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Total Energy News April 2022
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Your Update on Vermont and National Energy News
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Happy Earth week! We are pleased to share two opportunities from EAN. First, we hope you will join us for our ‘Pre-Summit’ event on May 24th. Secondly, please spread the word that EAN is hiring a full-time ‘Operations & Events Manager’!
Registration is now open for the EAN Pre-summit, which will bring together Network members and public sector partners for structured discussions around our Network priorities, and will jumpstart pitch and Network Action Team planning before our Summit in September. The idea for a two part summit with an early, interactive, pitch development structure arose from Summit evaluations last year, and we look forward to putting that idea into practice.
We will be hosting this in-person Pre-Summit on May 24th from 9:30am-3pm at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. More details about the agenda for the day, pricing, and our COVID policy can be found on our website. We also welcome new sponsors for the pre-Summit and Summit, and are grateful for the early sponsor commitment from Green Mountain Power, Vermont Energy Contracting & Supply Corp, Efficiency Vermont, and others who can be seen on the website.
Please also spread the word that EAN is hiring a new Operations & Events Manager position! Mei Butler and Matt Voss will both be leaving their roles in May to head on to new opportunities. We hope you will join us in thanking them for their service to EAN! Mei joined us in October of 2020 as Dashboard & Data Manager, and she was instrumental in refining EAN’s analysis of the pathways Vermont can take to meet our emissions requirements, in developing two years of our Annual Progress Report for Vermont, and in conducting and supporting additional research for our Network. She will be with us until May 6th, before transitioning to Ecovadis to work on ramping up their ESG efforts. Matt has been supporting EAN Communication and Events since this winter, including providing support to the Climate Workforce Network Action Team. Matt will be with us through the pre-Summit, before moving to Colorado.
Wishing you well,
Jared, Cara, Mei, and Matt
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IPCC report: ‘now or never’ if world is to stave off climate disaster
“The world can still hope to stave off the worst ravages of climate breakdown but only through a “now or never” dash to a low-carbon economy and society, scientists have said in what is in effect a final warning” See here to read the IPCC report and a general summary.
The Guardian
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True costs: How the oil industry cast climate policy as an economic burden
This article describes the efforts of the fossil fuel industry to not only cast doubt on climate science, but to present climate action as something that would cost too much. However, “for 30 years, the debate has largely ignored the soaring costs of inaction.”
Grist
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Climate change could cost U.S. $2 trillion each year by end of century, OMB says
The Office of Management and Budget has tallied the estimated costs the U.S. would bear related to expected climate change impacts in the IPCC report. The result isn’t pretty — primarily due to increased wildfires, hurricanes, extreme flooding, and other disaster responses.
CNBC
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Data Download – Vermont Thermal Emissions by Fuel Sector and Fuel Type
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Currently the Vermont State Senate is considering the Clean Heat Standard (H.715).
One of the key elements of the bill is a requirement that a substantial portion (at least 32%) of clean heat credits come from delivering clean heat measures to low- and moderate-income Vermonters.
Since residential heating only makes up about 54% of thermal emissions, the services provided to low- and moderate income Vermonters will likely make up about 60% of all residential clean heat activity (32% divided by 54%).
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Network Action Team Highlight – Clean Heat Standard
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The Clean Heat Standard bill (H.715) is generating much discussion ahead of a likely vote by the full Senate next week. If you haven’t been following the conversation as closely as you’d like or if you would like to share information about it with others, here are some helpful resources:
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EAN Pre-Summit event
Come start developing connections and pitch ideas before the EAN Summit in September! This year’s Pre-Summit event will be held on Tuesday, May 24th from 9:30am-3:00pm at the Vermont College of Fine Arts’ Alumnx Hall, located at 45 College Street in Montpelier. No virtual option will be offered. All Network members and public sector partners who would usually attend our Summit are welcome to attend.
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Vermont’s Largest Job Fair
AGC/VT invites you to attend Vermont’s largest and most inclusive Job and Career Fair. This Job/Career fair is a “one stop shop”, multiple companies from many different industries and sectors in a mutual meeting location. It will be held on Tuesday, April 26th, from 10:00am- 6:00pm at Champlain Valley Expo Center in Essex Junction. The first half of the day will be geared toward students, while the second half of the day will welcome all job seekers from all over the state to attend.
