Now is the time for all EAN Network Members and Public Partners to vote on Pitches.

Plus Summit attendees who fill in the Summit evaluation this week are eligible to be in the drawing for a $250 prize.

 
Total Energy News – September 2021
Your Update on Vermont and National Energy News
Greetings!
Thanks to those of you who attended the 2021 EAN Network Summit in person or online! It was wonderful to reconnect with people in person. And despite some technical challenges, we hear that those who joined online also benefited from the content of the Summit.

Voting on pitches
As part of our annual summit, EAN seeks pitches for promising opportunities to help Vermont rapidly, cost-effectively, and equitably reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas pollution. In 2021, 17 pitches were submitted to EAN. A pitch selection committee chose 7 of those to present at the EAN Summit. Two of those pitches will be selected to receive facilitation support from EAN staff and seed funding of up to $15,000, and up to three other pitches will be selected to receive EAN staff consultations and seed funding of up to $5,000.  Now it is time for all EAN Members and Public Partners to vote on the pitches – whether you attended the summit or not. The voting deadline is September 30. You can see all details about the seven pitches, who is eligible to vote, and how to vote on the EAN website.
Summit Evaluation
If you attended the Summit in person or online, we hope you will find the time to provide us with your full feedback on the event in this 5 minute survey, to let us know more about your experience and how to improve our Summits in the future. To help incentivize your attention to the survey, one person who completes the survey by September 24th will win $250 towards a green energy purchase of their choice –a ton of wood pellets? an energy audit? an electric lawn mower or snow blower? gear to make walk or bike commuting more safe or comfortable in all weather? The winner will get to choose. Sue Minter – winner of our EAN Network Survey in the fall – ended up with an electric pole saw kit, which you can see her testing out in the photo here.

Climate Council Public Engagement
We hope you are already aware of the Stakeholder Engagement events with the Vermont Climate Council – starting today. You can see details about those below or on the new Climate Council website.

We hope you are all enjoying a lovely fall and staying well,

The EAN Staff Team (Jared, Cara, and Mei)
News from the World
NY Gov. signs bill banning sale of ICE vehicles after 2035

New York’s Governor Hochul signed legislation making NY the second state to ban sales of internal combustion energy cars by 2035.

Clean Technica
Lawmakers who wrote the MA climate bill worry the state won’t achieve it

Massachusetts lawmakers have watched as the state has fallen behind mandates in their climate bill.
Boston Globe
Western wildfires are sending carbon offsets up in smoke

Eighty-six large forest fires are burning across 12 states. Among the trees they’re torching are ones being used as carbon credits. 

Gizmodo
Data Download – Thermal Emissions from EAN Emissions Reduction Pathways Model
This graphic from the EAN Emissions Reductions Pathways Model Whitepaper highlights the thermal pathway reductions modeled for 2025 and 2030. Three take-aways from the modeling are:

  1. In the long run, Electrification will have the greatest impact on thermal GHG reductions.
  2. Efficient wood stoves and systems are initially a very important focus, but over time heat pumps have a greater impact.
  3. Although Weatherization itself does not result in the most reductions, the effectiveness of the other Thermal pathways depends on it.

The Whitepaper, a static version of the model, and a recording of a webinar about the model can all be seen on the EAN website here.
Network Action Team Profile
Clean Heat Standard
Vermonters spend at least $750 million per year to purchase fossil heating fuels that we know we can no longer responsibly burn. Importing those fuels imposes a huge drain on the Vermont economy and exposes Vermont families and businesses to substantial fuel price volatility in global fossil markets. Fuel oil, propane, and gas bills also impose substantial and disproportionately high energy cost burdens on lower-income households. Fossil-fuels used for thermal purposes account for 34% of Vermont’s total GHG emissions. Those emissions must be reduced by at least 26% below 2005 levels by 2025 and then by 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050 (both compared to 1990) to meet our carbon reduction goals.

An EAN Network action team has been convening since November to study this issue and will be releasing a white paper in October that aims to tackle these problems through a performance-based program, the Clean Heat Standard, that would ensure that Vermont’s heat suppliers and local enterprises transform their businesses and the state’s heating sector to reduce thermal sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fossil heating costs.

A webinar to discuss the concept is planned for Friday October 22 from noon-1:30 pm.
What’s Coming Up?
Clean Heat Standard Webinar
Learn more about how a Clean Heat Standard would ensure that Vermont’s heat suppliers and local enterprises transform their businesses and the state’s heating sector to reduce thermal sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fossil heating costs.
Friday October 22, noon-1:30 pm.
Vermont Climate Council Meetings
All Vermont Climate Council meetings and subcommittee meetings are open to the public. The Climate Council has a new website here.

In addition Stakeholder Engagement events are starting this week!

  • Tuesday, September 21, 5:00-7:00pm: Elmore State Park Pavilion | 856 VT-12, Elmore
  • Wednesday, September 22, 5:00-7:00pm: Emerald Lake State Park Pavilion | 65 Emerald Lake Ln, East Dorset
  • Thursday, September 23, 5:00-7:00pm: Lakeside Park Pavilion | 32 Mill St, Island Pond
  • Sunday, September 26, 3:00-5:00pm: Airport Park Pavilion | 500 Colchester Point Rd, Colchester
  • Thursday, September 30, 6:00-7:30pm: Virtual event
  • Tuesday, October 5, 6:00-7:30pm: Virtual event for BIPOC communities
  • Wednesday, October 6, 6:00-7:30pm: Virtual event
Youth Launch into Climate Justice
The Youth Launch into Climate Justice will match young people with the resources and connections they need to make a difference in the state and the world. focused on the actions that they can take right now to make a difference, the education they need to advocate, and the connections to each other that are vital for this work, this even will start what they hope to be a school year of unprecedented action.
Saturday September 25, 11:00am-2:00pm
VT State House lawn Montpelier
Renewable Energy Vermont Conference
REV2021: Climate Action, Equity & Resilience will take place in two parts: Part One provides a deep dive into climate innovation, examining the technologies, strategies, and policies we need to achieve our climate goals. Part Two focuses on building a just transition and ensuring that the benefits of a clean energy economy accrue to everyone.
October 18, 19, and 26
The Vermont Total Energy Ticker
Climate Action Plan racing towards December deadline

Time is ticking down for VT’s Climate Council to adopt a plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and complying with the Global Warming Solutions Act.
And starting this week, the council is asking Vermonters to weigh in.

Vermont Public Radio
Experts expect climate change to cause more flooding in Vermont

Since Irene hit Vermont Aug. 27, 2011, many have warned that climate change would make similar rain and floods more frequent. This article looks at the ways that Vermont is, and is not, ready for those changes.

VT Digger
New VT incentives boost geothermal heat pumps

Geothermal Heat Pump technology has strong potential to help electrify homes, but high costs and logistical challenges still put it out of reach for most homeowners. Vermont has a new incentive program to help address that issue.

Energy News Network
Have an upcoming event or news story to share? Let us know.