There is a lot happening at EAN this summer as we prepare for the 2021 Network Summit on September 15! Learn more about pitch opportunities and upcoming lunch-and-learns.

 
Total Energy News – July 2021
Your Update on Vermont and National Energy News
Greetings!
We hope you have already marked your calendar to join us on September 15th at Sugarbush, and have seen the request for pitches for promising opportunities to help Vermont rapidly, cost-effectively, and equitably reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas pollution, which will again be part of the Summit. If you are considering submitting a pitch and would like to coordinate with others, you are invited to attend one or more pitch cultivation conversations:

  • Transportation Sector Pitch Development Conversation – July 21, 3:30-5PM. Register here
  • Thermal Sector Pitch Development Conversation – July 27, 10-11:30am. Register here
  • Total Energy/ Multi-Sector Pitch Development Conversation – July 28, 10-11:30am. Register here

In addition, we will be hosting two lunch-and-learns in the coming weeks:
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Pathways Model and white paper presentation with EAN’s Mei Butler – August 3, noon-1pm Register here
  • EAN’s 2021 interns Raquel Smith and Ellie Curtis will showcase their research on Green Energy Workforce and Energy and Climate Equity – August 12, noon-1pm Register here

Please be in touch with and questions about the summit and pitch processes. We are looking forward to getting together in person this Fall!

The EAN Staff Team (Jared, Cara, and Mei)
News from the World
To Improve Energy Equity – More Data is Needed

Addressing equity disparities and ensuring a clean energy transition that benefits everyone requires better data on how disadvantaged communities are using energy now.

Utility Dive
How do States Plan to Meet Their Climate Commitments?

Climate XChange has a new white paper analyzing the trends and comprehensiveness of 2030 state climate action plans, including common building blocks and areas for improvement.

Climate XChange
European Commission Proposes Legislation Towards Net-Zero

This Article lays out 10 key policies in the EU plan to slash emissions by getting rid of fossil fuel use. For each policy the article shares the plan, what that means, and initial reactions.

Politico
Data Download
EAN Emissions Reduction Pathways Model
The EAN Emissions Reduction Pathways Model shows that it is possible to meet the energy portions of our 2025 and 2030 emissions reduction commitments under the Global Warming Solutions Act with currently available energy technologies and proven best practices.

However, while the EAN Pathways Model shows that emissions reductions are technically possible, it will require significant policy action and investments to achieve the scale and pace of change needed. The Model relies mainly on adoption of efficient and renewable technologies along with some mode changes in transportation to collectively reduce emissions. It illustrates what we currently see as the most feasible combination of measures to allow us to reach our GWSA commitments.

The chart above shows the cumulative emissions reductions that could be achieved using the highest impact measures from the EAN Pathways Model for 2025.

Learn more about this by reading the key findings from our Annual Progress Report for Vermont. And consider joining EAN’s Mei Butler for a presentation about the model and accompanying white paper on August 3 at noon.
EAN Profile
EAN 2021 Summer Interns
EAN has been lucky to have a second year of our Summer Internship program guided by EAN Senior Fellow Christine Donovan. Please consider joining us for a lunch-and-learn presentation by our interns on August 12 at noon! You can learn more about Ellie and Raquel’s research below, and register for the webinar on Zoom here.
A healthy and sustainable workforce is an integral part of achieving Vermont’s energy goals, but has also been a great challenge due to a number of demographic issues. Raquel Smith is focusing on workforce development in the thermal sector, specifically looking at weatherization, building electrification, and fuel switching. She intends to provide high-level estimates of the necessary size of our workforce, using Vermont’s energy goals as reference to understand what scaling will look like from the number of workers we have now, to how many we will need. Those results lead to a discussion on where these workers could come from, ranging from training new workers, transitioning existing workers, and attracting new people to Vermont. After consulting with clean energy companies, training organizations, and organizations from other sectors doing inspiring work, Raquel will delve into these topics in order to provide a sense of where our workforce needs to be, and what we might do to arrive there.
As Vermont grapples with the dual issues of high greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector and inequitable transportation burdens, greater electric vehicle (EV) adoption will undoubtedly be a part of state policy solutions. However, like most early adoption technologies, EV distribution remains concentrated in the state’s more urban and affluent areas. This presentation will share results of an EAN Internship Project completed this summer that reviewed and assessed Vermont EV and efficient vehicle incentive programs. The purpose of the project was to understand whether state funds are reaching the areas of highest need for lower cost, efficient transportation. In this presentation, Ellery (“Ellie”) Curtis will examine the current state of EV uptake in Vermont, describe how other states assess their EV programs, and recommend ways Vermont can proactively design and assess our programs in ways that address both climate change and the historical marginalization of certain communities through an energy justice lens.
What’s Coming Up?
EAN Pitch Development Conversations
EAN is seeking pitches for promising opportunities to help Vermont rapidly, cost-effectively, and equitably reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas pollution. Join a pitch cultivation conversation to brainstorm and coordinate with others in advance of the 2021 EAN Summit.