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Better Buildings by Design Conference
Better Buildings by Design is a design and construction conference, which features interactive learning about building durability, efficiency, and value for both residential and commercial projects. This annual not-for-profit conference sponsored by Efficiency Vermont brings together top talent in building technology and design from across the country, and helps keep Vermont-area professionals at the forefront of their fields. It will be hosted in South Burlington on April 27th and 28th from 8:00am-4:30pm. See the full schedule here and register here.
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Engaging with Municipal Leadership in Your Community Workshop
Join VCRD’s Vermont Community Leadership Network for a workshop on Friday, April 29th from 10:00-11:30am to hear from community and municipal leaders and discuss effective ways to communicate and coordinate with municipal leadership and work together for the future of your community. Register here.
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Youth Lobby’s Rally for the Planet
Youth Lobby’s annual Rally for the Planet is back! The rally will be held on Friday, April 29th from at the Statehouse Lawn. Students from around Vermont are encouraged to join to engage in conversation with peers and legislators and learn about sustainable careers in Vermont. Learn more here.
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Vermont Walk/Bike Summit
In partnership with Vermont Agency of Transportation, and along with a number of other participating organizations and sponsors, the Addison County Regional Planning Commission in concert with the Walk-Bike Council of Addison County will host the statewide Vermont Walk/Bike Summit at the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury, VT on Friday, May 6th. This includes indoor and outdoor workshops, exhibits, demos, networking, food, and a showing of the Motherload film at 6:30pm. Register here.
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EAN Climate Workforce Network Action Team
The next coalition meeting of the new EAN Climate Workforce Network Action Team will be May 9th at noon. Alternatively, join one of the three workgroups forming and meeting in the next week: Weatherization Workforce, Communication & Outreach, or Data & Analysis. Reach out to Cara ( cara@eanvt.org) to be added to the email list for any of these. Second Monday of each month, noon-1:00pm
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EAN Weatherization at Scale Network Action Team
The Weatherization at Scale Network Action Team has been working for over a year to significantly scale up weatherization, especially for low- and moderate- income Vermonters. You are welcome to attend the monthly coalition meetings if you would like to learn more about the progress of the coalition and workgroups.
Second Monday of each month, 2:00-3:00pm
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Park Your Carbon Week
Park Your Carbon is a week-long initiative to help change Vermonters’ transportation and commuting habits by encouraging green ways of travel from May 16th through May 20th. Participants are encouraged to do it for a day, a week or make it a habit. Whether this means biking, walking, sharing your ride, taking the bus, or working from home, this week celebrates the lack of car use. Find more information here.
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Resilient Vermont 2022 Conference, Resilience Heroes
Bringing together community leaders and groups working to celebrate and strengthen Vermont’s resilience, this is a conference for Vermonters seeking to engage with each other, their communities, and the state at large through meaningful and interdisciplinary discussions and problem-solving. It will be hosted at Norwich University on Friday, May 20th– register and learn more here.
Also, nominate a ‘Resilience Hero’, who has demonstrated resilience in their work and community. Self-nominations are welcome. Winners will be announced at the conference and earn monetary awards to continue building Vermont’s resilience. The nomination form is due May 1st.
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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 needs to reduce emissions by 2025. Can it stick the landing?
Will Vermont meet our emissions reduction requirements by 2025 and 2030? This article provides context about policies under consideration, the degree of confidence we can have, and the possible outcomes if Vermont doesn’t meet legal deadlines.
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Clean heat bill advances toward key vote in the Vermont Senate
The Clean Heat Standard passed through the Senate Natural Resources & Energy committee, as detailed above, and is now headed for a vote of the full Senate. However, it is not clear whether the Governor will support the bill.
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As lawmakers debate fare-free, riders have mixed thoughts about the service they want
Question marks loom over whether revenue ought to be allotted to keep fare-free travel on Green Mountain Transit routes, or whether fares ought to be reinstated to allow revenue to spur more frequent service. However, high fuel prices also make the investment complicated.
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Have an upcoming event or news story to share? Let us know.
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