From the Bellingham Herald:
Battery backup system in Glacier may help in power failures
The small community of Glacier could be among the first in Western Washington to receive a battery storage system that could help cut back on lengthy power outages and test the viability of a “microgrid” in that area.
If a Puget Sound Energy project is permitted, crews could install four shipping containers housing lithium iron phosphate batteries at its existing Glacier substation at 9967 Vaughn Ave. as soon as summer 2015.
The system would be able to put out a maximum of about 2 megawatts — enough energy to power about 150 average homes for one day, said Patrick Leslie, emerging technologies program manager for PSE.
The project is funded in part by a $3.8 million Smart Grid Grant from the state Department of Commerce. PSE plans to put in about $5.8 million of its own money to bring the system online next fall.
The battery system is expected to have a 20-year lifespan.
Glacier, home to roughly 200 to 300 full-time residents, was selected for the test project partly because there is no good alternative for PSE to increase the reliability of power to the area, Leslie said.
Very cool - we lose power several times/year. We get used to it - portable generator and reducing our consumption. Wood heat helps a lot.
I would love to see a small nuke go in up here - one of the Toshiba 4S units would be perfect.
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