About The Program
The Vermont Small-Scale Wind Energy Demonstration Program is a product of a series of US Department of Energy (DOE) grants secured by Senator James Jeffords and administered by the Vermont Department of Public Service (DPS), with the goal of advancing wind energy in Vermont. To achieve this goal, the DPS provided funding for the installation of approximately 20 wind turbine systems at schools, municipal and state facilities, and agricultural sites around Vermont. Together the systems provide up to 200 kilowatts of clean and renewable energy into the local electric grid, while trimming electric bills and providing a valuable educational resource.
To better understand the performance of these wind turbine systems in Vermont's varied landscapes, the DPS asked Vermont Environmental Research Associates (VERA) to install performance monitoring equipment at all of these systems, and to monitor and analyze their performance. Monthly performance reports and raw data are available for viewing and downloading here.
A 2010 grant from the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) has extended the monitoring and maintenance of this program through June 2011.
Who's Involved
Vermont Dept of Public Service (DPS) Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF)
The Department of Public Service is an agency within the executive branch of Vermont state government. Its charge is to represent the public interest in matters regarding energy, telecommunications, water and wastewater. The DPS administers federal energy program grants as a means of representing the public interest in planning Vermont's energy future.
The Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund was established in 2005 to increase the development and deployment of cost-effective and environmentally sustainable electric power resources in Vermont. This Fund is administered by the DPS.
Vermont Environmental Research Associates (VERA)
VERA is a wind energy consulting firm located in Waterbury Center. VERA has over 20 years of local experience in wind resource assessment, wind turbine performance monitoring, project management, and public outreach.
Vermont Technical College (VTC)
Vermont Technical College is a public college offering associate and bachelor degree programs in more than 20 technical and related fields. One of five institutions in the Vermont State Colleges system, VTC is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and many individual programs are accredited by their professional accrediting bodies.
Other DPS Programs
Vermont Anemometry Loan Program (VTALP)
The Mechanical Engineering Department at Vermont Technical College (VTC), under direction from Associate Professor John Kidder, works with schools and farms to install temporary 30 meter wind measurement (MET) towers at select locations around the state. The MET towers allow for the measurement and verification of site-specific wind characteristics, and help those interested to assess the feasibility of generating wind energy at their site.
The Vermont Solar & Small Wind Incentive Program
VDPS released approximately $460,000 in incentives for qualifying small wind systems for individuals, businesses, schools, and municipalities in the Fall of 2005. The funds were administered by the Renewable Energy Resource Center (RERC), a project of the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC).
Wind Resource Mapping of Vermont's Counties
The wind resource maps of Vermont's counties created by Vermont Environmental Research Associates (VERA) are useful for landowners, planners, and government officials interested in gaining a better understanding of estimated wind speeds across Vermont.
Northern Champlain Valley Wind Resource Assessment
VERA coordinated the installation of a 40m MET tower at a private residence in Isle LaMotte, Grand Isle County, for the purposes of field verifying mapped wind resource estimates as well as providing the public with real-world wind data to use for planning and educational purposes. Data from the MET tower is available here .