More Than 600 People Visited the Wind Farm to Learn About Local Energy Generation
COLCHESTER, VT… Green Mountain Power has wrapped up its fourth summer of public tours at Kingdom Community Wind in Lowell. Each summer since the project came online, the Company has invited visitors and Vermonters alike to tour the working wind farm.
“It is such a pleasure to make Kingdom Community Wind accessible to the public and help connect people to how their power is generated,” said Dorothy Schnure, Green Mountain Power spokesperson, who is also a frequent tour guide. “Folks are very impressed with the work we have done to build and maintain the site to high environmental standards and really appreciate the fact that it puts renewable energy on the New England grid.”
Green Mountain Power offers the free tours once a week during the summer months. This year more than 600 people visited from all around Vermont, including several school groups, as well as from across the country and Canada. The addition of tourists benefits the local economy, from local bed and breakfasts to restaurants.
Visitors are appreciative of the unique opportunity to see the project up close and learn how wind energy is generated. Sharon Worthyson, of Greenfield Park, Quebec, said, “It was a wonderful experience from beginning to end.” Andree Duhaime, of Rouses Point, NY, said she liked “The site, the presentation, the environmental concerns, the respect of nature, the passion of the staff.”
Kingdom Community Wind produces approximately 186,000 MWH of electricity annually or the equivalent of enough electricity to power more than 24,000 homes each year. Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from the project are sold and provide renewable power to other states. The proceeds benefit customers by helping to keep rates low and stable. The project itself is strongly supported by the community. In two town votes the residents of Lowell have supported the wind project with the latest vote showing 80% support. Green Mountain Power believes strongly in having the support of local communities before building a project of this kind. Green Mountain Power also shares in the success of the project making annual payments to five neighboring communities based on the energy generation at Kingdom Community Wind.
The weekly tours are conducted during June, July and August and will resume next June. Registration is required as space is limited and will be available on GMP’s website starting next May.
About Green Mountain Power:
Green Mountain Power (GMP) serves approximately 265,000 residential and business customers in Vermont and has a vision to be the best small company in America by partnering with Vermonters to improve lives and transform communities. GMP is focused on a new way of doing business to meet the needs of customers with integrated energy services that help people use less energy and save money, while continuing to generate clean, cost-effective and reliable power in Vermont. GMP is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. In 2014, Vote Solar named GMP a Solar Champion. More information at: greenmountainpower.com. Connect with GMP on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Dorothy Schnure
Green Mountain Power
802-655-8418
[email protected]