Solar and storage industry, municipal, and fire engineering expertise will shape a new training curriculum to help fire departments, planning officials and key stakeholders safely evaluate energy storage systems.
The Solar and Storage Industries Institute (SI2) will lead a new four-year initiative to launch a new statewide training on battery energy storage safety in Massachusetts, supported by an $800,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. As part of this award, SI2 will work with its project partners, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA), and Code Red Consultants to develop and deliver an educational training program for fire departments, other first responders and key stakeholders. These officials often serve as part of the Authority Having Jurisdiction in the energy storage permitting process, and may be responsible for reviewing plans before a project can move forward.
The award comes as Massachusetts is working to deploy 5 gigawatts (GW) of battery energy storage by 2030, with Governor Healey recently announcing plans for an additional 5 GW by 2035. Battery energy storage systems store electricity generated by solar and other renewable energy sources, so that it can be used later. The pace of battery energy storage growth and the timing of this training program underscores the value of equipping fire departments and key stakeholders with the knowledge needed to inform permitting decisions, and support the state’s continued progress in meeting its energy goals.
“SI2 is honored to lead this effort alongside our project team partners. Battery storage has become an integral part of how Massachusetts is planning to meet its energy goals and this team brings the right mix of expertise needed to develop a lasting program and serve first responders and local officials,” said David Gahl, executive director with the Solar and Storage Industries Institute.
“Governor Healey is leading by example by funding education and training programs to help public safety officials stay up-to-date on energy storage best practices,” said Joan White, senior director of storage and interconnection policy for the Solar Energy Industries Association. “Storage technology is playing an increasingly important role in delivering affordable, reliable electricity to Massachusetts, and collaboration between industry and the public is essential to ensuring that growth is done right.”
This work builds on Massachusetts’ longstanding commitment to energy storage safety education, now through a new collaborative approach. The project team brings together deep expertise in solar and storage technologies and industry practices, specialized experience with battery safety, and knowledge of municipalities and local governments across the state. Together, this team aims to improve energy storage permitting efficiency, strengthen cross-agency collaboration and safety culture, and increase public confidence in storage projects.
“Battery energy storage systems are an important part of Massachusetts’ clean energy future, and their safe deployment depends on informed collaboration between industry, municipalities, and the fire service,” said Nate Birmingham, executive vice president and senior principal for Code Red Consultants. “We are excited to bring our fire protection engineering and code consulting expertise to this team in support of that shared goal.”
Municipal officials have a critical role to play in permitting energy storage projects and they have to be armed with best practices, facts and up-to-date safety information to aid in their decision-making. As the leading municipal association in the Commonwealth and member of the project team, MMA will be a key partner in this effort and help tailor materials to the right audiences.
As part of the program, the project team will conduct a survey of fire departments, planning officials and other stakeholders to identify and inform training needs and curriculum development. The resulting training will reach diverse communities, and directly equip authorities having jurisdiction, regional planning boards, and fire departments with the knowledge necessary to safely deploy battery storage across the Commonwealth
About SEIA®
The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy. SEIA works with its 1,200 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the national trade association for the solar and solar + storage industries, building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org and follow @SEIA on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
About the Code Red Consultants
Code Red Consultants is a premier fire protection and life safety engineering firm dedicated to safeguarding the built environment. The firm brings deep expertise in fire science, engineering, construction, and emergency management to help commercial and industrial clients address complex fire and life safety challenges while effectively engaging with planning boards, fire departments, building departments, and other Authorities Having Jurisdiction. For more information, visit https://coderedconsultants.com/ and follow Code Red Consultants on LinkedIn.
