Green Mountain Community Solar (GMCS), a Groton, VT-based company, is now offering a new way to go solar — from anywhere in the state! The solar panel ownership in the community group is from off-site solar farms and is now available to any Vermonter or Vermont business.
Previously, community solar farm participation was limited to subscribers in the same utility service territory as that of the solar farm. Now, any Vermonter, including all those who are served by any utility company such as GMP, Burlington, Ludlow, Stowe, Readsboro, Swanton, Orleans, Northfield, Morrisville, Lyndonville, Johnson, Jacksonville, Hyde Park, Enosburg Falls, Barton electrics, or Vermont and Washington Electric coops may participate in farms run by GMCS.
This is how it works: electric credits generated from any of GMCS’s solar farms may now be monetized by any Vermont resident, business or nonprofit who buys panels in one of its group off-site solar farms. These panel owners are compensated either through a monthly credit on their GMP account or now through direct payment, which can be applied by the panel owner to his or her electric utility bill.
“Making off-site group solar farms available to any Vermonter makes the solar tent larger and more inclusive. With the value of solar electric credits now being able to be assigned to any Vermonter, so many more residents, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations can share in the environmental and economic benefits of solar panel electric generation,” says Bruce Genereaux, resident of Norwich and manager of GMCS.
With one community solar farm in operation in Groton and two more scheduled for construction this summer, in Chester and Groton Timberworks, GMCS will be able to serve more Vermont residents and businesses.
A family from Bradford, VT, who signed up to go solar with GMCS commented, “After reviewing the economics of the Green Mountain Community Solar, it was a no-brainer for us. With the low-interest- rate “Energy Improvement Home Equity Loan” from VSECU, the income from the solar panels is enough to fully offset our loan payments. Then once the loan is paid off, the income from the solar panels comes straight to us and fully offsets our home energy use. Everything is guaranteed for 30 years and it’s maintained and managed by GMCS. Hopefully this deal with GMCS will encourage a lot of people to get off the fence and go solar.” VSECU is the Vermont State Employees Credit Union.
To learn more contact Bruce Genereaux at 802-588-2063. Solar@gmcommunitysolar.com www.gmcommunitysolar.com
Leave a Reply