Whatcom County Planning and Development Services accepted a conditional use permit application from GridStor, LLC to construct a 100-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS), according to an August 12, 2026, Notice of Application.
The project will occupy 6.9 acres of a 27-acre property in the Rural zoning district, according to the notice. The facility will connect to an adjacent Puget Sound Energy (PSE) 115-kilovolt Portal Way Substation using a 900-foot underground transmission line, according to the application. Written public comments on the proposal must be received by August 26, 2026, according to the county notice.
PSE was issued a demolition permit application on August 5, 2026, to remove an existing BESS at the Glacier substation located in the 6700 block of Vaughn Avenue.
The 2-megawatt, 4.4-megawatt-hour system was installed in 2016 as a 10-year demonstration project to provide backup power to 62 customers during outages, according to the PSE website. The system consisted of lithium-ion batteries stored in 4 shipping containers, according to the website. The facility is not operating and will be removed in phases in 2026, according to the PSE website.
The Glacier BESS system reached the end of its useful life earlier than anticipated, according to a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) addendum submitted by PSE. The utility recycled the battery packs and is seeking permits to demolish the 12-foot enclosure containers and reinforced concrete foundations, according to the addendum. Empty containers will be donated to the local fire district for training purposes.
Written public comments on the demolition proposal must be received by August 19, 2026, according to the county notice.
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