STOWE, Vt. (WCAX) – The community of Stowe is celebrating millions of dollars coming their way aimed at spurring renewable energy and making the local grid more resilient to extreme weather.
There was a celebration of clean energy in Stowe on Monday as state and local leaders highlighted $6 million coming to Vermont from the Inflation Reduction Act to bolster renewable energy.
“If we can take the upfront costs off, then in the long run we will make sure people pass less on their utility bills,” said Andy Berge, the rural utilities service director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
With just 4,500 ratepayers, making costly upgrades to Stowe Electric’s grid and infrastructure can be out of reach. So in the coming years, a section of the Little River along Moscow Road in Stowe will soon be home to a new hydroelectric facility.
With hardened sub-transmission lines and a battery backup creating power for 115 Lamoille County homes and creating energy credits for low-income households.
“Implementation of these projects will help prepare Stowe Electric for an equitable clean energy transition for all members of our community,” said Jackie Pratt of the Stowe Electric Department.
The investment in renewable energy comes on the heels of a sweeping energy bill passed this session over the objections of Gov. Phil Scott requiring Vermont to source all of its power from renewables by 2030.
Vermont Sen. Peter Welch says clean energy projects are getting more affordable by the day.
“If folks at the end of the month can’t pay their bills, they can’t have that as an option. The more we can do to implement that in community after community, the more affordable it’s going to be for everyone,” said Welch, D-Vermont. “It’s important, but it is one project at a time.”
The money is from the Powering Affordable Clean Energy or PACE program that promotes clean, affordable and reliable energy.
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