The City Council in Vermont's capital has given the green light for phase one of a project that would bring Montpelier the state's first downtown heating district.
The plan is for buildings in downtown Montpelier to tie into a newly redeveloped woodchip-fired heating system that serves the Statehouse and surrounding state office buildings.
The Council voted 5-1 Wednesday evening to extend heating pipes from the state boilers east on State Street as far as Elm Street, a couple blocks from the Statehouse.
City Manager William Fraser says the intent is to expand the project through the downtown once the bidding process is complete and costs are known.
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