New Bill Aims to Boost 'Virtual Power Plants' in New York

Legislation introduced by Assemblymember Anna Kelles would harness home batteries, EVs, and other clean tech to meet reliability needs.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A new bill introduced in the New York State Assembly by Assemblymember Anna Kelles aims to advance the development of 'virtual power plants' - networks of distributed energy resources like home batteries, electric vehicles, and other clean technologies that can be aggregated to help meet the state's electricity reliability and climate goals.

Why it matters

As New York works to implement its ambitious climate law passed in 2019, the state is struggling to meet deadlines for building new renewable energy and cleaning up its buildings and transportation sectors. This legislation could help accelerate the state's clean energy transition by tapping into distributed energy resources to supplement the grid.

The details

The bill would require the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to establish a program to support the development of virtual power plants. This would include providing incentives and technical assistance to help aggregate and coordinate distributed energy resources, as well as establishing standards and protocols to ensure the reliable operation of these virtual power plant systems.

  • The bill was introduced in the New York State Assembly in March 2026.

The players

Anna Kelles

A member of the New York State Assembly who introduced the bill to advance virtual power plants in the state.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

The state agency that would be tasked with establishing a program to support the development of virtual power plants under the proposed legislation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Virtual power plants are a key part of New York's clean energy future, allowing us to harness the power of distributed resources like home batteries and electric vehicles to enhance grid reliability and resiliency.”

— Anna Kelles, New York State Assemblymember (nysfocus.com)

What’s next

The bill will now go through the legislative process in the New York State Assembly and Senate, with a vote expected later this year.

The takeaway

This legislation represents an innovative approach to accelerating New York's clean energy transition by tapping into the potential of distributed energy resources to complement the state's centralized grid infrastructure and help meet its ambitious climate goals.