  • Transportation Sector Pitch Development Conversation – July 21, 3:30-5PM. Register here
  • Thermal Sector Pitch Development Conversation – July 27, 10-11:30am. Register here
  • Total Energy/ Multi-Sector Pitch Development Conversation – July 28, 10-11:30am. Register here
EAN GHG Emissions Reduction Model
Join EAN to learn more about our Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Pathways Model and white paper with Mei Butler, EAN’s Data and Dashboard Manager.
August 3 at noon
Green Energy Workforce/Energy & Climate Equity
EAN’s 2021 interns Raquel Smith and Ellie Curtis will showcase their research on Green Energy Workforce, and Energy and Climate Equity.
August 12 at noon
EAN 2021 Network Summit
EAN’s Annual Summit is a time to:
  • Get the latest data and analysis on where Vermont stands relative to our renewable energy and emissions reduction commitments.
  • Hear visionary, strategic proposals about how we can rapidly, cost-effectively, and equitably reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas pollution.
  • Connect and network with other leaders working on and passionate about energy and climate issues.
September 15 at Sugarbush Resort
Medium and Heavy Duty Electric Vehicle Virtual Expo
Join Vermont Clean Cities, Granite State Clean Cities, and Maine Clean Communities for a webinar in the first of a series geared towards public & private Fleet & Business Managers, Public Works Directors & other decision-makers. Topics will include electric vehicles and incentives, challenges specific to Northern New England, especially cold weather and hilly terrain, how medium and heavy-duty electric vehicles will help us accomplish our net-zero energy goals, planning for future development, as well as opportunities for development.
July 22, 10:30am -12:30pm
Building a Resilient Path to Vermont’s Lower Carbon Future
VT Clean Cities Coalition and VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets present a workshop showing current fuels, applications, and emissions in Vermont, demonstrating low- carbon options and energy transitions, and helping construct resilient pathways that strengthen our economy and fast track decarbonization.
July 27, 12-2pm
Upper Valley Local Energy Showcase
Vital Communities is hosting an online summer showcase featuring five stories of local energy action from across their region, including Mow Electric Day and other projects from the new energy committee in Rochester, VT, an annual town-wide update and outreach to businesses in Hanover, NH, an Electric Vehicle Ambassadors program in Thetford, VT, audits on town buildings led by the new energy committee in Newbury, NH, outreach to mobile home residents in Hartford and other Vermont towns.
August 3, 7-8 pm
Affordable Scale Renewable Energy Program RFI
The Clean Energy Development Fund and Public Service Department released a Request For Information (RFI) regarding the design and implementation of an Affordable Community-Scale Renewable Energy Program (Program). The Program was created by the Vermont General Assembly in Act 74 of the 2021 legislative session. Act 74 appropriates $10 million to the Department of Public Service for the Program to “support the creation of renewable energy projects for Vermonters with low-income” and stipulates that the Program shall be developed “consistent with the parameters of the Clean Energy Development Fund”.
Responses due August 18, 2021
Vermont Climate Council Meetings
Don’t forget that all Vermont Climate Council meetings and subcommittee meetings are open to the public. The Climate Council pages on Vermont’s website includes information about meeting times and topics, as well as links to watch recordings of previous meetings.nd a new public comments portal.
The Vermont Total Energy Ticker
The Pacific Northwest is Being Scorched by a Heat Wave. Could it Happen in Vermont?

Vermont is vulnerable to extreme heatwaves like those that have hit the Northwestern US. The situation out West is a reminder off the need to prepare to protect vulnerable populations for heat waves.

VT Digger
Efficiency Vermont Joins Effort to Reduce Energy Burden of Transportation

As a result of the passage of Act 151, Efficiency Vermont will now be able to use a portion of the Energy Efficiency Charge for greenhouse gas emissions reduction in the transportation sector.

Brattleboro Reformer
Will Moving Beyond Fossil Fuels Help or Hurt Low-Income Vermonters?

As part of the Vermont Conversation, David Goodman speaks with EAN’s Jared Duval about his personal connection to energy equity and EAN’s mission to make energy systems more equitable.

Vermont Conversation
Have an upcoming event or news story to share? Let us know.