Wind power in Vermont

In 2016, Wind power in Vermont consisted of 119 megawatts (MW) of operational wind farms, responsible for 15.4% of in-state electricity generation.[1] Together these wind projects were estimated to meet the electrical needs of approximately 56,000 average Vermont households (approximately the size of Windsor County).[2] In 2019, the capacity increased to 149 MW, generating 17.5% of Vermont's electricity in that year.[3]

Deerfield
East Haven
Eden Wind
Georgia Mountain
Grandpa's Knob
Grandview
Kingdom
Ricker Mountain
Searsburg
Sheffield
Wind power projects in Vermont
  Operating
  Proposed
1941 wind turbine on Grandpa's Knob
Vermont wind resources

The first megawatt turbine in the world was installed at Grandpa's Knob, in Vermont, in 1941.[4]

Wind farms
NameCapacity
(MW)		Location
(county)		Status
Deerfield30Bennington CountyOnline since Jan 2018
East Haven7.5Essex CountyProposed
Eden Wind15Lamoille CountyProposed
Georgia Mountain10Chittenden County
Franklin County		Operating
Grandpa's Knob45Rutland CountyProposed
Grandview Farm2.2Orleans CountyProposed
Kingdom Community63Orleans CountyOperating
Ricker Mountain4Chittenden CountyProposed
Searsburg  6Bennington CountyOperating
Sheffield40Caledonia CountyOperating
Total:192.7  

The 6 MW Searsburg Wind Farm has operated since 1997. The 550-kilowatt turbines provide enough electricity to meet the needs of 1,600 average Vermont households.[2]

Sheffield Wind Farm is a 40 MW wind farm operating in Sheffield owned by First Wind.[5]

The 63 MW Kingdom Community Wind Farm is operational on Lowell Mountains ridge in Lowell, owned by Green Mountain Power (GMP) and Vermont Electric Co-op (VEC).[6] Costing $156 million,[7] the 21-turbine project began construction in September 2011, with completion expected by the end of 2012.[8][9]

Georgia Mountain Community Wind Project is a 4-turbine, 10-megawatt wind project on Georgia Mountain in the towns of Georgia and Milton.[10] It is owned by a Vermont family and the power is being sold to the Burlington Electric Department.[11] It was completed in December 2012. The project’s 4 wind turbines will provide enough electricity to meet the needs of 4,200 average Vermont households.[2]

Small wind turbines

Several 100 kW wind turbines manufactured by a Vermont company have been installed or planned at locations in the state, including Heritage Aviation, Bolton Ski Area, Dynapower, Rock of Ages, Burke Mountain, and the Lake Champlain Ferry at South Hero. Smaller wind turbines for residential use are also located throughout Vermont.[2]

Generation
Total wind generation by year[3]
YearGWh
200112.1
200210.3
200310.8
200411.3
200511.5
200610.7
200710.5
200810.2
200911.6
201013.9
201133.2
2012106.9
2013236
2014311.3
2015325.3
2016291.2
2017305.4
2018373.3
2019384

Proposals

The 30 MW Deerfield Wind Project is a proposed wind farm set to be located in Searsburg and Readsboro, and to include 15 turbines. It is estimated to provide enough electricity to meet the needs of 13,000 average Vermont households, and that it will create approximately 250 jobs during its construction and 9 when it starts operating. It is expected to contribute $10 million in state Education Fund revenues over its 20-year life.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Vermont Wind Energy" (PDF). U.S. Wind Energy State Facts. American Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  2. NRG Systems. "Wind in Vermont".
  4. Efficieny Vermont: Wind Energy
  5. "Welcome to Sheffield Wind". First Wind. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  6. "Kingdom Community Wind". Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  7. Gram, Dave (September 29, 2011). "Anti-wind occupation begins on Vt. Lowell Mountain". Associated Press (AP). Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  8. "Construction begins on 63MW wind farm in Vermont". BrighterEnergy.com. September 12, 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  9. Smith, Robin (October 4, 2011). "Lowell Wind Road Construction Continues". Orleans County Record. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  10. "Where Are We?". Georgia Mountain Community Wind. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  11. "What Are We?". Georgia Mountain Community Wind. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
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