County will consider a battery storage feasibility study grant

Teton County’s Board of County Commissioners will decide Aug. 24 whether to approve a grant application for a Battery Energy Storage Systems feasibility study, focused on the county’s four largest electricity users, the Recreation Center, Administration Building, General Services Building, and the under construction Justice Center. The point is to see if batteries that “load shed” during peak times could cut peak demand by 30 to 50 percent and reduce ongoing utility costs for taxpayers. grant packet

The application describes a roughly five month study process once a grant is awarded, starting with a request for proposals and ending with a report that could guide future battery installations. In the packet’s example, the Recreation Center is estimated to save up to 200 kW of peak demand and about $1,708 per month in demand charges at current rates, while also making better use of an under construction 290 kW solar array on site. grant packet