Blog

Taking stock of where Vermont stands on climate and energy heading into 2025

November 12, 2024

EAN is preparing for our next Network Summit in September. A save the date and Request for Pitches are expected next week. Meanwhile this issue of the Total Energy News looks specifically at housing and energy, including sharing a webinar from the Weatherization at Scale Network Action Team.

 
Total Energy News – June 2021
Your Update on Vermont and National Energy News
Greetings!
EAN’s next Network Summit will take place in September of 2021! We are currently talking with venues and expect to release a save the date and request for pitches by the end of next week. As a reminder, the pitch process is a way to highlight strategic interventions in the energy system that can help to significantly reduce Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions in ways that create a more just, thriving, and sustainable future for Vermonters. If you have pitch ideas in mind, look out for the announcement with all of the criteria and details next week.
You may remember that four Network Action Teams developed out of the pitch process at the EAN Summit in October of 2020. One of those, the Weatherization at Scale Network Action Team gave a webinar on June 21 highlighting their work and inviting other interested individuals to join the coalition and workgroups. You can view that webinar here.

Thank you to all 110 people who gave feedback on our member and partner survey! We received significant amounts of both positive and constructive feedback that will help to guide our work going forward. Congratulations as well to Sue Minter who won the survey participants’ drawing for a piece of electric lawn equipment! Because Sue’s family already had an electric lawn mower, we did some research and discovered there are many options for all kinds of different electric lawn tools. They will be getting an electric battery powered pole saw & edger.

Finally, we wanted to let you know that the physical copies of the EAN Annual Progress Report for Vermont will be hitting mailboxes within the next few days. If you had hoped to receive a paper copy and haven’t by the end of next week, please send a request with your address to Cara (crobechek@eanvt.org). Please also let Cara know if you would like multiple copies of the report to share with colleagues, at conferences, or in other venues.

The EAN Staff Team (Jared, Cara, and Mei)
News from the World
The surprising affordability of used electric vehicles

California Climate policies are fighting inequity by making used EVs more affordable for lower-income households leading to health and economic benefits.

Forbes
Maine bill to expand PUC scope to include climate goals

New legislation expands the mission of Maine’s PUC to include climate goals in their decisions, and may also lead to inclusion of equity and environmental justice.

Energy News Network
Despite pandemic, CO2 levels hit record high

The world will need larger and more sustained emission cuts – especially from fossil fuels – than occurred during the pandemic to meet our climate goals.

Washington Post

Data Download –
Vermont’s Aging Housing

The 2020/21 EAN Annual Progress Report for Vermont shows that less than 14% of Vermont’s housing stock was built since the turn of the millennium.

Much of our aging housing stock could use weatherization and other energy efficiency upgrades to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to make Vermont homes more comfortable and affordable.

This data also demonstrates one of the reasons that so many Vermonters are having trouble finding affordable housing.
Member Profile –
Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA)

Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) was established in 1974 to finance and promote affordable, safe and decent housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Since its inception, VHFA has helped 29,000 primarily first-time home buyers and their families purchase homes. It also provides financing, development and management support, subsidy administration, and tax credits for approximately 8,800 affordable apartments statewide.

EAN has been delighted to collaborate with VHFA, which is a core member of the Weatherization at Scale Network Action Team. VHFA is involved in this work because weatherization can improve the comfort, health, and affordability of housing for their clients. VHFA’s financing expertise is key to developing a strong, long-term Weatherization at Scale effort. The EAN Network is strengthened when our partners come from a wide variety of sectors, and share their expertise and knowledge.

What’s Coming Up?
Southern Vermont Jobs and the Climate Forum
On Thursday, June 24 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM the Vermont Council on Rural Development and Vermont’s Climate Economy Action Team will host a virtual forum for residents of Southern Vermont with local business leaders to highlight how confronting the climate crisis can also create economic opportunities for Vermonters.
June 24, 6:30-7:30pm
DeltaClimeVT Energy 2021 Award Reception
The DeltaClimeVT business accelerator (formerly Accel-VT) is a Vermont-based program serving North American startup and seed stage ventures focusing on climate economy innovation in the energy sector. Join them for an exciting conclusion to DeltaClimeVT Energy 2021 and help celebrate the success of their cohort companies.
June 30, 4-6pm
Comprehensive Energy Plan – regional forums
The Department of Public Service is hosting four virtual regional forums in June focused on energy planning efforts by Regional Planning Commissions and municipalities. Three of these have passed, but there is still one forum for Central Vermont on June 28 for people involved in energy planning efforts at the local level. Slides and videos from the past meetings have also been posted.
Building a Resilient Path to Vermont’s Lower Carbon Future
VT Clean Cities Coalition and VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets present a workshop showing current fuels, applications, and emissions in Vermont, demonstrating low- carbon options and energy transitions, and helping construct resilient pathways that strengthen our economy and fast track decarbonization.
July 27, 12-2pm
Vermont Climate Council Meetings
Don’t forget that all Vermont Climate Council meetings and subcommittee meetings are open to the public. The Climate Council pages on Vermont’s website includes information about meeting times and topics, as well as links to watch recordings of previous meetings, and a new public comments portal.
The Vermont Total Energy Ticker
So how is Vermont doing fighting climate change?

EAN’s Annual Progress Report for Vermont highlights the need for Vermonters to stop purchasing and installing new fossil fueled equipment when there are more affordable electric and renewable alternatives.

Burlington Free Press
2021 VT Clean Energy Industry Report Released

Clean Energy jobs were significantly impacted by COVID, but clean energy businesses shed a lower percentage of jobs than the state as a whole. Clean energy jobs still account for about 6% of Vermont’s total employment.

VT CEDF & PSD
Will Vermont join the Transportation and Climate Initiative?

Vermont is one of several states that has not yet decided whether to join TCI. This article gives background, shares ways that Vermont could join TCI, and describes what different parties see as pros and cons of the program.

Bennington Banner
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