New battery energy storage facility hopes to save costs, cut on fossil fuels in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- Colorado Springs Utilities has unveiled the opening of its first battery energy storage system.

Colorado Springs Utilities says the storage facility will help minimize the use of fossil fuels, while also reducing the rate costs for customers.

The Jackson Fuller Energy Storage Facility is located at the energy substation of the same name and occupies approximately 16 acres near Woodmen and Rolling Thunder Way, near Falcon. 

According to Origination, the facility can store enough energy to power about 20,000 houses for four hours by taking and storing excess energy to then redistribute during times of high demand-- supplying more reliable power.

"These batteries will charge and discharge daily, just like charging your iPhone. You can charge it once a day, use it, you charge it again-- these batteries will do a very similar thing," said Jim Shandalov, vice president of Orgination.

Colorado Springs Utilities also says this is a tool that will meet state energy goals by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, increasing renewable energy. 

"Everybody's using more power so we have to find ways to utilize our current assets and future assets and battery is just another type of portfolio we can use to maximize all sources of assets that we currently have to bring the most cost-valued, reliable power to our customers," said Chief Executive Officer Travas Deal with Colorado Springs Utilities.

The facility, while used by Colorado Springs Utilities, will actually be owned and run by "Next Era Energy Resources," a private company.

KRDO13 asked what safety measures were in place to protect the nearby neighborhood from accidental fires, and they pointed us to the walls themselves. The material of the wall and its height are designed to contain a fire should one break out at the facility, officials say. 

Currently, Next Era has three battery source projects in Weld County and Pueblo County, and they say they have every intention to continue developing battery storage facilities here in Colorado.

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