FileRUTLAND, Vt. -
Plans to make the city of Rutland Vermont's solar capital are heating up.
A former Rutland landfill could be the future home of the largest solar installation in Rutland.
"We are very hopeful that this could be a model for other communities on how to make a better use of existing landfills in other communities," said Green Mountain Power's Steve Costello.
In exchange for the city's endorsement of the Green Mountain Power - CVPS merger, GMP promised to make Rutland the solar capital of Vermont.
If approved by the city's Board of Alderman, it would be the second project of many still to come, to fulfill that promise.
"It's a piece of property which is sitting really -- foul right now -- not being used for anything, so on those particular kinds of sites we think it would be advantageous," said Dave Allaire, a Rutland Alderman.
Unlike the first solar project in the city that will soon be built on land GMP already owns, the utility proposes leasing the landfill for 25 years.
"I think I can say that we have made an offer that we think is both fair to our customers, who will ultimately pay for the project and to the City of Rutland, that they'll receive benefits that will be substantial over the life of the contract," Costello said.
Though neither the city nor Costello would comment on the terms of the proposed contract, which is still under review, Costello said it would be a multi-million dollar investment and produce significantly more energy than the first. "The Creek Path project is 150 Kilowatt project. This is a 2 megawatt project and maybe a little bit bigger than that. We're still in the process of determining exactly the size of it, but it will be in the 2 megawatt range," Costello said.
That means on a perfect day, the project could produce enough power for 2-thousand homes. The Board of Alderman are expected to vote on the proposal November 1st.
