Total Energy News | March 2026 | |
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The weather is
getting wilder, and some see a dire signal in the data
Several of the Earth’s systems are changing faster than predicted as global temperatures rise, scientists say.
New York Times
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Revolution Wind, a key offshore wind project and object of scorn for Trump admin, comes online
The project, nearing the end of construction will ultimately generate up to 704 megawatts of electricity.
Vermont Public
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Did fake comments sink SoCal
clean heat rules?
Southern CA regulators rejected rules that would have phased down gas heaters after an industry-tied campaign generated 20,000+ critical comments.
Canary Media
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| | Profile | Heat Pump Working Group | | |
After the 2025 Annual EAN Network Summit a new Heat Pump Working Group was established with goals to:
- Ensure heat pumps increase as a reliable, cost-effective tool to lower heating costs and meet Vermont’s climate commitments, while supporting local businesses and building momentum for beneficial electrification statewide.
- Align utilities, efficiency programs, climate advocates, and contractors around clear strategies to maximize heat pump performance, redesign incentives, explore rate innovations, minimize grid costs, strengthen workforce development, and educate consumers.
This group is starting by hosting webinars to share background information and set the stage for common understanding of the issues. The first webinar in February was about what we know about heat pump installation and use in VT and the region. The second webinar will be on Monday, March 30th at noon about how to improve heat pump installation and use in Vermont.
You can find a recording of the first webinar, and a link to register for the second one on the EAN Website, along with some additional resources.
| | | Data Download | Additional costs from gasoline price increases | | |
Gasoline prices have risen significantly since the war in Iran began on February 28, 2026. In a recent blog post, EAN explored the impact of these gasoline price increases on Vermont and Vermonters.
Given constantly shifting gasoline prices, a helpful shorthand is that for every additional 50 cents per gallon increase, costs increase about $27 per month or $320 per year for an average Vermont driver. If gasoline prices increased by an average of one dollar per gallon, Vermont drivers would experience an average cost increase of $53 per month or about $640 per year.
However, these numbers are just for average drivers in Vermont. Gasoline costs can vary significantly based on miles driven and the fuel efficiency of vehicles. For instance, if gasoline prices averaged a dollar per gallon higher, an average driver of a pickup truck would pay about $61 more per month or $729 more per year. In contrast, the cost increase for an average driver of a fuel efficient hybrid would be only about $24 per month or $285 per year from the same dollar per gallon increase. And for someone who drives twice as many miles as the average, each of these estimated monthly costs double.
Transportation fuel costs for electric vehicle drivers in Vermont are not affected by rising gasoline prices and have remained relatively low and stable by comparison.
This graph and text come from the blog post Assessing the Impact of Recent Gasoline Price Increases on Vermonters.
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2026 EAN Annual Network Summit
Save the date to join other Network members and partners to gather, network, and learn together. Registration will open later this spring.
September 23, 2024 – Essex, Vermont
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How to Improve Heat Pump Installation and Use in Vermont | EAN Webinar
We’ll hear from Efficiency Vermont, Burlington Electric Department, Efficiency Maine, and Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP). This is the second of two webinars for network members and partners who are interested in heat pump optimization and communication.
March 30, 2026 at noon on Zoom
Learn more and register
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Energy Coaching Network | Online meeting
In this webinar the co-chairs of an EAN supported team exploring possibilities for an Energy Coaching Network will present a summary and analysis of more than 20 interviews conducted with Vermont service providers. They will share information about coaching services different organizations provide, gaps that currently exist, and what key stakeholders see as opportunities for an energy coaching network. There will also be time for participants to brainstorm and share their own thoughts.
April 7, 2026 at noon on Zoom
Learn more and register
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Stretch Code, HERS Raters, and Municipalities: Learning from Massachusetts | Online meeting
This meeting will provide the opportunity to learn about how Massachusetts approaches residential energy code enforcement. We will hear from Ian Finlayson, the Deputy Director of Building Codes and Policy at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, about how HERS raters coordinate and interface with municipalities to support energy code compliance in Massachusetts.
May 11, 2026 – at noon on Zoom
Learn more and register
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LEAP Energy Fair
The LEAP Energy Fair is the largest in Vermont, and it’s completely free. Tour 60 exhibits and talk to experts about heat pumps, weatherization, solar power, energy audits, electric vehicles, electric lawn tools, financing, subsidies, and much more. Attend breakout sessions on topics of special interest.
Saturday, April 11 – Duxbury, VT
Learn more
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Better Buildings By Design
Efficiency Vermont’s annual conference has a 2026 theme of “Tight Margins, Bold Moves: Building for Affordability, Efficiency, and Electrification”. If you attend, consider joining one of the EAN connected sessions on Thursday May 7th on Energy Affordability in Heating and Cooling (with Jared Duval and Kelly Lucci) and/or on Funding Weatherization (with members of the Weatherization at Scale Coalition).
May 6-7, 2026 – South Burlington, VT
Learn more and register
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2026 Vermont Walk/Bike Summit
Bennington County Regional Commission in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Transportation will host this year’s statewide Vermont Walk/Bike Summit.
May 8, 2026 – Bennington, VT
Learn more and register
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Southern Vermont Economy Summit
The ninth annual Southern Vermont Economy Summit will include a panel on “System Shifts for a Climate-Ready Business Future”.
May 12, 2026 – Dover, VT
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 any EAN Network Action Teams or Coalitions, contact Cara cara@eanvt.org.
Learn more
| | The Vermont Total Energy Ticker | |
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Fuel prices
are up, and
so is need
“I think for vulnerable folks who are low-income and struggling to afford their fuel, their utilities, I think that this has been just a double whammy for them.”
Vermont Public
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Debating the future of nuclear energy in Vermont
VT Public Service Dept. Commissioner Kerrick Johnson and VPIRG’s Ben Edgerly Walsh discuss whether nuclear power might have a future in Vermont.
Vermont Public
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How Vermont’s pioneering clean heat plan fell apart
Misinformation, politics, and a complex design brought down the once-promising program, which sought to slash emissions from heating in the cold New England state.
Canary Media
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