8 - The Eagle
September 29, 2012
www.addison-eagle.com
Utility to turn Eastman property into energy center Downtown site will include offices, energy exhibits
By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com RUTLAND — Green Mountain Power ’s plan to turn a blighted downtown Rutland property into a corporate Energy Innovation Center is a major step on the way to transforming Rutland into its anticipated Solar City status Both city and utility officials agree—it’s time for the downtown's largest, empty, and arguably most blighted property to be turned into a tax producing and employment generator. Steve Costello, GMP's vice president for generation and energy innovation, said the parcel will become the home of new Energy Innovation Center, “a place where the company can work with other energy providers and customers to develop new customer programs and choices and learn from a collaborative approach to solving to-
Green Mountain Power President and CEO Mary Powell: “We will create a place in Rutland where customers can learn about energy and the environmental impact of energy decisions. The center will help our customers envision a new world of energy choices.” day's energy challenges. Our analysis shows this site to be the least-cost option, and it will serve us and our customers extremely well."” GMP executives joined
Rutland city officials at a special news conference, held in the Rutland Opera house, announcing the plans Sept. 21. “I am so pleased that we
have secured the former Eastman's property, which was once a cornerstone of downtown but in recent years has weighed heavily on it," said GMP President
and CEO Mary Powell. “We will create a place where customers can learn about energy, generation and the environmental impact of energy decisions, cutting-edge
technologies and new customer programs. The center will help our customers envision a new world of energy choices.” Powell, who was recently dubbed Vermont’s “Green Queen” in a business magazine, seemed to relish the new title. “We expect to make the Energy Innovation Center the birthplace of innovative new ideas for the benefit of our customers across Vermont," she said. “This development is also a key component of the new company's facilities plan to achieve millions of dollars of savings for customers. In restructuring the number and use of its facilities the company will achieve customer-focused fast and efficient operations, as well as reduce the overall square footage consumed for operations.” Powell said the center will act as a catalyst to transform Rutland into a Solar City, the solar-power capital of New England, if not the northeast. Rutland Mayor Christopher Louras (D) expressed pleasure in the plan to develop the derelict site.. “When I think of the challenges facing downtown Rutland, this building is at the top of the list,” Louras said. “It has been in serious decline for years. The EIC will be a fantastic addition to downtown, and will replace a blighted liability with an asset, a building that mixes historic charm and modern thinking. I could not be happier for the city, or for the rest of downtown's business owners.” Rutland-based NBF Architects will spearhead develop of the site with a building that will include office space, displays and interactive educational opportunities. The roof will include a heat pump system and solar, and will be accessible for tours, according to Louras. The foreign-owned utility, which absorbed the former CVPS, expects to finalize architectural work soon; the new facility will be completed a year from now. Powell also said that the new energy center ’s staff will reside in the opera house starting in November and until the Eastman site is ready.
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