Green Mountain Power Receives Approval for Berlin Solar Project
With Nearly 1,000 Panels, Solar Array Is Largest Solar Project in Vermont
COLCHESTER, VT–(Marketwire – May 17, 2010) – Green Mountain Power has received a Certificate of Public Good from the state of Vermont to build a nearly 1,000-panel solar array on property it owns in Berlin, Vermont.
The project will generate 200 kilowatts of electricity, and is the largest permitted solar project in Vermont, GMP officials said.
“This project is an important part of our overall energy and climate strategy to increase the amount of renewable energy generation in our state,” said Mary Powell, president and chief executive officer of Green Mountain Power. “Using renewables benefits our customers by supplying them with low-carbon emission, low-cost and highly reliable energy sources.”
As part of this strategy, Green Mountain Power will soon file for approval of its Kingdom Community Wind project which will generate up to 63 megawatts of renewable wind power in Lowell, Vermont.
The Berlin project will bring Green Mountain Power closer to its goal of helping to install 10,000 solar panels in 1,000 days — a commitment it made in November 2008. Through its own projects, and by providing incentives for customers to install panels, a total of 7,800 solar panels have been installed to date. With the addition of the 952 panel Berlin project, Green Mountain Power is nearly 90 percent of the way towards reaching its goal.
The Berlin solar array will be Green Mountain Power’s third solar installation. In early 2009, the company completed a 58-kilowatt array that provides power for its Westminster service center. It also has a 4-kilowatt solar array at its Colchester headquarters, which powers its two plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The solar panels will be installed on a fixed, ground-mounted system, covering approximately one acre of land. Work is expected to begin in the next few weeks and be completed by the end of this summer. The location is ideal for a solar installation, with open space to allow for a good sun resource. At full output, the array will generate enough power to serve 100 average homes.
“We’re excited to bring this project to our customers. It’s good for Vermont, good for our environment and it gives us one more reason to be happy when the sun shines,” Powell said.
About Green Mountain Power Green Mountain Power (www.greenmountainpower.com) transmits, distributes and sells electricity and utility construction services in the State of Vermont in a service territory with approximately one quarter of Vermont’s population. It serves more than 200,000 people and businesses.
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