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Total Energy News | early-April 2025
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E.P.A. targets dozens of environmental rules as it reframes its purpose
The Trump administration said it would repeal regulations, including limits on pollution from tailpipes and smokestacks, protections for wetlands, and the legal basis that allows it to regulate GHGs.
The New York Times
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Gutting clean energy incentives would drive up electric bills
Rising energy costs are a problem in the U.S. Ending Inflation Reduction Act tax credits and ramping up fossil fuels would make it even worse.
Canary Media
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Government science data may soon be hidden. They’re racing to copy it.
Vast quantities of climate and environmental information have been removed from official websites in the past months. Scientists are trying keep it available.
The New York Times
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Data Download
Vermont’s per capita GHG emissions
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Based on the latest data from 2021, Vermont has the highest per capita GHG emissions of any state in New England, and we have also made the least progress toward meeting the 2025 target of the Paris Agreement. Our research paper, “Assessing Vermont’s climate responsibility: A comparative analysis of per capita emissions,” analyzes greenhouse gas emissions inventories from the six New England states to understand where Vermont stands relative to our neighbors. This report was originally published in 2023 and was recently updated to incorporate 2021 data.
Read the report here.
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Profile | Study: Assessment of a Cap-and-Invest Program for Vermont
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In 2024, the Agency of Natural Resources and Vermont Agency of Transportation commissioned Cambridge Systematics to develop an Assessment of a Cap-and-Invest Program for Vermont to support meeting the State’s commitments to equitably and cost-effectively cut climate pollution, as directed by the Global Warming Solutions Act. This graph from that report models potential household savings in 2030 for a cap-and-invest program covering transportation and thermal fuels. It shows that most households could benefit if the state were to reinvest 50% of proceeds in emissions-reducing activities, including targeted incentives for lower- and middle-income Vermonters, while dedicating the remaining funds to direct rebates to households in the lowest three income quintiles. While the report notes that “individual households will see different cost changes depending upon their specific fuel mix and consumption level”, the graph illustrates how a cap-and-invest program can be designed to result in a net decrease in expenditures for most Vermonters. Specifically, this graph shows $500-$700 a year in average savings for the 60% of Vermonters with lower and middle incomes, in addition to average savings of around $200 a year for upper-middle and upper-income Vermonters.
You can learn more about this topic in this recording of the March 17 Climate Council meeting, which explored potential considerations for a cap-and invest policy for the state. Guest speakers included State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, and out of state experts from jurisdictions that have implemented cap-and-invest programs, including California, Quebec, Washington, and New York.
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EAN | Building for the future: Ensuring new housing in VT is clean, energy-efficient, and cost-effective
This Leveraging Change Speaker Series event will provide information and a conversation about the challenges and benefits to ensuring new housing in Vermont is clean, energy-efficient, and cost-effective, with panelists Kathy Beyer (EverNorth), Bob Duncan (Duncan Wisniewski Architecture), Richard Faesy (Energy Futures Group) and Li Ling Young (Efficiency Vermont).
April 22nd, 2025 | 4:30-6:30pm in Montpelier
Learn more and register
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Better Building By Design | Efficiency Vermont Conference
Efficiency Vermont’s 2025 conference theme is 2030 on the Horizon: Assessing Vermont’s Vision Versus Reality. Vermont has two ambitious goals with 2030 deadlines: make all new construction net-zero and reduce greenhouse gas pollution to 40% below 1990 levels. Five years out, we have a lot of work to do, including building solutions that address intersecting needs like equity, the tight labor market, and housing shortages.
April 2 & 3, 2025 | S. Burlington, VT
Learn more and register
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Electrify Vermont Summit
The First Annual Electrify Vermont Summit will bring together the people and organizations working to electrify Vermont’s economy.
April 21st, 2025 | 1-5pm
Learn more and register
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2025 update to Vermont’s Climate Action Plan outreach events
The public is invited to in-person and virtual events to share their thoughts about draft revisions to Vermont’s Climate Action Plan.
April 10, 5:30-7 pm | Virtual
April 14, 6-8 pm | Hardwick
April 15, 6-8 pm | Hinesburg
April 16, 6-8 pm | St. Albans
April 17, 6-8 pm | Bennington
April 23, 5:30-7:30 pm | Bellows Falls
April 28, 5:30-7:30 pm | Barre City
April 30, 5:30-7:30 pm | Rutland
May 1, 12-1:30 pm | Virtual
Learn more and register
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VEEP/NHEEP Summer Institute for teachers
This year’s theme is Define, Design and Do! Climate Solutions in Your Community. How can we integrate real-world problem solving, joy, and impactful climate solutions into our schools and communities? Come work and play with VEEP in the White Mountains of NH to approach these questions together.
June 23-27, 2025, World Fellowship Center, Albany, NH
Learn more and register
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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
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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.
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The Vermont Total Energy Ticker
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Vermont’s clean energy transition faces unprecedented political threat
Republican legislative gains, financial worries, and outside interference are stacking the deck against climate progress this session.
Canary Media
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Vermont might change how it accounts for GHG emissions. Here’s what’s at stake
The governor’s proposal to include forests and farms in the state greenhouse gas inventory holds both promise and peril.
Inside Climate News
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Electric co-op turning to AI to weatherize grid against future storms
VEC’s use of software will help tackle the monumental challenge posed by the increasingly severe storms fueled by a changing climate.
VT Digger
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Have an upcoming event or news story to share? Let us know.
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