Burlington completes purchase of Winooski River hydro-electric project

The city of Burlington and its municipal electric utility have completed the purchase of the 7.4 megawatt Winooski One Hydroelectric Facility.

City officials say Burlington now owns or has enough contracts with renewable energy facilities to provide 100 percent of the city's electric needs.

At a Thursday news conference at the plant on the Winooski River between Burlington and the city of Winooski, former owner John Warshow handed the keys to Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger.

Weinberger says that owning and operating a hydroelectric plant that feeds into the Burlington Electric distribution system is an important step toward ensuring stable, low energy costs.

City voters approved the purchase in March. The city issued a $12 million bond for the project last month.