Summer is on its way, and EAN is offering the chance for one lucky Network member or public sector partner who takes our 2023 EAN survey to get a free electric lawn mower (or their choice of another piece of electric equipment to replace fossil fueled equipment, up to $400 of value). If you are a Network member or public sector partner, please fill out the survey to help us learn what EAN is doing well, what we can improve, and what we should prioritize in the coming year, to help us better serve our Members and the state of Vermont.

Now is also the time to add EAN’s June and September gatherings to your calendar! Registration for the June 1st pre-Summit Network Gathering in Montpelier is now open, with reduced registration rates extended through May 12th. The pre-Summit Network Gathering will be a chance to coordinate with other Network Members and Public Sector Partners around our shared priorities, to learn more about the work of EAN’s Network Action Teams, and to plan new pitches. Register here.

Please also SAVE THE DATE for the 2023 EAN Summit! This year’s summit will return to Sugarbush Resort, where our traditional EAN Summit will take place on September 28th. We are considering extending this event to include a second day on September 29th focused on Network Action Teams learning from one another and planning (pending responses about interest in a second day on the EAN Survey).

EAN has newly updated this graph for our upcoming 2023 Annual Progress Report for Vermont. This graph shows the difference in how Vermont homes are heated across different income levels and tenure types (owned or rented). While there are multiple interesting insights from this data, one striking finding is the disproportionate dependence among lower-income Vermonters on expensive heating fuels like fuel oil. This highlights the importance of helping those Vermonters, in particular, transition to more affordable and cleaner heating sources.

Reconnect with Network members and public sector partners, brainstorm and discuss priorities for the Network, and collaborate around developing pitches for the September annual Summit.

This year’s Summit will return to Sugarbush Resort, where our traditional EAN Summit will take place on September 28th with a potential second day on September 29th focused on Network Action Teams, learning from one another, and planning.

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.

The University of Vermont Professional and Continuing Education Department (UVM PACE), is developing a plan for helping Vermont businesses and organizations close gaps in public and nonprofit sector education and training.

To guide this work, UVM PACE is surveying employers to learn more about the skills needed most in the nonprofit and public sectors, along with efforts already underway to close skills gaps.

Take the Survey by May 15th

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”.

The State of Vermont is working proactively to find more locations for charging stations. In partnership with Drive Electric Vermont, the State is seeking to identify property and business owners interested in supporting plug-in electric vehicle (EV) charging or providing services associated with the installation and management of charging. Those interested in partnering with the State can fill out a survey at https://arcg.is/DDeDT to offer their collaboration.

Vermont & Granite State Clean Cities are co-sponsoring an Alternative Vehicle and Equipment Showcase. This extensive clean vehicle, equipment, and technology event will bring together decision-makers and end-users across New England. Learn about many on-ramps to the cleaner vehicle transition: biodiesel, electric, hydrogen, idle-reduction, natural gas, propane, and telematics. Attend presentations on Workforce Development, Fleet Solutions & Infrastructure, and Funding & Incentives. And join the Vehicle Ride & Drive ON THE RACETRACK.

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.

All Vermont Climate Council meetings and subcommittee meetings are open to the public, with all details on the Climate Council website.