Essex Junction, Vermont - July 20, 2011
Three utility powerhouses in Vermont are banding together to improve services and lower costs.
Green Mountain Power, Central Vermont Public Service Corporation and Vermont Telephone company have agreed to share VTel's technology. GMP was planning to build a duplicate network, so this partnership will allow the utility to cut its project costs in half. The savings will allow the utility to help expand VTel's network while passing on lower rates to customers.
Gov. Peter Shumlin calls this collaboration a marriage that will move Vermont forward by giving the state more control over energy consumption, expand broadband access and create jobs.
"Our providers are working together with the ARRA money that was given to us to make this happen to ensure that they're using the same technology, that they're partnering with each other so that we spend those dollars right and deliver on our vision of high-speed internet access and to every single home in this great state," said Shumlin, D-Vermont.
This push is part of the governor's promise to reduce Vermont's dependence on oil and fossil fuels while simultaneously delivering broadband statewide by 2013. The project is being paid for with federal stimulus money.
Jennifer Reading - WCAX News
