en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Burlington Electric Department (BED) has signed new power purchase agreements with a subsidiary of New England Reliable Hydropower Holdings LLC (NERH) and with Relevate Power to purchase hydropower from projects in Maine and Connecticut.

These agreements replace a previous hydropower contract with FirstLight that expired on December 31, 2025, and an existing wind power agreement with the Hancock Wind Project in Maine that is set to expire later this year.

BED has signed two agreements with a subsidiary of NERH related to the Skelton Hydro facility on the Saco River in Maine. The first agreement provides for the full energy output and associated Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from the project through the end of 2026. The second agreement is a five-year term starting January 1, 2027, covering 50% of the facility's output, equivalent to approximately 50,000 megawatt-hours per year, along with associated RECs. The Burlington Electric Commission approved this five-year agreement on May 13, 2026.

BED has also signed a 10-year PPA with Relevate Power to purchase output from the Wyre Wynd Hydroelectric Project on the Quinebaug River in Jewett City, Connecticut. The agreement began in February 2026, providing approximately 10,600 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, along with associated RECs and capacity. The contract received approvals from the Burlington Electric Commission, the Burlington Board of Finance, and the Burlington City Council between September 2025 and January 2026.

Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak expressed appreciation for BED's efforts to secure renewable energy from NERH and Relevate in the form of New England hydropower, building on BED's recent renewal of Vermont wind power agreements. She noted that continuing to incorporate cost-competitive hydropower and wind power into the energy portfolio is an important step in benefiting ratepayers and advancing the city's strategy to become a climate frontier city.

Darren Springer, BED General Manager, stated that the new agreements demonstrate BED and the city's ongoing commitment to sourcing 100% of electricity from a diverse mix of renewable energy types while maintaining reliable power supply for customers. He noted that as renewable energy demand rises and energy costs across various resources generally increase, BED will continue its strategy of procuring cost-effective, price-stable, long-term renewable energy sources to reduce volatility for customers. He thanked the opportunity to collaborate with NERH and Relevate to support Burlington's energy goals and help support renewable energy on the New England grid.

Steven Zuretti, Senior Director of Commercial Origination at NERH, expressed great pleasure in announcing the new agreements with BED, supporting this innovative municipal utility in maintaining 100% renewable energy supply amid growing electricity demand and the ongoing energy transition. He stated that this partnership complements BED's mission to meet customer energy needs in a safe, reliable, economical, sustainable, and socially responsible manner, and advances NERH's mission to provide clean electricity to meet New England's accelerating electricity demand.

Ian Clark, Chief Commercial Officer of Relevate Power LLC, stated that Relevate Power appreciates the new partnership, enabling BED to continue sourcing electricity from renewable energy and pursuing its net-zero energy goals.

NERH is a joint venture between Brookfield-affiliated companies and a subsidiary of B Grimm Power Public Company Limited.

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