7 days ago
Renewable energy plant in St. Albans celebrates grand opening
ST. ALBANS, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – A partnership between a New England energy company and Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream will lead to more electricity for Vermonters – and less food going to the landfill.
PurposeEnergy and Ben & Jerry's announced the grand opening of the St. Albans Renewable Energy Facility on Thursday. The New Hampshire-based company has already built several facilities in Vermont, such as in Middlebury last year. The first major step towards building this one, which is located in the St. Albans Industrial Park south-west of downtown, was in 2021 when the company signed an agreement with Ben & Jerry's to receive organic and food waste. A dedicated pipeline will carry waste from Ben & Jerry's, which has a nearby warehouse, directly to the plant, which will then be turned into electricity and clean water.
Governor signs 'Vermonters Feeding Vermonters' grant program
Jenna Evans, the Global Sustainability Manager at Ben & Jerry's, said, 'This project strengthens B&J's commitment to environmental sustainability by providing a long-term solution for organic waste. It will reduce Vermont's road traffic, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease phosphorus pollution.'
Construction of the plant began in May 2023, and within just over a year and a half it was already producing energy for the Vermont power grid. It is expected to generate 8.75 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year, enough for an average electric car to circle the earth over 1,000 times.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
