Green Mountain Power Corp. announced it is providing $15,000 in matching funds to Barre, Vt., to study the feasibility of generating electricity from micro-hydro sources, including the municipal water system.
Barre is a customer of Green Mountain Power, a Vermont-based energy services company serving 90,000 customers. Green Mountain also owns four federally licensed hydroelectric projects.
Green Mountain Power did not say what generating capacities would be examined in the city’s study.
Barre also received a $16,700 grant from the Vermont Community Development Program to do a feasibility study of potential low-impact hydroelectric sites in Barre that are typical of potential opportunities elsewhere in Vermont and New England. In addition to examining site feasibility, the study will focus on the best method to finance development.
Green Mountain Power’s contribution is supported by funds from the sale of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant to Entergy in 2001. As a condition of the sale of the plant to Entergy, the Vermont Public Service Board required the funds to be targeted to renewable projects that benefit Green Mountain Power customers.
