Vermont solar plan brightens green energy hopes

Once a leading producer of marble in the world, Rutland, Vt., is embracing a new reputation as the "Solar Capital of New England."

Festivities set for Tuesday will commemorate the designation, which may seem modest in comparison to Rutland’s industrial past. But for this city of 16,500, it illustrates a significant movement from old-style ways of providing electricity and perhaps a model for the rest of the U.S.

"What we’re doing is pretty unusual," said Mary Powell, the president and chief executive of Green Mountain Power, Vermont’s biggest electric utility, which is leading the transformation. "I try to spend time out and about learning what others are doing. I’m not seeing many others doing this."

Bill Loveless, Special for USA TODAY

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2015/09/13/loveless-solar-rutland-vermont/32060851/