This Day in History: October 21, 1977 and 2018

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - On this day in history, the first wood-burning power plant in the country went online.

The Moran plant on the Burlington waterfront was built to burn coal. During the energy crisis of the 1970s, the city looked for a cheaper alternative.

On October 21, 1977, part of the plant was converted to burn wood.

The experiment gained worldwide attention and became the proof of concept for the development of the McNeil wood chip plant in the Burlington intervale a few years later.

Another first on this day in 2018, when Vermont’s first Target store opened in South Burlington.

Vermont was the last state to get its first target.

The store is only half the size of a standard Target, like the one in Plattsburgh.

Fans were still thrilled to finally be able to shop at their