What might be the next big garden accessory? Base Power is racing to build and install tens of thousands of batteries in residential backyards and become one of the country’s largest developers of battery storage. The three-year-old company just locked down a $1 billion funding round that brings its valuation to $13 billion. The company has raised more than $2.5 billion in all. The U.S. installed 3.3 gigawatts of battery storage (the amount that could be delivered at once during peak demand), or 8.4 gigawatt-hours (the energy the battery can store and deliver over time). Batteries can soak up cheap power during times of low demand and discharge power when supplies are tight, or be tapped for services that help keep the grid stable. (WSJ)

8/5/2026