On November 6th, VTDigger and the Energy Action Network (EAN) hosted a conversation with state leaders about best practices to heat homes and buildings at the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

With the some of the oldest housing stock in the country and our cold weather climate, it’s hard to keep Vermonters warm and within budget. More challenging is to reach the state’s energy and emissions commitments, much of which comes from the thermal sector. Topics included weatherization and switching to renewable heating options to lower and stabilize fuel prices and keep more energy dollars in Vermont.

The event kicked off with a presentation by Jared Duval, EAN’s executive director, with the latest progress report on Vermont’s energy and emissions status and how thermal energy fits into the total energy and economic picture for Vermont. You can see the slides from this presentation below.

This was followed by discussion with state leaders, moderated by VTDigger’s Anne Galloway, about the future of thermal energy in Vermont. The Panelists were:

• Sen. Andrew Perchlik, Washington County senator and director of the Clean Energy Development Fund;
• Rep. Scott Campbell, Caledonia representative and former director of 3E Thermal;
• Emma Hanson, wood energy coordinator at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources; and
• Rebecca Foster, director of Efficiency Vermont.

Presentation Slides

[slideshare id=191410809&doc=2019-11-6heatingvermonteanvtdiggereventatfairbanksmuseum-191107170817]