Better Energy Storage Technology Act or the BEST Act
This bill addresses research, development, and demonstration programs relating to energy storage systems.
Among other requirements, the Department of Energy must
establish a research, development, and deployment program for energy storage systems, including distributed and transportation energy storage technologies and applications; enter into agreements to carry out at least five demonstration projects and develop a 10-year strategic plan for energy storage systems; establish a competitive grant program to assist certain states and tribal governments, institutions of higher education, utilities, and private energy storage companies carry out demonstration projects for pilot energy storage systems; provide technical and planning assistance to help certain electric cooperatives, political subdivisions of states, nonprofit entities, and utilities procure energy storage systems; and award competitive prizes for advancing the recycling of critical energy storage materials such as lithium and cobalt.