California Energy Storage Alliance

What California Energy Storage Alliance does

The California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 2009 and headquartered in Sacramento, California (808 R Street, Suite 209). It functions as the primary industry voice for energy storage in the state, conducting policy advocacy and market development before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Energy Commission (CEC), California Independent System Operator (CAISO), and the California Legislature. Its stated mission is to advocate for energy storage as a key resource to achieve a more affordable, efficient, reliable, safe and sustainable electric power system for California.

CESA generates revenue almost entirely through tiered annual membership dues, with five membership categories (Board Member, General Member, Affiliate Member, Startup Member, and Associate Membership); specific pricing is not publicly disclosed. Its core "products" are policy advocacy, working groups (Safety, Permitting, Policy), the annual Market Development Forum (MDF), the Western Energy Storage Taskforce (WEST), and Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) research and advocacy. The organization operates with 1–10 staff and reports 90+ member companies. Distribution is direct-to-enterprise via the website member portal, email inquiry, and in-person engagement at Lobby Days and the MDF.

CESA's members include all three California investor-owned utilities (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E), major developers and OEMs (Calpine, Tesla, AES, Terra-Gen, Hydrostor, Fluence, Gridstor, Ormat, EDF Renewables, REV Renewables), and a long tail of affiliates and startups. Its advocacy is credited with shaping landmark outcomes including the CPUC's 1 GW LDES procurement directive by 2026, AB 2625 (2022 zoning exemption), SB 283 (2025 BESS safety), and SB 302 (2025 IRA tax conformity). Leadership includes Executive Director Scott Murtishaw and Chairman Richard Brody.

Name

California Energy Storage Alliance

Legal name

California Energy Storage Alliance

Website

https://storagealliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 2009 that advocates for energy storage policy and market development before California regulators and the Legislature on behalf of 90+ member companies across the storage value chain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Storage Trade Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) & Clean Energy Standards Compliance (EUAMANAF)

Keywords

• Energy storage advocacy
• Policy advocacy services
• Trade association services
• Regulatory engagement
• Battery storage policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CESA generates revenue through membership dues paid by energy storage industry participants. The organization offers multiple membership tiers including Board Member, General Member, Affiliate Member, Startup Member, and Associate Membership categories. Members gain access to industry insights, advocacy efforts, policy updates, networking opportunities, and resources to help their businesses thrive in the energy storage sector.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) is a membership-based trade association that advocates for energy storage as a key resource to achieve a more affordable, efficient, reliable, safe, and sustainable electric power system for California. It provides policy advocacy before the CPUC, CEC, CAISO, and California Legislature; organizes working groups, the annual Market Development Forum, and Lobby Days; and delivers industry intelligence and networking to its 90+ members across the energy storage value chain.

Product overview

The California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) is a membership-based trade association that advocates for energy storage as a key resource to achieve a more affordable, efficient, reliable, safe and sustainable electric power system for California. CESA is not a product company but rather offers membership services including policy advocacy, networking, working groups, and educational resources. The organization operates with over 50+ members across categories including Board Member, General Member, Affiliate Member, Startup Member, and Associate Membership. CESA's key initiatives include the Western Energy Storage Taskforce (WEST), annual Market Development Forum (MDF), and Long Duration Energy Storage advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Western Energy Storage Taskforce (WEST): CESA's initiative to expand energy storage market development and advocacy to Western states including Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington State.

Quantifiable outcome

• California reached over 15,700 MW of installed battery storage as of Q1 2025, with 8,600 MW more expected by 2027
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core partner, core, key account, key partner and regional.

