GMP solar project goes on line
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By Bruce Edwards Herald Staff - Published: January 22, 2009
Green Mountain Power Corp. continues to put its commitment to solar energy into practice, completing a renewable energy project that provides a large chunk of electricity for its Westminster service center.
GMP's 300-solar panel system is capable of generating 58 kilowatts of power, enough power to provide 80 percent of the annual electricity needs for its Westminster building.
The project was carried out in collaboration with groSolar, a White River Junction-based solar energy company.
GMP spokeswoman Dorothy Schnure said Wednesday when the company relocated its service center from Bellows Falls to a vacant building in Westminster last year the company had two objectives in mind.
"What we did is, we went in and renovated that building and there were two really important goals we had in renovation, one was to make sure it was very energy efficient and the other was to incorporate renewable energy into it," Schnure said.
The Westminster service center includes energy-efficient lighting control timers and occupancy sensors, low-flow water fixtures, Energy Star windows and a heat reflecting roof. The building was also renovated to allow as much daylight in as possible.
Schnure said half the $468,000 cost of the solar project came from a state Clean Air Development Fund grant.
Initially, the solar-energy system was projected to supply two-thirds of the building's power needs. But Schnure said because the building is so energy efficient solar power is expected to supply 80 percent of the service center's electricity.
She said the solar panels are mounted on the ground to keep a low profile with each three-panel array 8 feet high.
A total of seven employees, line workers and meter readers, operate out of the Westminster location.
Last year, GMP hired groSolar (groSolar.com) to install a 4-kilowatt solar power system at the company's Colchester headquarters. The system is used to power two Toyota Prius that GMP converted into plug-in hybrids.
Last summer, the company also launched Solar GMP, which pays customers for solar power generated at a home or business at a premium of 4 cents above the retail rate normally paid.
The Westminster project is the second-largest solar power system in the state. The largest is a 73-killowatt system of 418 panels installed last year at National Life Group's Montpelier headquarters.
Kelli Pippin, a spokeswoman for groSolar, said in terms of power output the Westminster project falls in the middle. She said the company recently completed a 1.1-megawatt project in Southern California.
With a growing emphasis on renewable energy, Pippin said there are federal and state tax credits available for solar projects. She said the federal investment tax credit covers up to 30 percent of the cost of a project.
Headquartered in White River Junction, groSolar is a North American distributor, installer and integrator of solar energy systems for residential and commercial use.
Green Mountain Power is the second-largest electric company in the state with approximately 94,000 customers.
Contact Bruce Edwards at bruce.edwards@rutlandherald.com.
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