Vermont Coop Spends More than $7 Million on Damage from Ice Storm
Posted on Jan 24, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Rates | Comments Off on Vermont Coop Spends More than $7 Million on Damage from Ice Storm
Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) recently spent an unprecedented sum to repair damage caused by recent ice storms. While the cost is significant for a coop of VEC’s size, the coop’s goal is to find efficiencies and other ways to avoid rate increases. Another utility in Vermont recently announced a “storm surcharge” to cover its storm-related costs. Read more here.
Vermont Net Metering Program May Be Overhauled
Posted on Jan 21, 2014 in Climate Change, Environmental, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Vermont Net Metering Program May Be Overhauled
Vermont lawmakers are striving to raise the existing cap on the state’s net metering program to match the growing demand for residential renewable energy generation. A bill, approved by the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee last week, offers a fast-track solution ahead of larger changes expected when a federal solar tax credit expires, likely in 2017. The proposed bill...
New England Coops Recovering from Winter Storms
Posted on Jan 2, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure | Comments Off on New England Coops Recovering from Winter Storms
A Vermont Electric Cooperative representative said that the late December ice storms in the area will lead to its most expensive restoration effort ever, potentially topping $6.5 million in cost. Other Northeast coops are facing the same challenges; Maine had more than 3,200 customers without power on Christmas Eve. Progress is being made quickly as coop employees cooperate to make...
Vermont Coop to Build 5-MW Solar Project
Posted on Nov 12, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Vermont Coop to Build 5-MW Solar Project
The Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) is hoping to build the state’s largest utility-owned solar power project as part of a broader effort to help reduce the state’s dependence on fossil fuels. VEC is working with 14 other coops across the country on the 5-MW project in a first-of-its-kind initiative to make solar energy cost-competitive with other forms of electricity by the end of...
Vermont Net Metering Dispute Heats Up
Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Energy Savings Programs, Financing, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Vermont Net Metering Dispute Heats Up
Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) seeks to resume its net metering program after reaching the state’s 4% cap on mandatory net metering. VEC’s tariff proposal would adjust credits downward for new participants due to the rapid increase in demand and the decrease in prices associated with net metered solar energy systems. However, Renewable Energy Vermont opposes VEC’s proposal,...
Patronage Capital Returned for First Time
Posted on Sep 19, 2013 in Financing, Patronage Capital | Comments Off on Patronage Capital Returned for First Time
For the first time in its 75-year history, Vermont Electric Cooperative will return $850,000 to members who were with the coop during 1997 and 2012. Previously the coop would reinvest patronage capital in system upgrades or to fill capital requirements for power agreements. Click here for more information.
Coop Expresses Transmission Concerns with Wind Proposal
Posted on Aug 20, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Coop Expresses Transmission Concerns with Wind Proposal
BNE Energy, a Connecticut company, is seeking to develop a new six-turbine, 18-MW wind project adjacent to Green Mountain Power’s existing 21-turbine Kingdom Community wind project. Some are saying there is not enough available transmission for both. Vermont Electric Cooperative has weighed in on the subject, expressing concern that the new turbines would exacerbate the...
Wind Projects Cause Instability in Vermont Grid
Posted on Apr 9, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on Wind Projects Cause Instability in Vermont Grid
The CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) has indicated that the coop will oppose any new large wind projects in northern Vermont because existing wind projects have introduced instability in the grid, prompting grid operator ISO-New England to order existing wind projects in Vermont and New Hampshire to curtail electricity output. As a result, wind farm turbines are not being...
Vermont’s Second Largest Utility Seeks Moratorium on Renewable Energy Projects
Posted on Jan 2, 2013 in Corporate Governance, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Vermont’s Second Largest Utility Seeks Moratorium on Renewable Energy Projects
The board of directors of Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) has approved a resolution calling for a two-year moratorium on renewable energy projects following a large controversial wind project. VEC has several large wind projects in its portfolio, including the Lowell wind project, which has been the source of some complaints because of the noise created by the wind turbines. ...
Lowell Mountain Wind Project Survives Legal Challenge
Posted on Oct 22, 2012 in Climate Change, Environmental, Litigation, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on Lowell Mountain Wind Project Survives Legal Challenge
Green Mountain Power and Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc. can proceed with the construction of an industrial wind project on Lowell Mountain, as the Vermont Supreme Court has dismissed a legal challenge to the project. The 21-turbine Kingdom Community Wind project is due to come on line in December 2012. The project’s challengers, Lowell Mountains Group Inc. and the towns of Albany...
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