Vermont has a major moral imperative, economic opportunity, and legal requirement to achieve our 2025, 2030, and 2050 energy and GHG emissions reduction commitments in ways that “create a more just, thriving, and sustainable future” for Vermonters. That is why EAN is seeking pitches for promising opportunities to help Vermont rapidly, cost-effectively, and equitably reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas pollution.
Six to nine pitches will be selected to present at the EAN Summit September 15, 2021. Pitch presentations will be capped at 5 minutes with a Q&A period afterwards. Two pitches will be selected to receive facilitation support from EAN staff and seed funding of up to $15,000. Up to three other pitches will be selected to receive EAN staff consultations and seed funding of up to $5,000.
The deadline for 2021 pitch submissions was Sunday, August 15, 2021. Those who submit a pitch are committing to work on moving it forward throughout the year, with support from EAN staff and other Network members.
Pitch Selection Criteria
EAN’s mission is to achieve Vermont’s climate and energy commitments in ways that create a more just, thriving, and sustainable future for Vermonters.
With that mission in mind, we are seeking strategic interventions in the energy system that will:
- Promote energy equity – that all people should have access to reliable, safe, and affordable sources of energy; protection from a disproportionate share of negative impacts or externalities associated with building and operating our energy supply and distribution systems; and equitable distribution of and access to benefits from these systems.
- Provide significant reductions in fossil fuel use and GHG pollution from energy, which are highest in the buildings (thermal) and transportation sectors. Pitches related to cross sector GHG emissions reduction, or from beyond the thermal and transportation sectors, will also be welcome.
- Create a stronger and more just Vermont economy.
- Encourage growth in the number of clean energy jobs in Vermont.
- Help Vermonters become more energy-secure and resilient.
- Promote or protect public health.
- Support an energy landscape that both benefits from and protects our natural resources and working lands.
- Have committed leadership from multiple network member organizations and/or across multiple sectors (ie energy, health, education, etc.)
- Are timely and ready to be incorporated into the Climate Council and/or Comprehensive Energy Plan recommendations or take advantage of Federal funding.
Pitch Application
The pitch deadline has now passed and no additional pitches are being accepted.
EAN support for Network Action Teams
In order to ensure that selected pitches lead to concrete action, EAN staff will provide network members with support to form Network Action Teams. These Action Teams allow network members to work together to co-create the best strategies for moving us toward achieving our mission.
Two pitches will be selected to receive full EAN staff support which can include organizing and facilitation of meetings, project planning, and research, as well as seed grants of up to $15,000. Examples of the Network Action Teams selected at the 2020 EAN summit can be seen here.
Up to three additional Network Action Teams will receive support from EAN in the form of regular check-in consultations as needed, templates for supporting the work, and seed grants of up to $5,000.
After they are selected, both types of Network Action Teams will be expected to designate a chair or co-chairs to coordinate with EAN, and will provide a workplan and budget for use of EAN funds.
Pitch and Network Action Team Levels
Pitches and Network Action Teams can be designed at different levels to build capacity for work that is already underway in our network, or to shepherd a new idea from conception to implementation:
- Level One teams are assembling a diverse group of people who want to work on a particular issue, refining ideas, and ensuring that stakeholders most impacted by the issue are part of the co-creation of strategy.
- Level Two teams work together to create a campaign plan, draft a grant proposal, complete necessary research, or create some other body of work.
- Level Three teams are beginning to implement collaborative strategies in support of our mission.
See more below (Thanks to the RE-AMP Network for the Action Team model):
| Level One Action Team | Level Two Action Team | Level Three Action Team | |
| Purpose | Gather people, information, insights. Generate and refine ideas. | Co-create strategies or oversee a focused piece of research that can make a major stride toward VT’s goals and achieving our shared mission. | Implement strategies in support of our mission. |
| Outcomes | A diverse team, inclusive of representatives of impacted communities, with a clear area of focus around which to co-create strategy for achieving our mission, or oversee research necessary to improve our analysis.
Additionally, learning is shared with the rest of our Network. | A written campaign plan; a grant proposal; a research design; report; or a toolkit. Additionally, learning is shared with the rest of our Network. | Strategy is implemented with ownership by one or more member organizations. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a pitch?
A. EAN approaches our work together through five strategic leverage areas to enable systemic change at a scale and pace necessary to achieve Vermont’s energy & emissions commitments: Policy & Regulatory Reform, Public Engagement, Workforce Development/Workforce Re-Training, Technology Innovation, Capital Mobilization. Pitches can address any of these strategic leverage areas. Previous pitches have included policy proposals, pilot projects, and new program ideas.
Q: Do you need to have a full team to submit a pitch?
A: You do not have to have members of an Action Team identified to submit a pitch. Additionally, you do not have to be a representative of an EAN member organization to submit a pitch. EAN staff will help ensure that selected pitches are supported by members and partners who can move them forward, and Action Teams can (and in some cases should) include participants from outside the network as well. However, joint pitch proposals from multiple network organizations are encouraged and priority will be given to pitches with multiple network members already committed – especially for Level 2 and Level 3 pitches.
Q: What am I committing to if I submit a pitch and it is selected by the EAN members and Board to move forward?A. If your pitch is selected, it is expected that you will work with other EAN members and partners and EAN staff to establish a Network Action Team to move the concept forward over the following year. Network Action Team leaders moving forward pitches from the 2020 Summit have committed 1-4 hours per week on their projects. Most of the projects have established a steering committee and an advisory committee (or coalition). Some have also established additional work groups.
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