News Briefs

GMP ranked high for energy storage

RUTLAND—Green Mountain Power earned top spots on Smart Electric Power Alliance’s annual energy storage rankings for 2016.

GMP ranked No.10 for the most storage installed in the country, with two megawatts in 2016. GMP also scored the No. 9 spot for most watts per customer in 2016. This is the first year SEPA looked at energy storage results. The 10th annual survey includes information from 412 utilities across the country.

GMP’s two megawatts of energy storage include the Stafford Hill Solar and Storage Facility in Rutland. It is one of the first micro-grids powered solely by solar and battery back-up, and was the first in the region to use battery storage to reduce peak power usage, benefiting customers by saving $200,000 in one hour. The battery storage can also be used to power an emergency shelter at Rutland High School.

GMP is also the first utility to partner with Tesla to offer customers home battery backup power with the Powerwall battery.

“This recognition is exciting for Vermont and the customers we serve, as it shows we are working together and leading the way toward a new energy system that is more home, business and community-based, and leverages innovations like battery storage to drive down costs for all customers while improving reliability,” said GMP President and CEO Mary Powell.

“At this pivotal moment in the U.S. energy transition, the industry leaders on this year’s Top 10 lists, like Green Mountain Power, will continue to be critical to the growth of solar, storage and other distributed energy resources on the grid,” said Smart Electric Power Alliance President and CEO Julia Hamm.

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