issues. Lead: Phyllis Reha
- Regional Markets Sub-Committee: focuses on MISO rules and wholesale market policies. Lead: Matt Prorok
Funding
Minnesota Energy Storage Alliance (MESA) funding is provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Energy Transition Lab. The Energy Transition Lab’s energy storage work is also supported by the Energy Foundation, the Minneapolis Foundation, the Carolyn Foundation, and several corporate sponsors including Great River Energy, Mortenson Construction, GE, AES, and NextEra Energy. The Energy Transition Lab (ETL) is supported by the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment and the Law School.
MESA Resources
PUC Comments
MESA/member comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
MISO Comments
MESA/member comments to the MISO Market Subcommittee
