Built in early 1980s, McNeil Generating Station, in Burlington Vermont, is one of the world’s largest wood fired electric generating plants. VPPSA is one of the joint owners in the facility. McNeil is also a leader in developing a biomass gasifer project. Assisted by the US Department of Energy, McNeil recently completed the installation and testing of the gasifer. Environmentally, this continues to make McNeil a leader in green energy delivered to the grid.

VPPSA is a one of the owners of the Highgate Interconnection Facility. The facility, located in Highgate Vermont, is 225 Mw AC-DC-AC converter station with the Trans Energie system of Hydro-Quebec. The resource is primarily used by the project participants to bring in contracted power from Hydro-Quebec. As a transmission facility, VPPSA is also willing to provide transmission access to others at negotiated rates.

VPPSA is currently attempting to permit and construct a 40 mW peaking plant in Swanton, Vermont. We have an option to purchase two 20 mW, dual-fuel combustion-turbine generators from the City of Los Angles, and have submitted an application to the Public Service Board for a certificate of public good to construct the facility. If approved and built, the plant will help meet capacity obligations of the eleven VPPSA members who are participants in the project (Project No. 10).

Started in 1997, VPPSA has aggregated the energy supplies and loads of many municipal distribution systems. Currently serving 17 entities, VPPSA dispatches nearly 35 power contracts and has a peak load of approximately 110 Mw in the winter. Because of the diversity of the participating systems, the Central Dispatch participants can save on combined energy and transmission expenses.

With 4 participants involved in the project, the Central Computer provides each participant with an advanced billing and information system that otherwise would have been cost prohibitive for their individual system. Integrating billing with accounting, payroll, and maintenance functions allows the participants to stay on top of all aspects of their operations.