RFP alert: Appalachian Power seeks 800 MW of battery storage in Virginia

Appalachian Power, the utility serving parts of Virginia, is looking to add a large amount of grid-scale battery storage to the electric grid there. It has put out two separate requests for proposals: one for up to 500 megawatts of battery capacity, which the utility would fully buy and own, and another for up to 300 megawatts under agreements where it would pay for the capacity without owning the batteries outright. Both would need to connect to the regional PJM grid that serves much of the mid-Atlantic. Proposals are due by September 30, 2026.

This isn't a program homeowners sign up for directly. Grid-scale batteries store electricity so it can be used later, helping smooth out supply when demand spikes or when power from sources like solar and wind varies. The push is tied to Virginia's Clean Economy Act, a state law that requires Appalachian Power to add about 780 megawatts of short-duration battery storage by 2040 and another 520 megawatts of longer-duration storage by 2045.

For homeowners in Appalachian Power's service area, this kind of large-scale storage buildout is part of the background infrastructure that can support grid reliability over time, but it doesn't come with a rebate, incentive, or upgrade for individual houses. If you're looking for programs that directly affect your own home's energy costs or efficiency, it's worth checking what else your state or utility offers separately from this kind of large infrastructure project.