Total Energy News June 2023
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Your Update on Vermont and National Energy News
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We hope you are having an enjoyable start to summer. Here at EAN we are spending these rainy days planning for our Annual Summit (September 28 and 29). We have just opened registration, and hope you will also consider being involved in submitting a pitch, or nominating a peer for one of our annual awards.
Annual Summit Registration: EAN’s 2023 Network Summit on September 28 will include a chance to connect with other Network members and public sector partners, learn more about where Vermont stands relative to our energy and emissions reduction commitments, and help choose Network priorities to make breakthrough energy progress, while creating a more just, thriving, and sustainable future for Vermonters. This year we will also be hosting a second half-day on September 29 for Network Action Teams to collaborate, learn from one another, and problem solve together. Accommodation at Sugarbush the night of September 28 is also an option for those who would enjoy a chance for more informal networking. Learn more about the summit and register today.
Pitches: In advance of the Summit, EAN is once again calling for pitches that respond to the question: What is most needed now for Vermont to meet our greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements in ways that will create a more just, thriving, and sustainable future for Vermonters? Winning pitches will have the opportunity to present at the EAN Summit and to create Network Action Teams. Pitch proposals are due by August 10. If you are interested in being involved in a pitch – either with a new idea, or with an idea that is already in discussion – please let Cara know (cara@eanvt.org), and she will make sure to connect you with others discussing similar ideas.
EAN Awards: Nominations are open for EAN’s two annual awards, which will again be presented at our Summit. The Anne & Arthur Berndt Award honors Network members who have demonstrated vision, leadership, and commitment to creating a renewable energy future for Vermont. The Leigh Seddon Award honors Network members who have made a significant volunteer commitment to EAN, contributed research or analysis that helps advance EAN’s mission, and/or mentored newer EAN members or staff. Please consider nominating EAN members or public sector partners for either or both of these awards before September 1.
All the best,
Cara, Jared, and Lena
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New wood heat options come with climate trade-offs
The 3rd article in this series describes Maine’s forests as crucial to absorb carbon emissions, a heat source for industries trying to decarbonize, and for residents struggling with high oil costs.
The Maine Monitor
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Female electricians: a climate solution
The US needs a million more electricians to meet its climate goals. Breaking down barriers for women in the industry could help recruit them.
BBC
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Massachusetts’ new ‘green bank’
Massachusetts’ recently established Community Climate Bank could help jumpstart green building and renovation projects to help meet the state’s climate goals, and bring down housing and energy costs for low-income residents.
WBUR
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Data Download: Vermont’s historical GHG emissions and future requirements
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Utilizing data from the latest Vermont Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Forecast released by the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) in April, EAN has updated our graph showing Vermont’s historical emissions as compared to our future emissions reduction requirements. Each sector is shown in its own color, with actual emissions in darker colors and future requirements (including proportional sectoral targets) shown in lighter colors.
Vermont’s latest GHG inventory includes estimates for Vermont’s annual statewide GHG emissions through 2020. It is important to note that 2020 was an outlier year for VT’s GHG emissions, including a 15% decline in transportation emissions between 2019 and 2020 related to the reduced vehicle travel after the pandemic began in March of 2020. However, initial data suggest that gasoline and diesel sales increased by about 8.5% from 2020 to 2021, so a (partial) rebound in transportation emissions from their 2020 low will be apparent in future inventories.
The Inventory also included future projections for statewide emissions in 2025 and 2030, attempting to take into account business as usual projections as well as the anticipated impact of recently passed policies, specifically the Advanced Clean Cars II and Advanced Clean Trucks rules. The forecast shows significant gaps between ANR’s projected emissions and Vermont’s legal obligations for both 2025 and 2030, absent additional policy solutions. For instance, ANR projects 2030 emissions at 7.32 MMTCO2e on a business as usual trajectory, far above the GWSA legal requirement of 5.17 MMTCO2e.
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Introducing EAN’s 2023 Interns
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EAN’s Internship program is now in it’s 4th year, allowing two summer interns to work closely with EAN Senior Fellow Christine Donovan to pursue research on Vermont climate and energy topics. Learn more about our 2023 interns and their research below, and register for our lunch-and-learn webinar on August 10th at noon to hear our interns present the results of their 10-week research projects!
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Evelyn Hatem
Dartmouth ’24
Evelyn is a rising senior at Dartmouth College where she majors in Environmental Studies and Public Policy, with a focus on energy and food systems. Originally from New Hampshire, she is excited to learn about and contribute to New England’s energy transition. This summer, she is researching the concept of the social cost of carbon and how it is being implemented in Vermont’s climate policy. In her free time, she enjoys racing in triathlons and hiking in the White Mountains.
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Josh Valentine
Middlebury ’24
Josh is a rising senior at Middlebury College. He is majoring in Environmental Economics and is a member of the Nordic Ski Team. He grew up in central New Hampshire and New Brunswick, Canada, and attended Green Mountain Valley School in VT. This summer, he is researching VT’s heat pump market to design a “Heat Pump Action Plan” to help scale sales, installations, and utilization to help VT achieve its GHG reduction requirements. Personal interests include backcountry skiing, fly fishing, craft beer, road biking, & hiking!
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EAN 2023 Annual Summit
This year’s Summit will return to Sugarbush Resort, where our traditional EAN Summit will take place on September 28th with a new second day on September 29th that will focused on Network Action Teams, learning from one another, and planning.
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Business Sense trainings – Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund’s Business Coaching Program launched Business Sense, a six-module training series for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The series provides essential tools and information resources in areas such as financials, operations, sales and marketing, human resources, leadership, and governance. Business Sense aims to help businesses thrive. The first two modules, Financial Literacy and Business Operations, have been released and the remaining four modules will be launching soon.
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VCRD’s Vermont Community Leadership Summit
Save the Date for the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s 2023 Vermont Community Leadership Summit! Join fellow community builders to gain new skills, meet like-minded individuals, share success stories, and explore big ideas for the future of Vermont.
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VEEP Summer Institute for teachers
Tell teachers about the Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP)/New Hampshire Energy Education Project (NHEEP) Summer Institute on “Jumping from Joy to Action: Empowering Energy and Climate changemakers through play, hope, and wonder”.
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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.
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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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Yes in our backyards
Bill McKibben writes “It’s time progressives like me learned to love the green building boom.”
Mother Jones
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Is Vermont’s grid ready for electrification?
Efficiency Vermont discusses Vermont’s grid challenges, the work of upgrading the grid, and the future benefits of this work.
Seven Days
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Burlingtonians debate the use of biomass and district energy
The urgency of climate change has led to new conversations about whether burning wood for energy helps or hurts the effort to reduce GHG emissions.
VT Digger
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Have an upcoming event or news story to share? Let us know.
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