In Vermont, a milestone in green-energy efforts

Vermont's largest city has a new success to add to its list of socially conscious achievements: 100 percent of its electricity comes from renewable sources.

With little fanfare, the Burlington Electric Department crossed the threshold this month with the purchase of a nearby hydroelectric project.

The Washington Electric Co-operative, which serves parts of northern and central Vermont, reached the goal earlier this year.

Some question the accounting methods used to make the claim because the utilities sell the rights to the renewable energy to other utilities. But the utilities then buy less expensive credits to offset the sale.