Nancy Skinner

I am back indeed from the very sunny California where there are enough batteries to power 13 million homes. I wanted to go because I have no idea how batteries actually work. And I hope you learned this on the trip. I did. I connected with a battery storage facility that's connected to a solar farm spread across 2,900 acres.

It's the equivalent of more than 2,000 football fields. It really did feel huge. It took a long time to drive through. The whole operation is called Cal Flats. It's owned by an independent power producer called Erevon. Justin Johnson is the chief operating officer there.

It's the equivalent of more than 2,000 football fields. It really did feel huge. It took a long time to drive through. The whole operation is called Cal Flats. It's owned by an independent power producer called Erevon. Justin Johnson is the chief operating officer there.

It's the equivalent of more than 2,000 football fields. It really did feel huge. It took a long time to drive through. The whole operation is called Cal Flats. It's owned by an independent power producer called Erevon. Justin Johnson is the chief operating officer there.

Justin gave me a tour of the facility along with Anand Narayanan, Erivan's Senior VP of Asset Management.

Justin gave me a tour of the facility along with Anand Narayanan, Erivan's Senior VP of Asset Management.

Justin gave me a tour of the facility along with Anand Narayanan, Erivan's Senior VP of Asset Management.

At the battery storage facility itself, there are rows of white containers not much taller than a person. I learned this is where it all happens.

At the battery storage facility itself, there are rows of white containers not much taller than a person. I learned this is where it all happens.

At the battery storage facility itself, there are rows of white containers not much taller than a person. I learned this is where it all happens.

Yeah, we don't have the keys, unfortunately. That was a pretty fast no-go there. I just wanted to open the door. I don't see the problem here. The do not press button was so tempting. If I see a button, I want to press it. Either way, they told me that each one of these cabinets holds the batteries themselves. They're about the size of a large briefcase and are manufactured by Tesla.

Yeah, we don't have the keys, unfortunately. That was a pretty fast no-go there. I just wanted to open the door. I don't see the problem here. The do not press button was so tempting. If I see a button, I want to press it. Either way, they told me that each one of these cabinets holds the batteries themselves. They're about the size of a large briefcase and are manufactured by Tesla.

Yeah, we don't have the keys, unfortunately. That was a pretty fast no-go there. I just wanted to open the door. I don't see the problem here. The do not press button was so tempting. If I see a button, I want to press it. Either way, they told me that each one of these cabinets holds the batteries themselves. They're about the size of a large briefcase and are manufactured by Tesla.

The batteries are similar to what would go in a Tesla car, which is also made up of lithium-ion.

The batteries are similar to what would go in a Tesla car, which is also made up of lithium-ion.

The batteries are similar to what would go in a Tesla car, which is also made up of lithium-ion.

I know, yeah. It is wild.

I know, yeah. It is wild.

I know, yeah. It is wild.

That hum you're hearing behind Justin is the HVAC system keeping the batteries cool because they're charging from that solar energy and probably also the heat just from how hot it is outside. The sun was very strong when I visited. Yeah, let's move to the shade.