Georgia Wind Turbines Produce 1M KWH in one week

[Chris Santee]

Georgia Mt. Community Wind produces 1 million kWh in single week

Milton/Georgia, Vermont, USA ... The Georgia Mountain Community Wind farm (GMCW), which completed construction December 31, produced more than 1,000,000 kWh in a single week .

During the first week in April, the community wind farm operated at a 63.7 % capacity factor, producing enough energy to meet 17 percent of the City of Burlington's entire electricity needs.

GMCW will produce an estimated 27 million kWh annually.

The project is owned by two local business leaders and life-long Vermonters: renewable energy manufacturer and developer David Blittersdorf and Georgia Mountain Maples operator Jim Harrison/the Harrison Family. 

The energy from the project in Milton and Georgia Vermont is providing approximately 8 percent of Burlington Electric Department’s (BED) energy demand through a long-term stably priced contract.

When the project was commissioned late 2012, Burlington Electric Department General Manager Barbara Grimes commented, “This project fits perfectly into BED’s sustainability goals. We are moving toward a 100 percent renewable power portfolio, and we like power close to home so that these dollars recirculate in the economy.  Projects such as Georgia Mountain Community Wind are pro-environment and pro-economy.”

More information can be found at www.georgiamountainwind.com

[lena6]

Ok, so how is this helping me?

[7F24]

No smoke?

[nhibbard]

That's pretty impressive for 4 towers. Wonder how many solar panels would get the same. I'm glad clear numbers are released, makes it more interesting.

[mkr]

That is really cool. Good to see the numbers I agree!

[Razzle Dazzle]

Ok, so how is this helping me?

Not sure Lena, but I don't think it does anything for us outside of the Burlington Electric Company.

All of the output of GMCW is going to Burlington Electric Department customers through a long-term stably priced power purchase agreement and is meeting the needs of more than 4,200 average Vermont households.

Maybe we need one closer? To help us with our power prices?

[cedarman]

"how is this helping me?"

I guess the same question could be asked when ANY company/business is making a profit and YOU don't work/benefit from them

[Norton]

Burlington Electric Dept isn't making a profit.  They are a municipal entity, owned by the people of Burlington.  You could call them a socialist utility.

The windmills don't benefit us in Fairfax directly, but the environmental benefit is shared among all of us who like to breathe and have clean water for our grandchildren.  And the power that BED doesn't buy elsewhere is power that our utility might buy slightly cheaper because there is less demand for it.  And any additional generation in our area is usually good because (at least over the long haul) it means fewer large-scale transmission lines.  There is something to be said for having capacity in state, even if not all of it serves us here in town.

But I still get what you say, Lena.  I'm on the same street as you and they seem very close.  Can't help but wonder why none of the juice can come this way.

[nhibbard]

BED is nonprofit but the employees aren't. Check out their salaries in the Burlington Annual Report.

[Trekr]

I have always wondered if the Fairfax dam could be retrofitted to produce more power. Hydro power must have more potential than wind. Just a thought

[woodstoves2]

I am under the impression the Fairfax Dam's power was to be used for an electric trolley to St Albans, but that project  fell through and the power was shunted off to Massachusetts, much the way Georgia Mtn wind power heads to BED. It's a private deal following the money.

[trussell]

...and doesn't the town of Fairfax receive property taxes on the dam?  I always assumed we did but now I'm wondering...

[Stand Alone Defense]

Enosburg has the right idea, they still own their dam and have an electric department to produce their own electricity.  My bill was around 25 bucks a month when I lived there and you pay it right to the town.

[nhibbard]

Where's our trolley?

[nancyd]

Interesting....Burlington gets the benefit, and we get the view....let's see what it does for our property values.