groSolar provided EPC services for this solar PV project for the Burlington, Vermont School District. The system was paid for largely in part by grants from Vermont’s Renewable Energy Resource Center and Federal Treasury Grant 1603. The investment will produce enough solar electricity in the first five years of operation to pay for itself and was built through by way of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Burlington schools will purchase the solar electricity generated by the system,
but the system itself is owned by third party developer, Encore Redevelopment. 

“Encore Redevelopment is excited to be working with Burlington Schools and the Burlington Electric Department in a partnership to promote energy on schools in Vermont’s largest city,” said Nick Richardson, Director of Operations for Encore Redevelopment. “We’re off to a great start with Burlington High School and CP Smith schools completed this year and more to come in years ahead. groSolar was an easy choice for us as the professionalism and experience they brought to the project were critical.”

The project occupies two rooftops, including 137.9 kW on Burlington High School and 91.9 kW on CP Smith Elementary School. The array on the high school is a fixed-mount array on pitched and flat roofs, using a penetrated and ballasted racking system. The array on the elementary school is solely ballasted.

This project is a true testament to groSolar’s construction capabilities and ability to stay on schedule and meet strict deadlines. The seven week construction schedule began in early December and crews worked daily through the dead of the New England winter to complete the project on time and within budget.

“Our crews and project management team are the best and most committed in the industry,” said Project Executive Rod Viens, VP of Operations, groSolar. “It’s no surprise the New England winter elements are brutal. I commend our crews for working through those conditions with such positive attitudes. This speaks volumes of groSolar’s employees and subcontractors.”

Both groSolar and Encore Redevelopment are Vermont-based companies. This project also created jobs for nearly a dozen subcontracted employees.