Billings Road Solar

Encore developed, financed and constructed a 2.3 megawatt (2.3 MWp) solar array on underutilized municipally-owned property in Hardwick, Vermont. The project is being advanced under a partnership between Encore Renewable Energy and the Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (“VPPSA”), a joint action agency established by act of the Vermont General Assembly to represent and advocate for several locally owned and democratically run municipal electric utilities in Vermont. VPPSA provides its members with a broad spectrum of joint action services such as: power aggregation, financial support, IT support, rate planning support and legislative and regulatory representation.

The Billings Road project is the fourth project delivered for VPPSA by Encore under an umbrella of projects representing approximately 10 MW which Encore won under a competitive procurement process. The site is currently owned by the Hardwick Electric Department and was formerly used by the Town as a gravel pit. Similar to all other Encore projects, the Billings Road project will be completed with pollinator-friendly ground cover to support vital habitat for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, and other insects. A robust pollinator ecosystem supports food resilience by boosting crop yields, increasing the recharging of groundwater, reducing soil erosion and has the added benefit of providing long-term cost savings in operations and maintenance for the life of the project.

A ribbon cutting for the project was held on May 23, 2022.