RUTLAND – Green Mountain Power is looking to help eight non-profit groups capture the sun to lower their energy costs and generate more clean, renewable energy for Vermont.
Green Mountain Power today announced that it is once again sponsoring a program to help eight non-profits construct solar arrays. The Vermont Public Service Board approved a GMP proposal to award eight matching grants of up to $20,000 each to non-profit groups all across Vermont, and GMP is encouraging organizations to apply.
“We are blessed to live in a state with a tremendous network on not-for-profit organizations that work hard each and every day to make Vermont better,” GMP President and CEO Mary Powell said. “This program allows us to support eight worthy non-profits by helping them reduce their energy costs and the impacts of their energy use. We will support the services they provide, strengthen the organizations’ financial bases and build more clean energy. I strongly encourage as many non-profits as possible to get involved and apply.”
The grant winners will be selected based on criteria that include availability of land or rooftop space suitable for an array, overall ability to publicly promote renewable energy, ease of electric system integration, impact of the proposed project on the applicant’s organization and community, and other sources of funding. The grant dollars must be matched by non-profit funds.
The program is identical to last year’s program, which provided grants to four Rutland City non-profit groups. This year, GMP is opening the program to any non-profit organization that GMP serves.
“We continue to work to make Rutland the Solar Capital of New England and encourage non-profits in Rutland to apply,” said GMP Vice President Steve Costello. “That said, as with a host of projects we are piloting in Rutland first, we are now excited to expand the reach of the effort to other communities as well.”
Michael Valentine, executive director of Peg-TV Rutland, which won a GMP grant last year and built a 9-kilowatt array, said the application process was simple, and he was guided through it step by step.
“The array has been living up to the expectations we had,” Valentine said. “It’s been performing well, and has made a big difference in our grid consumption and our bill. We are doing what we can to lessen our carbon footprint, and this has been a big help.”
Grant applicants will work in cooperation with partner organizations approved by Renewable Energy Vermont, and REV members will assist applicants with their entries and installation services.
GMP collaborated with a number of stakeholders, including representatives from REV, the Department of Public Service, the Conservation Law Foundation, and the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation in developing the contest and application materials.
For an application or more info about applying for a grant, non-profits should contact David Dunn at the GMP Energy Innovation Center at 353-1456 or email david.dunn@greenmountainpower.com.
