The Craftsbury community has come together to make their library solar

The Craftsbury community has come together to make their library solar, using a model they hope other small, rural towns will emulate. Getting the Craftsbury Public Library running on solar energy is a project that’s been years in the making. The project includes roof-mounted solar panels and a 20-kilowatt backup battery, allowing them to get continuous power rain, snow, or shine. And it wouldn’t have been possible without a huge community and volunteer effort. Vince O’Connell donated hundreds of hours of his time designing and installing the system, cutting the cost of the nearly $70,000 project in half. Getting more solar into Craftsbury was a priority because they want their town to serve as an example of a place with a resilient energy system that similar groups or communities can replicate. Solar power generation will eliminate most of the electric utility costs for the library, with enough extra power to charge the backup battery and more.