AllEarth Renewables proposes new Vermont solar farm

[jpak]

http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2012/04/16/daily8-AllEarth-Renewables-proposes-new-Vermont-solar-farm.html

Pending approval from the city and the state, Williston, Vt.-based solar manufacturer AllEarth Renewables will build a 150 kilowatt solar farm on city-owned land in Rutland, Vt.

The proposed farm, announced Monday by Rutland Mayor Christopher Louras, would save the city about 5 percent a year - about $2,000 a year - on electricity for Rutland City Hall, Jeffords Amtrak Station, and a portion of Giorgetti Arena. Louras told Mass High tech that while the monetary savings is important, the project is also intended to show the city’s commitment to alternative energy innovation in anticipation of Green Mountain Power Corp.’s proposed Energy Innovation Center, to be located in Rutland.

Green Mountain Power has committed to bringing its Solar City initiative to Rutland as part of its merger with Central Vermont Public Service Corp. The initiative and the planned Innovation Center are part of an agreement that will help preserve jobs in Rutland during the merger.

The project will be built on land known in town as the “old poor farm” - land designated during the Great Depression for migrant farmers to live and work. The land is now used as a municipal tree nursery and for community gardens, both of which will remain after the solar farm is built.

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