California lawmakers are again pushing to expand virtual power plants, with two bills clearing a key legislative hurdle earlier this month. The measures are designed to help offset the state's fast-rising electricity costs by making it easier to aggregate distributed energy resources like home batteries and electric vehicles.
The push comes after Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a slate of similar bills last year. That history raises the question of whether he will take the same stance again this year, according to Canary Media.
With the bills now past a significant legislative milestone, the focus shifts to the governor's next move. The outcome will signal whether California is willing to embrace VPPs as a policy tool for grid relief and cost reduction.