– The DRIVE Act (H.B. 1256) was passed by the Maryland General Assembly
– The legislation creates a bidirectional EV charging program
– The law also allows for the creation of virtual power plants (VPPs)
The Maryland General Assembly recently passed the Distributed Renewable Integration and Vehicle Electrification (DRIVE) Act, which aims to modernize the state’s energy management and grid preparedness. Supported by Advanced Energy United, the legislation shows Maryland’s commitment to preparing for an electrified future by tapping into clean energy resources and electric vehicles to lower energy costs and support grid resiliency.
At the core of the DRIVE Act is a provision for a bidirectional EV charging program, making Maryland a potential national leader in harnessing energy from EV batteries. This program would allow EVs to not only draw power from the grid but also supply electricity back, effectively turning them into mobile energy storage units.
Maryland would be the first state to require electric utility companies to allow ‘vehicle-to-grid’ systems to interconnect with the state’s electric distribution network, incentivizing the development of technologies that contribute to grid support and efficiency. The legislation also allows for the creation of virtual power plants, which could further enhance Maryland’s energy resiliency by pooling together energy-producing and storage devices.
By expanding the use of “time of use” electric rates and incentivizing grid support and efficiency, the DRIVE Act aims to support EV adoption, improve grid flexibility, and reduce strain on the grid. The legislation now awaits signature from Gov. Wes Moore.