Total Energy News – June 2024 | Energy Action Network

Total Energy News | June 2024

Dear Jared,

Registration is now open for the 2024 EAN Network Summit on September 18th, and we hope you also have the EAN Post-Election Network Gathering on December 3rd on your calendar. This year’s Annual Summit will look a little different than past years. We are building the agenda around short strategic information sharing presentations, with breakout conversations to allow attendees to dive deeper on the topics that are most relevant and interesting to them. Please consider proposing a presentation if you have an answer to this question:

“What do you wish the EAN Network knew NOW to help Vermont meet our greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements in ways that will create a more just, thriving, and sustainable future?”

We are also delighted to introduce our two 2024 summer interns, Evelyn Seidner and Shea Brams, who are spending ten weeks doing independent research guided by EAN Senior Fellow Christine Donovan. You can learn more about Evelyn and Shea and their research topics below. We hope you will plan to join us on Wednesday August 14 at noon for the lunch and learn where they share their projects.

Finally, the EAN Climate Workforce Coalition will be sending out a workforce specific news update soon as well. If you would like to be on the list to receive very occasional workforce updates and/or would like to learn about quarterly meetings related to Climate Workforce, please let Cara know: crobechek@eanvt.org.

Stay cool and enjoy the summer!

Cara, Jared, and Lena

News from the World

A year of record global heat has pushed Earth closer to dangerous threshold

Temperatures surpassed the 1.5-degree Celsius warming threshold over the past year, and scientists warn they will again soon.

Washington Post

Helping low-income families electrify could save Americans $96 billion

If U.S. policymakers pursue equitable electrification strategies, the societal benefits would be vast, says new ACEEE report.

Canary Media

To meet climate goals, RI buildings need cleaner heat. These bills would help.

More than 1/3 of Rhode Island’s GHG emissions come from heating with fossil fuels. Two bills are being considered by the General Assembly to decarbonize the heating sector.

Providence Journal

Data Download

Trends in extreme heat over time in Vermont

Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme heat in Vermont. The average number of extreme heat days in Burlington has increased by over 140% over the past 60 years, and climate models predict that this trend will continue over the coming decades. In Vermont, an extreme heat day is defined as a day with a high temperature of 87°F or higher.

Extreme heat can have serious health and safety impacts, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. Young children and older adults, as well as those with pre-existing medical conditions, are at higher risk of heat related illness. In 2018, Vermont experienced a heat wave with six days straight reaching above 90°F, resulting in over 100 emergency department visits and four deaths. Those who died during the heat wave were primarily older Vermonters who lived alone in homes without air conditioning.

One of the benefits of heat pumps is that they can provide cooling in the summer months in addition to heating. As extreme heat continues to increase in Vermont, expanding access to cooling via heat pumps, air conditioning, and public cooling sites will be increasingly important. The Vermont Department of Health maintains a map of cooling sites throughout Vermont.

EAN Intern Profiles

EAN is delighted for the fifth year in a row to welcome summer interns working with EAN Senior Fellow Christine Donovan on independent research. You can read about our two interns and their research interests below.

Evelyn Seidner

Evelyn is focusing her research on consumer protection for utility bill payment. She is a recent graduate from the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources where she received a BS in Environmental Studies and a minor in Equine Studies.

Evelyn is excited to spend her first summer as a college graduate conducting research that will provide more information on pathways for Vermont to ensure no one is left behind in the energy transition. In her free time, Evelyn competes in the equestrian discipline of Dressage with her horse Don Quixote. She also enjoys spending time outdoors, especially when her corgi Arthur can come along.

Shea Brams

Shea is focusing her research on equity in residential weatherization and strategic electrification in Vermont. Shea is a rising junior at Middlebury College, majoring in Environmental Policy and competing for Middlebury’s Nordic Ski Team.

Shea grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts, but spends most of her family time now in Lyme, New Hampshire. Shea loves biking, rope swings, and playing banana grams. She is excited to be part of the EAN team!

Events and Opportunities

EAN 2024 Summit

EAN’s 2024 Summit will be September 18th at Bolton Valley Resort, with a second post-election gathering planned for December 3rd in Montpelier.

Learn more and register

EAN Intern Research Lunch and Learn

Join us to learn from the 2024 EAN Interns about their research related to Energy Equity.

Wednesday, August 14 at noon | on Zoom

Vermont Community Leadership Summit 2024

The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) has announced their 2024 Vermont Community Leadership Summit: Forge Forward, Thrive Together! The event will take place on Tuesday, August 6th at Vermont State University in Randolph, Vermont.

August 6, 2024 | Randolph, VT

Learn More

Weatherization Training Center RFP

The Office of Economic Opportunity has released a Request for Proposals seeking an operator for a new Weatherization Training Center.

Due by July 19, 2024

Learn More

EAN Network Action Teams

EAN Network Action Teams meet regularly. If you are interested in joining meetings of the Weatherization at Scale Coalition, the Climate Workforce Coalition, or other teams, or if you want to learn more about their work, contact Cara: cara@eanvt.org

Learn more

Vermont Climate Council Meetings

All Vermont Climate Council meetings and subcommittee meetings are open to the public, with all details on the Climate Council website.

The Vermont Total Energy Ticker

VTs warming winters ‘not the whole story’ for declining fossil fuel use

EAN’s newest report finds that warming winters explain most but not all of Vermont’s drop in fossil heating fuel sales, as improvements like heat pumps and weatherization are starting to have a greater impact.

Energy News Network

Unhoused Vermonters get extra help in bitter cold but must largely manage extreme heat on their own

As Vermont sees temperatures spike, unhoused people who lack stable access to shelter face limited options as they try to stay cool.

VT Digger

Updated renewable energy standard to become law following override

The new law requires most of the state’s utilities to purchase 100% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

VT Digger

Have an upcoming event or news story to share? Let us know.

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