Vermont Electric Power Co. picks contractors to build solar project

Catamount Solar and Northern Reliability were hired by Vermont Electric Power Co. (VELCO) to build VELCO’s Pinnacle Ridge Solar and Storage Project at the company’s headquarters in Rutland, Vt.

The project includes a 500 kW solar array tied to a 1.2 MWh energy storage system designed to reduce VELCO’s energy use at times of peak system demand and increase electric grid stability.

“Catamount Solar and Northern Reliability have hard-earned reputations for safe, reliable, and cost-effective project delivery,” Mike Fiske, VELCO’s director of transmission assets, said. “With nearly 100 years of combined experience working on solar power, remote power systems, and energy storage infrastructure, we knew they could do the work. What sets them apart though, is their deep commitment to Vermont and to helping VELCO better serve the state. We’re grateful to be working with them to lower our energy costs.”

Catamount Solar is the prime contractor and is responsible for site work and construction of the solar array infrastructure, as well as the site’s power distribution and utility connections.

“Catamount Solar is pleased to be working together with Northern Reliability to deliver this cutting edge solar plus storage power solution to VELCO. Our Vermont companies appreciate the opportunity to contribute to greening and increasing the reliability of the state’s power grid,” Kevin McCollister, managing partner at Catamount, said.

Northern Reliability will oversee all aspects of the battery energy storage system, including design, component integration and containerization, on-site construction, installation, and testing.

“You can’t put a price tag on how great it feels for the NRI team to work on a Vermont project at this scale. Our teams are so often called out across the U.S. and abroad to other utilities for these types of battery systems. To have one of our larger solutions now deployed here in our backyard supporting our friends and families…the money isn’t the real reward on this one. This project shows the tremendous value of what Vermonters working together can accomplish. Many thanks to our friends at VELCO and our partners at Catamount on behalf of the whole NRI team for this shared win,” Gregg Noble, NRI’s vice president of sales and development, said.

Construction of the Pinnacle Ridge Solar and Storage project is underway. It is slated for completion by the end of the year.