U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Vermont public power utility Stowe Electric Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development recently celebrated the awarding of $6 million in federal funding to support energy initiatives in Stowe, Vermont.
This funding, from the USDA’s Powering Affordable Clean Energy program, “will strengthen rural communities by expanding access to clean, renewable energy,” Stowe Electric Department said.
The $6 million investment is part of the USDA’s $1 billion allocation for rural energy initiatives, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act. The PACE program is the largest rural electrification investment since the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
Stowe Electric, which serves over 4,600 customers in central Vermont, including rural households and businesses, will use this funding to upgrade its electric grid and enhance access to renewable energy sources.
“We are so excited and grateful for the opportunity this funding provides to the Stowe community,” said Jackie Pratt, General Manager of Stowe Electric. “The USDA PACE award will enable Stowe Electric to make critical infrastructure upgrades while minimizing out-of-pocket costs for our ratepayers. Implementation of these projects will help prepare Stowe Electric to support an equitable clean energy transition for all members of our community.”
How the Funding Will Be Used
A portion of the funding will go towards a variety of critical infrastructure projects aimed at improving the resiliency, reliability, and sustainability of the electric grid in central Vermont.
Notable projects include:
- Express Circuit: This project will provide redundancy for supplying service to Mountain Rd. in the event of an outage on Stowe Electric's sub-transmission line. It will improve system resiliency and restoration times and allow SED staff to make future repairs and improvements to the sub-transmission line without interrupting service.
- Distribution Automation Loop Feed: This upgrade will implement automated switching technology to enhance the resiliency of the electric grid and improve restoration times in the event of an outage. It will also provide more robust infrastructure to support Stowe High School, which serves as an emergency shelter.
- Weeks Hill to Percy Hill 3-Phase: This project will replace aging infrastructure and enable a loop feed system that improves resiliency and speeds up restoration times.
- Emergency Operations Center: The funding will help renovate the "millwright's office" at Stowe Electric’s headquarters to house an emergency operations center, office space, and hydro facility controls, ensuring the utility can quickly respond to any service disruptions or emergencies.
- Moscow Mills Solar: This investment will support renewable energy generation at Stowe Electric’s headquarters, contributing to the utility’s efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
- Smith’s Falls Hydro: This project will involve micro-hydro generation and dam restoration at Stowe Electric’s headquarters, aligning with Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard and facilitating local, renewable energy generation. This renewable generation resource will provide on-bill credits for low income customers. Dam upgrades will also enhance flood response capabilities in Moscow Village.
- Mountain Line Hardening and Undergrounding: Funding will improve resiliency of a 34.5kV sub-transmission line and high-density areas of the community. This project will help shorten restoration times and foster economic development.
The $6 million award “is a significant step forward in supporting the future of energy in Vermont. For residents and businesses in Stowe and surrounding areas, these upgrades will improve the reliability and resilience of the electric grid, reduce energy costs, and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future,” the utility said.
“By supporting projects like renewable energy generation at Stowe Electric Department’s headquarters and enhancing emergency preparedness, this funding helps ensure that the Stowe community -- and Vermont as a whole -- is better prepared for the challenges posed by climate change and increasing energy demands,” it said.
The investments “are not just about improving infrastructure -- they are about creating a more resilient, and equitable energy system for all Vermonters. The USDA's support of Stowe Electric Department through the PACE program is a crucial step in achieving Vermont’s clean energy goals, promoting local renewable energy generation, and helping rural communities thrive in the face of a changing energy landscape.”
