August 1, 2011

Largest Solar Farm in Vermont Opens

The Burlington Free Press recently reported the opening of the state’s largest solar farm in South Burlington. The facility, which can produce up to 2.2 megawatts of power, has 9,000 solar panels mounted on 382 GPS-controlled solar trackers that can move to remain squarely facing the sun. According to the article, the ability to follow the sun allows the tracking panels to produce 40% more power than fixed solar panels. Thanks to a 2009 state law that encouraged the development of renewable energy sources, the $12 million facility has a power purchase contract with Vermont to sell power to utilities for 30 cents per kilowatt hour.