Green Mountain Power Corporation (GMP) — Vermont’s second-largest utility company — has contracted Alteris Renewables to build solar energy systems throughout the state in order to meet a company goal of 10,000 panels installed in 1,000 days.

The plan began with a 58-kilowatt (KW) installation at Westminster Service Center and a 4-KW system at Colchester headquarters for plug-in hybrid cars. Just three days ago, GMP turned three more installations live, bringing its total number of solar energy systems to five and surpassing the 10,000 panel goal ahead of schedule. GMP President and CEO Mary Powell could not be more pleased about surpassing the company’s own expectations, though she recognizes there is far more work to be done:

“We are proud to have topped our 10,000 solar panel goal. We are now at 14,000 panels and aiming high. Our customers clearly want more solar and we are determined to help provide it.”

One of the three new installations is a 138-kilowatt (KW) system that rests atop GMP’s own facility in Montpelier.

Another is a 150-KW “solar orchard” at Shelburne Farms and the third is now Vermont’s largest system — a 200-KW array near GMP’s 50-megawatt (MW) fossil fuel-generating plant in Berlin. GMP says the fossil fuel plant only operates during peak hours – the time when customers are using the most energy.

There are two reasons for such a large number of installations at once. One is because GMP has committed to helping Vermont reduce its carbon footprint. The second reason is to meet demand. According to GMP, solar installations among its customers – approximately 175,000 people and businesses – has more than quadrupled since the beginning of 2009.

Watch the two month installation of the Berlin solar plant in 40 seconds.