Harnessing the Power of the Wind

Searsburg's 6 megawatt power plant provides emission-free, renewable energy to over 2,000 average Vermont households and serves as an education resource for wind generation in cold climates and environmentally sensitive regions.

Green Mountain Power began "prospecting" for wind turbine sites in the late 1970s. Knowing that higher elevations have better wind, but are more environmentally sensitive, the challenge from the start was to find a windy site that would be environmentally acceptable and still be economically feasible. After screening hundreds of potential sites in Vermont and Massachusetts, GMP selected the Searsburg site because of its strong and persistent winds and its proximity to existing access roads and transmission lines. In addition, the area was away from population centers, yet was not in an area of unique environmental concern.

When completed in 1997, the Searsburg project became the largest wind power facility in the eastern part of the country. After initial research and development work by GMP, this project became feasible when it was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for participation in their Utility Wind Turbine Verification Program. GMP's commitment to and experience with wind generation fit well with the program's objectives of utility involvement in wind power and the evaluation and commercialization of advanced wind turbines.

Generating energy from wind in Vermont's harsh winter environment poses a unique set of challenges. Learning how to meet these challenges is an important research goal at this facility. Lessons learned provide valuable information for land use and energy planners in determining to what extent wind energy will be used to meet the region's electrical needs. The research focuses on the performance of wind turbines in cold, northern climates, the level of public acceptance of wind energy facilities, and the potential effects on birds and wildlife.

Read More about GMP's Searsburg Wind Facility