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See how the future is cleaner
GMP is committed to maintaining Vermont’s status as one of the states with the lowest carbon footprint. As part of that goal, GMP has made a serious investment in developing wind power as a component of its energy supply. Two examples of that investment can be seen in our Searsburg Wind Facility, and the ongoing development of the Kingdom Community Wind project in Lowell, Vermont.
Searsburg Wind Facility
The wind turbines at the Searsburg power plant provide 6-megwatts of emissions-free, renewable energy; enough to power about 2,000 households. It also serves as an education resource for wind generation in cold climates and environmentally sensitive regions.
GMP began prospecting for potential wind turbine sites in the late 1970s. After screening hundreds of sites in Vermont and Massachusetts, GMP selected the Searsburg site for its strong winds and proximity to existing access roads and transmission lines. When construction was completed in 1997, Searsburg became the largest wind power facility in the eastern part of the United States.
Since it began producing power, Searsburg has become a hub for research and analyses for how to optimize electricity production with wind turbines in cold climates. Educators, industry representatives, and other organizations from around the nation have come to Searsburg to learn about developing and operating a wind energy station in a harsh winter environment.
Every year we offer several free public tours of the Searsburg wind facility, to give the public a chance to learn more about Vermont's most abundant renewable resource and the amazing technology we use to harness the wind. To minimize impact to bear habitat, most site visits are held between July 15 and October 15. There is also an early spring tour and an "education" tour in early June. To arrange a tour, visit http://www.northeastwind.com/tours.
Thanks, Searsburg!
The interest and support of the people of Searsburg and the surrounding communities were essential for the success of this project. We thank them for welcoming us in to their community.
Kingdom Community Wind
Working together with Vermont Electric Co-op, GMP has built 21 wind turbines along the ridgeline of the Lowell Mountain range. This location not only offers a reliable source of wind, but also the necessary infrastructure to bring the turbines online. Add in the fact that the entire project is utilizing the services and labor of Vermonters in the area, and is contributing to the revenues of the local communities, and you can see why the Kingdom Community Wind project is a great idea. On top of all that are benefits like more stability in the price of electricity, less reliance on out-of-state sources of energy, and the reduction of an estimated 75,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year in our air. Put all these things together and this investment starts to seem like a wonderful, forward-thinking idea. For for information about Kingdom Community Wind, visit our FAQs.
