Alternative Energy Resources in Vermont
Below is a short summary of alternative energy resources for Vermont. For more information on each technology, visit the State Energy Alternatives Technology Options page.
For more information, including links to resource maps, energy statistics, and contacts for Vermont, visit EERE's State Activities and Partnerships Web site's Vermont page.
Biomass
Studies indicate that Vermont has good biomass resource potential. For more state-specific resource information, see Biomass Feedstock Availability in the United States: 1999 State Level Analysis.
Geothermal
Vermont has vast low-temperature resources suitable for geothermal heat pumps. However, Vermont does not have sufficient resources to use the other geothermal technologies.
Hydropower
Vermont has a good hydropower resource as a percentage of the state's electricity generation. For additional resource information, check out the Idaho National Laboratory's Virtual Hydropower Prospector (VHP). VHP is a convenient geographic information system (GIS) tool designed to assist you in locating and assessing natural stream water energy resources in the United States.
Solar
To accurately portray your state's solar resource, we need two maps. That is because different collector types use the sun in different ways. Collectors that focus the sun (like a magnifying glass) can reach high temperatures and efficiencies. These are called concentrating collectors. Typically, these collectors are on a tracker, so they always face the sun directly. Because these collectors focus the sun's rays, they only use the direct rays coming straight from the sun.
Other solar collectors are simply flat panels that can be mounted on a roof or on the ground. Called flat-plate collectors, these are typically fixed in a tilted position correlated to the latitude of the location. This allows the collector to best capture the sun. These collectors can use both the direct rays from the sun and reflected light that comes through a cloud or off the ground. Because they use all available sunlight, flat-plate collectors are the best choice for many northern states. Therefore, this site gives you two maps: one is the resource for a concentrating collector and one is the resource for a flat-plate collector.
What does the map mean? Mainly, it means that, for flat-plate collectors, Vermont has useful resources throughout the state. The map shows that, for concentrating collectors, Vermont mostly has a relatively poor resource. In the eastern edge of the state, certain technologies might be applicable, but most concentrating collectors are not effective with this resource.
Wind
Wind Powering America indicates that Vermont has wind resources consistent with utility-scale production. The excellent wind resource areas in the state are on the ridge crests. In addition, small wind turbines may have applications in some areas. For more information on wind resources in Vermont including wind maps, visit Wind Powering America's State Wind Activities.
The Vermont Department of Public Service commissioned a study titled, Estimating the Hypothetical Wind Power Potential on Public Lands in Vermont (PDF 1.9 MB) (Download Adobe Reader) to determine the technical potential for wind power in the state. The State of Vermont commissioned a study to determine the technical potential for wind power in the state. From a resource availability estimate of all wind speeds, the methodology excluded the following areas:
- Areas of less than class 4 wind.
- Private or sensitive land.
- Areas not within 7 kilometers (km) (4.35 miles) of transmission lines.
On the remaining land larger than 2 kilometer square parcels, the methodology assumed specific turbine types in strings along ridgelines and determined the percentage of windy land likely to be compatible with wind development as shown in Table 1.
| Table 1. Percentage of Windy Land Likely to Be Compatible with Wind Development | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Class | Wind Power Density, W/m2 |
Speed, m/s (mph) |
Land area (% of VT) |
Federal (% of VT) |
State (% of VT) |
Municipal (% of VT) |
| <1 | Insignificant | 55.7 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.4 | |
| 1 | 160 | 5.1 (11.4) | 30.1 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 0.1 |
| 2 | 240 | 5.9 (13.2) | 8.7 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 0.2 |
| 3 | 320 | 6.5 (14.6) | 2.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.03 |
| 4 | 400 | 7.0 (15.7) | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0 |
| 5 | 480 | 7.4 (16.6) | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.004 |
| 6 | 640 | 8.2 (18.3) | 0.5 | 0.04 | 0.01 | 0 |
| 7 | 1600 | 11.0 (24.7) | 0.002 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 100% | 7.30% | 8.50% | 0.70% | ||
Source: Estimating the Hypothetical Wind Power Potential on Public Lands in Vermont, 2003.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency means doing the same work, or more, and enjoying the same comfort level with less energy. Consequently, energy efficiency can be considered part of your state's energy resource base - a demand side resource. Unlike energy conservation, which is rooted in behavior, energy efficiency is technology-based. This means the savings may be predicted by engineering calculations, and they are sustained over time. Examples of energy efficiency measures and equipment include compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), and high efficiency air conditioners, refrigerators, boilers, and chillers.
Saving energy through efficiency is less expensive than building new power plants. Utilities can plan for, invest in, and add up technology-based energy efficiency measures and, as a consequence, defer or avoid the need to build a new power plant. In this way, Austin, Texas, aggregated enough energy savings to offset the need for a planned 450-megawatt coal-fired power plant. Austin achieved these savings during a decade when the local economy grew by 46% and the population doubled. In addition, the savings from energy efficiency are significantly greater than one might expect, because no energy is needed to generate, transmit, distribute, and store energy before it reaches the end user.
Reduced fuel use, and the resulting decreased pollution, provide short- and long-term economic and health benefits.
For more information on current state policies related to energy efficiency, visit the Alliance to Save Energy's State Energy Efficiency Index.