Big battery to back up power for Washington town

GLACIER, Wash. — Residents of the small Cascade mountain town of Glacier may have a big battery to keep the lights on when the power lines go down.

Puget Sound Energy plans to install four shipping containers housing lithium iron phosphate batteries with enough power for 150 homes for about a day.

The Bellingham Herald reports Glacier would be among the first in the state to test large-scale battery storage.

The utility plans to install the battery next summer with support from the state Department of Commerce.