Educational Program on Vermont's Electrical Grid
Program features presentation on CVPS SmartPower, net metering, high efficiency heat pumps, and House Bill H.56
Middlebury, VT, October 6, 2011 - Acorn Renewable Energy Co-op and Addison County Regional Planning Commission will be presenting a program on "Vermont's Electrical Grid" on Wednesday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ilsley Library Community Room, 75 Main Street (rear entrance) in Middlebury. The two-hour presentation and discussion will feature Bruce Bentley, Director of Integrated Planning and Regional Transmission at CVPS, speaking about his company's SmartPower and Net Metering Programs, as well as high efficiency heat pumps and House Bill H.56, which will fund renewable energy projects in Vermont.
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| CVPS's SmartPower meters to be installed in Addison County next summer |
SmartPower is CVPS's "smart grid" solution to modernizing and automating the electric grid. The upgrades will be implemented in Addison County in the Summer of 2012. CVPS SmartPower is part of a nationwide initiative that is taking advantage of federal funding to bring our current electric grid up to date with today's smarter, more reliable technologies. The new electric system will better incorporate all electric generation and energy storage options. It will provide the data needed to more easily integrate these options, increasing the potential for the development of wind, solar and other renewable resources, and leaving us less dependent on any one form of energy. It will also be able to better accommodate the energy needs of Vermonters who drive plug-in hybrid electric cars.
SmartPowerwill provide customers with usage information and pricing options so they can choose how and when to use energy in more convenient, efficient and affordable ways. SmartPowerwill let CVPS know immediately when an outage or problem occurs, which will enable rapid response, facilitate coordination of resources, and reduce outage frequency and duration. In some cases, they may even be able to identify a problem and correct it before an outage occurs. Bentley will be available to answer questions about the SmartPower and Net Metering Programs and what they can do to reduce energy consumption and help Vermonters convert to renewable energy technologies.
The Co-op has also scheduled a program on Sustainable Transportation Alternatives on Wednesday, November 10 and another on Vermont's Transportation Infrastructure on Wednesday, December 8, also at the Ilsley Public Library. Visit our website for details: www.acornenergycoop.com.
The Acorn Renewable Energy Co-op is a member-owned cooperative serving residents and businesses in Addison, Rutland, and Chittenden counties. The Co-op provides education, outreach, services, and products that help members of area communities take steps to make the transition from our present reliance on fossil fuels to greater use of renewables and local solutions. Members pay $35 annually and receive discounts from affiliates and partners on energy products and services. For more information, or to join the Acorn Renewable Energy Co-op please visit www.acornenergycoop.com or call 802-385-1911.
The Addison County Regional Planning Commission (ACRPC) works to provide a forum for towns to discuss and resolve mutual concerns regarding planning. They assist towns with the planning process and energy initiatives. For more information, visit www.acrpc.org or call 802-388-3141.
This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE-EE0000859.
The Acorn Energy Co-op Team
