WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) - New York state has updated its fire code to cover large battery storage systems, like the ones used to store power generated by wind and solar farms.

It’s progress, but doesn’t solve the problem, according to the chief of one north country fire department.

Battery storage systems - abbreviated as BESS - are key to making alternate energy work, because the wind isn’t always blowing and the sun isn’t always shining. So having battery storage is a way for a solar or wind farm to ‘even out’ the flow of electricity from the farm to the electric grid.

IN 2023, a large battery system at a solar farm near Chaumont burned for several days.

After calls from local municipalities to put regulations on these systems, the New York State Energy Research and Development A

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