ALAMOSA —The Alamosa Fire Department is set to put a new kind of energy source to use.

According to AFD Chief, Don Chapman, XCEL Energy has created a first of its kind program called Xcel Energy’s Community Resiliency Initiative. The new program aims to demonstrate how battery storage can provide valuable services to the electric grid.

In June, the City of Alamosa submitted an application to be considered as a potential site for one of the projects.

The submitted proposal was to have battery storage placed near the Alamosa Family Recreation Center, which also serves as an evacuation center in the event of a disaster.

The rec center currently does not have a backup power source.

The proposed new battery system will be charged by power coming from the City’s solar farm located near the recreation center.

The batteries will provide power to the rec center in the event of a prolonged power outage.

Excess energy not used from the batteries will return to the grid.

In early September, a site visit was conducted by an Xcel Energy representative to determine the feasibility of the project.

The department received notice on Sept. 24 that the project was one of seven selected to advance in the process out of 13 communities that submitted 20 individual proposals.

Xcel Energy expects to file a request with the Public Utilities Commission for approval to proceed with the selected projects.

If permission is granted, Xcel expects to start construction in early 2021.