TOM JOHNSON / NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS – A state agency is once again trying to craft a robust incentive program to spur investment in systems to store energy, a technology viewed as crucial to achieving New Jersey’s goal of transitioning to clean energy.

For the second time in a year, the Board of Public Utilities is soliciting input from industry executives, energy advocates and utility officials on a proposal to store power from renewable energy to keep the lights on for homes and businesses.

So far, the state has fallen well short of its own goals to develop energy storage in New Jersey, failing to achieve a target of storage systems that can hold 600 megawatts by 2021. That missed target is raising questions if the state’s larger objective of 2,000 megawatts by 2030 can be achieved …