The Michigan Senate Energy and Environment Committee advanced Senate Bills 731 and 732 to establish and regulate virtual power plants in the state. The legislation would create a framework for VPPs that use networks of distributed energy resources including solar panels, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle chargers to supply power to the grid.
Virtual power plants aggregate smaller distributed resources to function alongside or replace traditional large-scale power plants. The technology allows grid operators to tap into decentralized energy sources during peak demand periods or grid emergencies, potentially reducing strain on aging infrastructure.