Vermont replacing power plants with home batteries
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
Vermont utility Green Mountain Power uses home battery virtual power plant as largest power source.
Green Mountain Power (GMP) installs two batteries in homes for $55/month (10-year lease), creating a virtual power plant (VPP) of over 5,500 homes. The VPP became Vermont's largest power source, replacing oil/diesel/gas peaker plants. Participants keep reserve power and haven't lost power since installation. The VPP saved customers $11 million in 2025. GMP aims to offer storage to all 300,000 customers and double VPP size by 2034.
Other US states (Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey) are pushing VPP procurement. Barriers include utilities' financial incentives to build infrastructure rather than use demand flexibility. GMP's CEO says distributed, decentralized model is cheaper and safer.
What commenters are saying
Commenters broadly praise VPPs as an 'edge cache for power' that smooths demand, raises grid efficiency, and saves costs. Several report positive experiences with similar programs in Massachusetts (ConnectedSolutions) and California (Tesla VPP), noting minimal drawbacks like opt-out options for storms.
A split emerges on EV V2G: some argue it offers massive storage potential, while others cite concerns about battery degradation, proprietary chargers, and low consumer willingness. Others note newer LFP batteries reduce fire risk and that only a small battery capacity fraction is needed for grid benefits.