Assemblymember Anna Kelles, of Ithaca, introduced legislation last week that would require the state’s major electric utilities to create “virtual power plants” — networks of home batteries, smart thermostats, electric vehicles, and other devices that companies can draw on to keep the lights on at peak times. It aims to rapidly scale up the programs by creating new incentives for customers to participate.

The idea behind the bill is gaining traction among energy experts as states contend with rising electricity demand and soaring energy bills, as New York Focus recently reported. How a More Flexible Grid Could Save New York Billions Jack Carroll and Colin Kinniburgh

Flexible grid programs could help New Yorkers save money and cut pollution, a highly sought-after combination amid a bruising fight over the costs of achieving the state’s climate targets. A mammoth report published last fall by the state energy authority NYSERDA found that virtual power plants will be one of the key tools to achieve a reliable, zero-emissions grid, as the state’s climate law requires — and that they are cheaper and quicker to deploy than some of the other technologies the state envisions, like hydrogen or next-generation nuclear.