How a Colorado Coal Plant Could Become a Massive Battery for Renewable Energy -

"If the idea works, it could be a case study for other communities trying to preserve jobs and property taxes as the world shifts to cleaner electricity."

Why this is important: The one drawback to the use of wind and solar to generate electricity is what to do when winds die down and the sun does not shine. A Colorado town may be one of the first large-scale storage facilities to fill the gaps in renewable power. The Hayden Generating Station in Hayden, Colorado is now set to close in 2028 as its owner Xcel Energy has a goal to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2030. The plant has a significant economic impact with jobs starting at $80,000 and the town and labor unions want to keep the jobs. Xcel Energy, subject to Public Service Commission approval, wants to convert the now coal-fired plant to a molten salt facility in which wind and solar power would heat up salt in bins until the salt is molten, and then the stored heat energy can be used to power the steam turbines formerly fired by coal to generate electricity when renewables are not available. Xcel believes the process would mean the current plant would be able to generate 150 MW of power for 10 hours and then repeat the process. Molten salt is believed to provide more long-term power as a bridge for renewables than batteries that discharge quickly.