Beaumont, CA - Yesterday, the City of Beaumont held a ribbon cutting event to celebrate the installation of a Tesla Battery Energy Storage System at our Lower Oak Valley Lift Station*. The project, which was funded through the California Self-Generation Incentive Program (CSGIP), involved the design, permitting and installation of a Tesla Powerpack, as well as a 10-year maintenance agreement.
The installation of this system is part of critical infrastructure needed to keep the lift station operable during Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) or other disruptions affecting the power grid. The system can power the site for up to 48 hours and reduces running time on City generators to provide backup power to the site. In addition to the backup power capabilities of the system, the Tesla Powerpack is a "smart" battery system, which will charge backup batteries during lower rate periods and supplement power during peak rate periods, resulting in a projected 40% reduction of the site's electrical bill.
The project was completed at no cost to ratepayers and valued at over $500,000, with an expected savings of over $300,000 in electrical costs to ratepayers over the 20-year life of the system. The City is excited about the installation of this system and has been approved for grant funding to install the systems at three additional city operated lift stations.
* Lift stations are used to move wastewater from lower to higher elevation, particularly where the elevation of the source is not sufficient for gravity flow and/or when the use of gravity conveyance will result in excessive excavation depths and high sewer construction costs. The City currently operates nine lift stations, which feed into the Wastewater Treatment Plant located along 4th Street in the City of Beaumont. The lift stations are part of our critical infrastructure within the City of Beaumont.
