If you live in Skagit County or along Highway 18, you’ve no doubt seen posts in your social media channels decrying the attempts to install a utility-scale battery storage near you. Residents in the Pacific Northwest have raised concerns about the rapid development of utility-scale battery farms. Many are worried about the fire risks associated with large banks of lithium-ion batteries, which could lead to toxic smoke and environmental contamination if not managed properly. Additionally, there are fears about the long-term environmental impact once these batteries reach the end of their lifespan, with critics arguing for a better plan for disposal and safety: washingtonstatestandard.com/20…
In the end, the goal of these farms is to prop up the grid during times it is short on power. Surprisingly enough, those times are in hot afternoons and evenings, the best times for solar production. Projections show that 8 years from now we likely will be short more than 10% of our regional power needs during these times, leading to brownouts and even blackouts. Owning your own power means you don’t have to worry about these grid issues, knowing you’re comfortable pumping power back onto the grid end enjoying AC you aren’t even paying a bill for. Want to know more? Send us your questions and let’s talk about your worry-free future: universalelectricpnw.com/contact