Total Energy News – November 2021 |
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Your Update on Vermont and National Energy News |
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Here we are in the final weeks before the initial Vermont Climate Action Plan is due on December 1st. We know that is keeping many of you as busy, as it is keeping us.
EAN has hosted two webinars within the past month which are both related to recommendations that are currently part of the draft Climate Action Plan, and which also relate to the work of EAN Network Action Teams. Both are available as recordings if you were unable to attend them.
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Benefits of TCI-P – This webinar from November 12 introduced the Transportation and Climate Initiative Program, shared short examples of the kinds of home-grown transportation innovations that could expand with TCI-P funding, and invited attendees to participate in a new Network Action Team advancing a collaborative process to identify the highest impact opportunities, in terms of cost-effective and equitable greenhouse gas reduction strategies and actions, for use of TCI revenue in Vermont. Please consider joining the first advisory meeting of that group on November 19 at noon.
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Clean Heat Standard – This webinar from October 22 explained the proposed Clean Heat performance Standard, which has been developed over the past year by a Network Action Team led by Rich Cowart and Chris Neme.
We hope you have the chance for some rest next week,
The EAN Staff Team (Jared, Cara, and Mei)
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MA needs more workers to meet efficiency goals
A recent report shows that Massachusetts will need an additional 35,000 workers in energy efficiency to hit its targets for 2030 and beyond.
Energy News Network
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Winter heating bills loom as the next inflation threat
Fossil fuel prices decreased during the pandemic but are now rising rapidly. Natural gas, heating oil, and propane prices have almost doubled since last year.
NY Times
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The problem of targeting “net-zero” GHG emissions
This article looks at national and corporate net-zero targets, and highlights some key questions to ask when evaluating net-zero commitments.
Vox
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Data Download – Vermont Clean Energy Industry Report |
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The Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund and Department of Public Service have released their 8th Vermont Clean Energy Industry Report. This report shows the dramatic changes in the clean energy labor market due to COVID-19. Clean energy jobs decreased by 7.4% between the last quarters of 2019 and 2020. This was a smaller decrease than the 8.6% decrease in the economy as a whole. Nonetheless, it did wipe out four years of job growth.
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Network Action Team Profile – Climate Workforce |
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The Global Warming Solutions Act set requirements to rapidly reduce Vermont’s carbon emissions. However, we will need more workers to keep pace with the state’s GHG reduction targets and seize the opportunity to transform our energy systems and cut emissions.
To address this issue, a steering committee for a new Climate Workforce Network Action Team has started meeting, with the intention of helping develop a plan for how we will train thousands of Vermonters with the skills to electrify our transportation sector, install clean energy solutions, weatherize homes, build net zero commercial buildings, and sustainably manage our working lands and forests. The goal of this group is to develop a robust and coordinated workforce training infrastructure, in an equitable and inclusive manner, that identifies prospective employees and connects them with businesses, training, and educational opportunities, so that Vermont has enough workers to achieve our GHG reduction goals.
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EAN Benefits of TCI Advisory Meeting
All are welcome to this meeting to discuss advancing a collaborative process to identify the highest impact investment opportunities, in terms of cost-effective and equitable greenhouse gas reduction strategies and actions, for Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) revenue in Vermont.
Friday, November 19, noon-1pm
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EAN Climate Workforce Coalition – Kickoff meeting
Join the initial conversation of the Climate Workforce Coalition as we meet the challenge of equitably and inclusively growing Vermont’s climate workforce.
Monday, December 6, noon-1:30pm
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VECAN Conference
The 14th Annual Community Energy and Climate Action Conference is coming up soon. The free, five-day, online series will take place Saturday December 4th (9-noon), and Monday through Thursday December 6th – 9th (noon – 1:15 each day).
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RFI – Demonstration of Interest in Weatherization Workforce Development Program
Efficiency Vermont seeks input from organizations that are considering participation in the Weatherization Workforce Development Program, wherein participants shall be awarded funding by Efficiency Vermont in exchange for implementing weatherization workforce development programs to bring new entrants into Vermont’s weatherization workforce in compliance with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) requirements.
Responses due December 20th
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Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program) Pilot
The DOE Communities LEAP Pilot aims to facilitate sustained community-wide economic and environmental benefits primarily through DOE’s clean energy deployment work. This opportunity is specifically open to low-income, energy-burdened communities that are also experiencing either direct environmental justice impacts, or direct economic impacts from a shift away from historical reliance on fossil fuels. Under the Communities LEAP Pilot, DOE will provide supportive services valued at up to $16M for community-driven clean energy transitions.
Registration due December 15
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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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UVM study: Vermont policies don’t solve energy vulnerability
A UVM Study indicates that the state’s policies often leave behind Vermonters who rent their homes, have low income, or are BIPOC.
VT Digger
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Vermont introduces all-electric school buses
Three school districts in northern and central Vermont are getting electric school buses. The first four buses arrived in late October.
NBC5
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Burlington asks voters to approve a ‘net-zero energy’ bond
The $20 million bond would be paid back through future electricity revenue and would not increase taxes on residents.
Energy News Network
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Have an upcoming event or news story to share? Let us know.
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