Energy Storage, Sourcing Renewables  -  January 12, 2021

Vermont’s State House is the first in the nation to have battery backup

Vermont’s State House is the first in the nation to have clean backup power stored in batteries, according to an article Vermont Business Magazine shared on Jan. 5. 

The backup system received an allocation of $450,000, which was originally to replace the old diesel system. A new diesel system would have required relocating the diesel engine outside and blasting the ledge outside the historic State House’s cafeteria. The new battery system resides in the basement as the old one did. The project demonstrates that clean energy storage can be an alternative to fossil fuel.

“With ‘out of the box’ thinking, common sense, and collaboration, we can address tough issues like climate change and do our part to reduce carbon emissions without hurting the economy,” Governor Phil Scott said in a video. “I know many think clean energy must be more expensive, but the work done today shows not only can we reduce carbon emissions, but if we are strategic, we can also save money in the process.” 

The statehouse battery project is expected to save Vermont taxpayers $44,000 and Green Mountain Power customers an additional $18,000 over ten years while also supplying clean backup power. The batteries are projected to reduce carbon emissions by 6,388 pounds per year, the equivalent of not using 326 gallons of gasoline.

The batteries are part of a Green Mountain Power program that provides financial incentives to businesses that install batteries and share some of that backup energy. Green Mountain Power uses that stored power during energy peaks, when power is costliest and dirtiest. This reduces costs for customers and also covers the cost of the program incentives.

Northern Reliability procured and built the battery system for the state.

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