Barre to consider "micro-hydro" power facilities
BARRE, Vt. (The Associated Press) - May 8
 

    The city plans to study the viability of generating electricity from water.

    A $16,700 state grant and a $15,000 donation from Green Mountain Power Co. will cover most of the cost of the study. The city needs to raise several thousand dollars more.

    "I think it is fair to say we are now within range," said Mayor Peter Anthony. The city will "have to put some money on the table," he said.

    The study will investigate the best hydroelectric sites that Barre owns or oversees.

    David O'Brien, commissioner of the state Department of Public Service, praised the city's search for a new source of power.

    "This is a classic example of Vermont ingenuity, harnessing the flow of water through water mains to generate electricity," O'Brien said.

    "Like farm methane and landfill methane generation, we are looking for new, creative ways to generate electricity," he said. "While these sources will not become a dominant part of our power mix, they certainly can play a contributing role."

    GMP had plan to provide $5,000 for the study, but when the city needed more money, the utility raised its contribution to $15,000.

    "We are pleased that we can help ... one of our largest customers with this exciting project," said Chris Dutton, president and chief executive officer for GMP.

    Dutton said the Barre study will offer information about "micro-hydro" production.

    "In light of the challenges we face in finding new generation to satisfy Vermont's future energy needs, it is important to find new and cost-effective ways to generate electricity," he said. "We are interested in learning from the Barre study whether there are other opportunities across Vermont to harness electricity from potential micro-hydro sites."

    The city would either produce most of its own power or sell the electricity to utilities.

    Anthony has suggested that the power be used to draw business to Barre by offering low-cost electricity.

    "If the captured energy is in the neighborhood we've been talking about that could be a possibility," he said.