The Vermont Electric Co-operative is hoping to build the state's largest utility-owned solar power project.
Officials with the co-op and Governor Peter Shumlin announced the project Monday. It would be part of a broader project involving cooperatives from more than a dozen states across the country.
The co-op has not yet chosen the location for the 5 megawatt solar array, which could cover 20 to 30 acres.
The co-operative and 14 other cooperatives will take advantage of a $4.8 million research project designed to help make utility-scale solar installations more affordable, in line with traditional fossil fuel sources of power.
The co-op's David Hallquist says it's hoped that construction on the first phase of the project could begin in 2015 with the second phase scheduled for completion by 2017.
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