The Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED) issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) applications and their impacts in Indiana. Exeter Associates was awarded federal funding to develop this Indiana-based study. The study provides detailed information related to the current state of BESS technology, safety considerations, workforce development and employment impacts, state and local economic impacts, installation and operation practices, decommissioning and recycling practices, and community engagement needs and best practices as they pertain to utility-scale battery energy storage system deployment in Indiana.
Report development involves extensive consultation with Indiana stakeholders to ensure that the ultimate findings and recommendations are tailored to the unique policy, regulatory, and energy system circumstances of Indiana. The recommendations provide policy, programmatic, and planning considerations related to utility-scale BESS deployment in the state, addressing the comprehensive evaluation of how this technology can be effectively deployed while considering environmental, economic, and social factors.
The solicitation included the RFP document and an FAQ document to guide potential respondents through the proposal process.