Small hydro-electric power developer Gravity Renewables Inc has partnered with New York’s Skidmore College in an agreement that will enable the university to meet 18% of its energy needs with power generated at the Chittenden Falls hydro-power facility.

The agreement represents the first hydro project in the country to make use of New York’s Remote Net Metering (also called Virtual Net Metering), which allows for kWh generated by a renewable source at one location to be credited towards the kWh consumption at another location.

The 850kW Chittenden Falls plant — located 60 miles from Skidmore’s Saragota Springs campus — was acquired by Gravity Renewables in August 2013. It will supply power to the college under a 20-year operating agreement.