[R]UTLAND — Green Mountain Power announced Tuesday that Rutland is the solar capital of New England.
Rutland, with a population of about 16,000, now has 7.87 megawatts of solar electric power from 38 projects in the city. The projects range from less than 1 kilowatt to 2,500 kilowatts and serve more than 100 people and businesses.
The city exceeded its 2012 goal of 6.25 megawatts of solar by 2017, and Green Mountain Power says Rutland is now generating more solar power per capita than any other municipality in New England.
Green Mountain Power made the announcement at a solar-powered home in Rutland. Attendees included U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., Gov. Peter Shumlin, local aldermen, state representatives and dozens of people who work in the energy industry.
Mayor Chris Louras said he values solar in part because it makes the city more resilient in the event of a power outage caused by a natural disaster.
In September 2014, the city, Green Mountain Power and groSolar built a 2.5-megawatt project on a former landfill on Gleason Road, just behind the Rutland High School football field.
The array has 7,700 panels and batteries that can store 4 megawatts of energy. In the event of an emergency, the city can use the battery-stored energy to power Rutland High, which served as an emergency shelter during Tropical Storm Irene.
Mary Powell, the president and chief executive officer of Green Mountain Power, said the solar projects that brought Rutland over the goal were built through collaboration among government, community organizations and Green Mountain Power.
“I would say none of [this achievement] is attributable to the three-phase power that runs down Route 7,” Powell said. “I think this is really a Vermont-driven culture.”
Green Mountain Power’s push to make Rutland a model solar city was part of a merger agreement submitted to the Public Service Board in 2012 when the power company absorbed Central Vermont Public Service, the state’s second largest utility, based in Rutland Town. At the time, there were concerns about job losses associated with the merger.
The company promised to recruit solar developers and “encourage developers to open local offices here, hire local labor, and make long-term commitments to Rutland’s downtown area.”
The downtown area’s street-level offices surpassed 90 percent occupancy in 2014, and won acclaim for two locally owned women’s clothing stores. Business offices now include solar developers such as SunCommon, SameSun, groSolar, and NRG Energy, a Fortune 500 company.
“Businesses are basically taking advantage of the resurgence and enthusiasm about Rutland and coupling that with saving on energy costs,” said Tom Donohue, chief executive officer of the Rutland Regional Chamber of Commerce. “It’s more about the solar product right now and more about the industry.”
Most of the energy being produced as part of the 7.87-megawatt total comes from nonresidential projects, including Green Mountain Power, city-owned projects and panels that serve large institutions, such as the College of St. Joseph and the Rutland Regional Medical Center.
There are a handful of residential roof-mounted arrays, including the home of Robert and Janet McClallen, who hosted Tuesday’s news conference. Residential customers also benefit from the West Rutland-based NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, which performs $100 energy audits that often end with homeowners weatherizing and installing solar.
NRG Energy built the first group net-metered solar array in the country in Rutland in 2014 for residents who could not afford to install solar on their roofs. The 150-kilowatt array now serves 50 customers, including Louras, who save $5 per month on Green Mountain Power electric bills.
