(Host) Vermont’s two largest electric utilities have won approval to buy power from a large wind project in northern New Hampshire.
The state Public Service Board has approved contracts between the utilities and Granite Reliable Wind, which plans a 99-megawatt project in Coos County, New Hampshire.
The wind development will provide about four percent of each utility’s annual energy needs.
Steve Costello is a spokesman for Central Vermont Public Service Corporation. He says the price remains confidential because the utilities are negotiating other power deals.
(Costello) "We think we’ve gotten a very, very good deal. The board was clearly pleased with the price we’re paying. It is far lower than some of the other types of renewables out publicly recently. The price we’re paying is way lower than that and very, very competitive with even some of non renewable projects that we’ve seen."
(Host) Granite Reliable Wind will put up 33 wind turbines. CVPS plans to buy 30% of the output, while Green Mountain power will buy 25%. The contracts are good for 20 years.