Vermont's Burlington Electric Department Acquires Winooski One Hydroelectric Plant

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Burlington Electric Department (Burlington, Vermont) now owns the Winooski One Hydroelectric Facility on the Winooski River, a long-awaited step toward renewable energy that was approved by voters in March.

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With the acquisition, Burlington Electric Department now owns or contracts for renewable sources that are equivalent to all the city's energy needs.

The utility will source about one-third of its power from the wood-fuelled Joseph C. McNeil power station, one-third from wind-energy contracts, and one-third from the Winooski One and Hydro-Quebec hydroelectric facilities.

The purchase will not prompt a rate increase, because payments for the Winooski One bonds cost as much as what the utility used to pay for the same amount of power on the open market.

When the bonds are paid off in about 20 years, the utility will see cost savings.

The privately owned, 7.4-megawatt hydro plant began operations in 1993, and Burlington Electric Department has had a contractual right to buy it since last year.

In March, Burlington voters approved a $12 million bond that contributed toward the $16 million purchase price.

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