• ACP-Californiacore partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CESA partnered with ACP-California to support Senate Bill 283, which advances BESS safety in California by integrating local fire authorities into planning and safety oversight of BESS facilities.
• California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA maintains a strong, collaborative relationship with the CPUC, engaging in regulatory proceedings, resource adequacy proceedings, and long-term procurement planning. CESA's advocacy contributed to the landmark CPUC decision authorizing 1 GW LDES procurement by 2026 and the 6 GW resource procurement decision.
• California Energy Commission (CEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA works closely with the CEC on energy storage policy, permitting processes, and programs including the Long Duration Storage Program ($140 million) and the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP).
• California Independent System Operator (CAISO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA collaborates with CAISO on energy storage market participation, interconnection, and grid reliability matters. The organization provides technical input on storage integration and market rules.
• California LegislaturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA advocates before the California Legislature on energy storage legislation including sponsoring AB 2625 (zoning exemption), AB 2868 (customer savings), AB 2861 (interconnection), and supporting SB 283 (BESS safety) and SB 302 (tax conformity).
• Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)key accountStrategic or Co-development PartnerPG&E is a major CESA member and supporter, having supported the annual CESA Market Development Forum for ten consecutive years. PG&E commissioned the Elkhorn Battery (182.5 MW), one of the world's largest lithium-ion storage systems.
• Southern California Edison (SCE)key accountStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCE is a major CESA member and supporter, having supported the annual CESA Market Development Forum for ten consecutive years.
• San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)key accountStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDG&E is a major CESA member and supporter, having supported the annual CESA Market Development Forum for ten consecutive years.
• Strategen Consultingcore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA partnered with Strategen Consulting in 2020 to conduct analysis on the future need for long duration energy storage in California. This study concluded California will need 45-55 GW of LDES by 2045 and was instrumental in influencing CPUC procurement decisions.
• Department of Energy (DOE)key partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA leverages DOE's Long Duration Storage Shot initiative which aims to reduce the cost of grid-scale energy storage that can deliver 10+ hours of duration by 90%. California's market leadership contributes to and benefits from DOE's national storage goals.
• Western Power PoolregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA's Western Energy Storage Taskforce (WEST) works with Western Power Pool on resource adequacy programs in the Northwest and coordinates with CAISO's Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) expansion across Western states.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA): Utility-focused nonprofit that convenes utilities, developers, and technology providers on grid modernization, with significant storage programs and research. Overlaps with CESA in serving the same IOU/CCA member base and producing storage market intelligence.
• American Clean Power Association (ACP): National clean energy trade association formed when US Energy Storage Association merged into ACP. Covers wind, solar, storage, and transmission at federal level, competing with CESA for member attention on California issues that have national implications (IRA implementation, NFPA 855, DOE LDES).
• Advanced Energy United: National business organization representing the full advanced energy industry (storage, solar, wind, EVs, demand-side resources). Engages CPUC, CEC, and the California Legislature similar to CESA, but with a broader portfolio and from a more generalist industry-lobbying stance.

Regional players

• New England Clean Energy Council: Regional clean energy industry association serving the New England states with policy advocacy, networking, and market development. Structurally analogous to CESA's California/WEST model but for ISO-NE, demonstrating the regional trade-association model that CESA could emulate as WEST grows.
• Energy Storage Canada: Canada's national energy storage trade association, equivalent in role to CESA but for the Canadian market. Operates in a similar advocacy and market-development capacity across provincial regulators, providing a cross-border reference point and potential WEST expansion partner.

Direct peers

• Long Duration Energy Storage Council: Industry council specifically advancing long-duration energy storage commercialization and policy. Directly comparable to CESA's LDES advocacy program and the 45-55 GW LDES study, with overlap in member rosters (developers, utilities, technology providers) and policy engagement.
• California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA): California-focused trade association that, like CESA, advocates before CPUC, CEC, and the Legislature — but covers solar alongside storage. Direct overlap in California storage policy advocacy, working groups, and Lobby Days makes CALSSA CESA's closest state-level competitor for member mindshare.
• Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC): Nonprofit focused on regulatory and policy reform to accelerate clean energy deployment, with deep expertise in interconnection, building codes, and workforce. Closely comparable to CESA in policy advocacy mechanics and in addressing interconnection and permitting barriers for storage developers.
• California Wind Energy Association (CalWEA): California-specific wind energy trade association that similarly advocates before CPUC, CEC, CAISO, and the Legislature. Direct structural peer to CESA in California-only renewable advocacy, and increasingly relevant as wind+storage hybrid projects grow.

Others

• Clean Energy Council (Australia): Australia's peak industry body for clean energy, covering storage alongside solar and wind with policy advocacy, standards, and accreditation. An international reference for the trade-association model at scale, illustrating the upper-bound trajectory CESA could pursue if WEST and storage markets expand materially.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StorageAlliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2174305/admin/dashboard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about California Energy Storage Alliance