Solar project to provide prison with 10 percent of its power needs

A solar project near Vermont's Northeast Regional Correctional Facility will provide the prison with 10 percent of its power needs.

The St. Johnsbury project is one of 10 like it at correctional facilities across the state. Gov. Peter Shumlin dedicated the project Thursday.

The Caledonian Record reports (http://bit.ly/1qtiqHz) the projects are part of a 2013 initiative that Shumlin says will increase the state's use of renewable energy while saving taxpayers on state energy costs.

Upon completion, the solar projects are projected to save taxpayers $2.5 million in energy costs over 20 years.

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Information from: The Caledonian-Record, http://www.caledonianrecord.com