Celebrating Local Energy & Local Jobs
The Project
The 10 megawatt, 4-turbine Georgia Mountain Community Wind (GMCW) wind farm spans the border between Chittenden and Franklin counties. Two of the 2.5 megawatt wind turbines are in Milton and two are in Georgia, Vermont along the 3/4 mile northwest-southeast 1140 foot elevation ridgeline. Completed December 31, 2012, GMCW provides enough energy to meet the electric needs of approximately 4,200 average Vermont households along with the other economic and environmental benefits to Vermonters by harnessing the power of the winds flowing across the Champlain Valley in Northwestern Vermont.
Keep it Local
Two local Vermont business owners with passion for homegrown renewable energy have focused on local development , permitting, construction jobs and local bank financing. All the output of GMCW is going to Burlington Electric Department customers through a long-term, stably priced power agreement. More than 6 years ago, the Harrison Family began investigating the wind electric generating potential on Georgia Mountain, measuring the wind resource and geginning environmental and feasibility studies. GMCW received its Certificate of Public Good from the Vermont Public Service Board 3 years ago in 2010.
In the very early stages of the project, the owners set a goal of using local expertise, labor and supplies as much as possible. Numerous local businesses and services have participate in t and contributed to the success of GMCW, from the early development stage up to today’s on-going operation GMCW is grateful to everyone for their outstanding work on this project.
Educational Outreach
Another top priority is education. GMCW is dedicated to helping Vermonters learn about the necessity and benefits of renewable energy, wind in particular.
Interested individuals, groups and schools often request tours, some in search of information about commercial wind production and some just want to see the majestic machines up close. More and more, teachers are including renewable energy in their curriculum, which culminates with a site tour.
Who is Georgia Mountain Community Wind?
Georgia Mountain Community Wind, LLC is a partnership between two lifelong native Vermont business owners with a passion for homegrown renewable energy:
The Harrison Family of Georgia, Vermont has strong roots in the area, and owns and operates the local businesses of Harrison Concrete and Georgia Mountain Maples, with the maple-sugaring operation located around the wind turbines.
David Blittersdorf, seen here with Speaker of the Vermont House, Shap Smith, at the Open House ceremony is also a life-long Vermonter, born in Pittsford. Ho founded the Vermont-based global supplier of wind resource measurement instrumentation NRG Systems, and ran the company for over two decdes. He is now President and CEO of AllEarth Renewables in Williston, VT, manufacturer of the AllSun Tracker solar PV racking system.
These Vermont business partners believe strongly that local renewable energy is important for our future and collectively employ over 100 Vermonters.
Georgia Mountain Community Wind is a great example of what Vermont businesses, regulatory goals, and local financing can do, working together.
