Vermont’s largest utility has unveiled a map that shows where local energy projects could strain the electrical grid in the future and hopes developers will use the tool to decide where to site their projects.
Green Mountain Power, which provides electricity to about three-quarters of Vermonters and virtually everyone who lives south of Interstate 89, unveiled the map Monday morning in a news release.
The map shows three regions of Vermont that are considered “poor” options for new connections: an area of Addison County that includes New Haven, an area of Rutland County near Clarendon and an area that stretches from Hartland in Windsor County to Strafford in Orange County.
The map is available here.
“What it means is that we have received applications for new solar projects that are starting to approach capacity of the substation – in addition to what is connected,” Kristin Carlson, the spokesperson for Green Mountain Power, said in an email.
“There is no current strain on the grid,” Carlson said. “The goal of the map is to show developers and Vermonters where there are projects both connected and applied for that may limit the ability of additional projects.”
Green Mountain Power released this information on the heels of announcing it will reach its net-metering cap in November or December. That means the utility will be legally allowed to reject net-metered energy, such as from home solar arrays. However, the company still plans to accept some projects, such as rooftop solar arrays.
