February marked 9th consecutive warmest month on record

Earth has broken warmest-month records for nine months in a row, according to a new report by Copernicus, Europe’s climate change service.

ABC News

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Smart tech could help fix biggest barrier to building clean energy

A new report finds that ​“grid-enhancing technologies” can help gigawatts of solar and wind leapfrog the clean energy logjam — and save a ton of money.

Canary

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Major project to carry electricity through VT and NH scuttled

The Twin States Clean Energy Link, would have brought 1,200 MW of electricity from Quebec to New England through mostly buried transmission lines.



VT Digger

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Network Action Team Profile

Thermal Energy Networks

Since Autumn 2022 an EAN Network Action Team has been building a coalition to accelerate the development of Thermal Energy Networks in Vermont. Working closely with the Vermont Community Thermal Networks (VCTN) and Vermonters with expertise in regional planning, town energy committees, engineering, and environmental law, the team has just unveiled a comprehensive toolkit to help communities learn about Thermal Energy Networks and then:

• Identify opportunities in their community,
• Understand ownership options, and 
• Develop a project.  

You can explore the toolkit as a web resource or download a pdf version on the VCTN website here: How to Develop a Thermal Energy Network.

You can also view a VECAN hosted webinar about the Toolkit from March 13th to hear more from the team about this project.

Data Download: New VT Thermal Data

Fossil heating fuel sales in Vermont have decreased by over 12% since 2018. The majority of the decrease comes from a 22% reduction in sales of fuel oil and kerosene, as well as a 9% reduction in fossil gas sales. Propane sales, on the other hand, have remained relatively consistent over the last six years. 



The drop in fuel sales in 2023 was likely primarily driven by lower heating demand as a result of warmer winter temperatures. Vermont heating degree days in 2023 were the lowest measured in the last decade (heating degree days are a measure of how cold the temperature was on a given day, and compares the mean outdoor temperature to a standard temperature of 65F). Additionally, while not nearly as high as in 2022, fossil fuel prices in Vermont remained relatively high during 2023, which may have contributed to lower fossil heating fuel demand as households shifted more toward alternative fuel choices, such as wood and electricity. Specifically, we have seen increased adoption of high efficiency electric heat pumps over the last couple of years. As Efficiency Vermont recently reported, Vermont now has over 63,000 heat pumps installed in homes and businesses (11,000 of which were installed in 2023 alone). 

This data could be an indication that we are beginning to see the impacts of electrification on energy use and, therefore, on greenhouse gas emissions. Further exploration and analysis of this topic is forthcoming in a research brief that will be released next month.

Events and Opportunities

Leveraging Change Speaker Series | Grid Evolution As We “Electrify Everything”

Join fellow EAN members and public sector partners for a conversation about how the grid will need to evolve as we “Electrify Everything.” Speakers will include Rebecca Towne (Vermont Electric Co-op), Serge Abergel (Hydro-Québec), and Sarah Adams (ISO-NE). Betsy Bloomer from VELCO will moderate the conversation.

March 20 at 5 p.m. | Hugo’s Bar and Grill, Montpelier

Learn more and register

VECAN Webinar | Weatherization Repayment Assistance Program

Join VECAN and Vermont Housing Finance Agency for a webinar on the Weatherization Repayment Assistance Program (WRAP). Important and needed investments, like weatherization, often come with upfront costs but can significantly reduce energy costs over time. This program is intended to help mitigate some of the upfront cost challenges by providing customers an easy, affordable way to pay back home weatherization upgrades over time – not all at once. Learn about the benefits of WRAP, who in your community qualifies, and how you can help community members take part in the program. 

March 27 at noon – 1 p.m. on Zoom

Register here

SolaVida Event | A Celebration of Showing Up

Every day lots of Vermonters get up and go to work in organizations that are helping and healing people: teachers, doctors, nurses, therapists, caregivers, teachers, social workers, reporters, advocates, town council members, legislators, and many more. They spend their time working to make our lives better. Come join us for an evening of stories told by Vermont storytellers, celebrating the work of the “communities of compassion” that are all around us. Storytellers will include staff from Energy Action Network and VPIRG. 

Saturday April 13th 7:30 p.m. | Zenbarn, Waterbury VT

Learn more and buy tickets

VEEP Adult Programming

Registration is open for Vermont Energy Education Program’s Summer Institute for teachers: Beyond the Standards – Solutions for Climate Change! 

June 24-28, 2024 in Albany, NH

Learn more

Warmest winter on record: Several Vermont communities hit new highs

According to data from the National Weather Service, Burlington, St. Johnsbury and Woodstock all had their warmest winters on record.

VT Digger

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Key step forward for bill that would make Vermont the first state to have a ‘Climate Superfund’

The bill aims to collect damages from big oil companies for the harm their products have brought and continue to bring to VT by causing climate change.

VT Digger

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The next generation of climate leaders |

EAN’s Lena Stier

Hear from EAN’s own Lena Stier about what it’s like being a young person in the climate and energy field, including advice to employers on empowering the next generation of climate leaders.

BED Net Zero Energy

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