VtDigger: Vermont Statehouse is first in nation to install batteries for backup power.
Vermont is the first state in the nation to install batteries that will provide backup power at the Statehouse if the electricity goes off.
The batteries can also be used regularly to lower the cost of electricity during peak usage periods.
The Samsung batteries were running as of Tuesday morning, after testing and charging last week. State officials and private-sector partners tout the installation as a win for the environment and for consumers, as part of efforts to move away from relying on fossil fuels. They say it can also save Vermonters money.