Keeping Communities Connected

What if the lights stayed on, even when severe weather tears down trees and power lines? It is happening in Vermont right now. GMP is partnering with customers to keep you powered up  with new technology – from back up battery power in individual homes to Resiliency Zones in communities across the state.

What is a Resiliency Zone?

Check out the town of Panton. When weather strikes and the larger grid goes down, dozens of homes, farms, and municipal buildings in the center of town still have power. That’s because GMP partnered with the community to build the first distribution circuit microgrid in the country powered solely by renewable energy. In this case, solar power is stored in utility-scale batteries. GMP’s engineering work led to the innovative use of inverters and grounding banks to achieve this microgrid in Panton, and it is so unique that Time featured GMP’s work in an article during the summer of 2021. You can read that here: https://time.com/6082973/vermont-electric-grid/ . 

The approach used in Panton can be replicated, and GMP is now working with other communities to roll out similar microgrids and create Resiliency Zones across Vermont. Projects are underway in Brattleboro, Grafton, Rochester, and Strafford. Each year, GMP will partner with three communities to help launch more Resiliency Zones.

Resiliency Zone basics

• Community hub that stays connected even when the lights go out 
• Leverages renewable generation, battery storage, and/or other innovations to prevent outages and help communities bounce back more quickly if outages do occur 
• Custom plan in partnership with community, based on reliability, connectivity, and vulnerability data   
• Leverages CDC vulnerability index to help select communities who can benefit most

In Rochester, a solar field combined with utility-scale battery storage will create a microgrid to help power the core downtown area if severe weather strikes.

Brattleboro is also working with GMP. This custom project is creating a microgrid powered by battery storage.In Strafford, a microgrid project is being planned.

In Grafton, residents in a part of town with a higher average of outages are being offered the opportunity to have back up battery power for their homes. Eligible customers have already received a call, email, or both from GMP with an invitation to join the program. If you’re one of them and would like a free Generac battery system as part of this project, please fill out this form to get started.

Questions? Is your community interested in learning more about partnering with GMP on a Resiliency Zone? Call us! (888) 835-4672.