Green Mountain Power was just named as part of a select group in the country that connected the most storage to the grid in 2016, earning a spot on the annual Top 10 lists compiled by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA).
GMP ranked No. 10 on the Energy Storage Rankings for the most storage installed in the country, with 2 megawatts in 2016. GMP also scored the No. 9 spot on the energy storage list for most watts per customers in 2016.
"This recognition is exciting for Vermont and the customers we serve, as it shows we are working together and leading the way toward a new energy system that is more home, business and community-based, and leverages innovations like battery storage to drive down costs for all customers while improving reliability," said GMP President and CEO Mary Powell. "Combining solar and battery storage is a game changer and opens up so many possibilities for customers. It can be used during outages to keep the lights on and to help reduce peak energy demand, directly reducing costs for customers."
GMP's 2 MWs of energy storage include the Stafford Hill Solar and Storage Facility in Rutland. It is one of the first micro-grids powered solely by solar and battery back-up, and was the first in the region to use battery storage to reduce peak power usage, benefiting customers by saving $200,000 in one hour. The battery storage can also be used to power an emergency shelter at Rutland High School.
GMP is also the first utility to partner with Tesla to offer customers home battery backup power with the Powerwall battery.
"At this pivotal moment in the U.S. energy transition, the industry leaders on this year's Top 10 lists, like Green Mountain Power, will continue to be critical to the growth of solar, storage and other distributed energy resources on the grid," said SEPA President and CEO Julia Hamm.
This is the first year SEPA looked at energy storage results. The 10th annual survey includes information from 412 utilities across the country. The full Top 10 listings are available online at www.sepatop10.org.
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About Green Mountain Power:
Green Mountain Power (GMP) serves approximately 265,000 residential and business customers in Vermont and is partnering with Vermonters to improve lives and transform communities. GMP is focused on a new way of doing business to meet the needs of customers with integrated energy services that help people use less energy and save money, while continuing to generate clean, cost-effective and reliable power in Vermont. GMP is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. In 2014, Vote Solar named GMP a Solar Champion. More information at: www.greenmountainpower.com. Connect with GMP on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @GreenMtnPower.
About SEPA
The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is an educational nonprofit working to facilitate the utility industry's transition to a clean energy future through education, research and collaboration. SEPA offers a range of research initiatives and resources, as well as conferences, educational events and professional networking opportunities. SEPA is founder and co-sponsor of Solar Power International and winner of the Keystone Policy Center's 2016 Leadership in Energy Award. For more information, visit www.sepapower.org.
Contact:
Kristin Carlson
Green Mountain Power
802-229-8200
K Kaufmann
Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA)
kkaufmann@sepapower.org
202-379-1637
