MORRISVILLE WATER AND LIGHT TO ENHANCE RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY WITH NEW ENERGY STORAGE PROJECT
MWL’s Board of Trustees Unanimously Supports Entering into Agreement with Encore Renewable Energy for a New Battery Storage Project
Morrisville, VT - Morrisville Water and Light (MWL) has taken a significant step towards bolstering its reliability and ensuring affordability with the unanimous approval from its Board of Trustees for an Energy Storage Service Agreement with Encore Renewable (Encore) for the development of a five-Megawatt battery storage project.
"We are thrilled to embark on this innovative partnership with Encore," said Scott Johnstone, General Manager at MWL. "This project underscores our commitment to delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for our community."
The project includes the installation of a 4.96 MW battery system near the Salvage Yard Solar project, capable of providing 22,000 kWh on a full charge. This substantial capacity, approximately 60% of MWL's typical peak demand, positions MWL to leverage the batteries for various purposes, including voltage spike absorption, peak demand reduction, participation in the ISO NE capacity market, and grid resilience during emergencies such as brownouts.
Moreover, the energy storage system will enable MWL to engage in energy arbitrage, optimizing energy costs by charging the batteries during off-peak hours and discharging them during periods of high demand.
“Providing energy storage services from this system will create significant cost savings for MWL and reduce the carbon intensity of the grid during times of peak demand.” said Jesse Stowell, Encore’s Chief Commercial Officer. “This partnership is a prime example of how communities can become leaders in the clean energy transition and deliver smart energy solutions to their customers.”
“This project is a critical step forward in our transition to a clean energy future,” added Johnstone. “With the shifting landscape of energy generation in the state, including a state policy that discourages hydro power, both from Hydro Quebec and more locally our Green River hydro facility, combined with the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy, battery storage is emerging as a crucial component in enhancing reliability and managing costs so we can keep rates affordable for our customers.”
The project is scheduled to commence operations in November 2026, marking a significant milestone in MWL's journey towards a more resilient and cost-effective energy future.
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About Morrisville Water and Light
MWL is one of 2,200 not-for-profit public power utilities in the United States. MWL provides electric service to Morrisville, most of Morristown and Elmore, and parts of Hyde Park, Johnson, Stowe and Wolcott. The not-for-profit utility also provides water and wastewater service to Morrisville and parts of Morristown. MWL owns and operates three local hydro-electric plants that produce roughly twenty percent of their annual power consumption. MWL is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees. Stay connected via Facebook.
About Encore Renewable Energy
Encore Renewable Energy is a Burlington, Vermont-based leader in community and utility-scale renewable energy with a proven track record in solar development from concept to completion. Founded in 2007 as Encore Redevelopment, their team specializes in the design, development, financing, permitting, construction and operation of solar and energy storage projects on landfills, brownfields, rooftops and carports. As a values-led company, Encore is committed to revitalizing communities and creating a cleaner, brighter future for all. For more information about Encore, please visit encorerenewableenergy.com. Stay connected via Instagram and LinkedIn.