We are delighted to announce that EAN’s 2020/2021 Annual Progress Report for Vermont on Emissions, Energy, Equity, and the Economy is now live on our website! 

Additionally, this is the last week for you to provide feedback to us on the EAN Network Member and Partner Survey. If you haven’t taken the survey yet, we would very much appreciate it if you could take 10-15 minutes to complete this survey, which will help to guide our work over the coming year. Survey participants who choose to enter their name will also still be entered in the drawing for an electric lawn mower or electric lawn tool of their choice up to $450 of value.

 
Total Energy News – May 2021
Your Update on Vermont and National Energy News
Dear Network Members and Partners,
We are delighted to announce that EAN’s 2020/2021 Annual Progress Report for Vermont on Emissions, Energy, Equity, and the Economy is now live on our website! The files are also currently heading to the press, and paper copies will be in mailboxes by mid-June. There is still time to update your physical mailing address through the end of this week; to do that click on the “Update Profile” link below this e-mail (which should be just above the Constant Contact logo).

We hope you will consider joining us for one of two lunch-and-learn webinars in June to see an overview of the report and have a chance to ask your questions. Please sign up here for a noon-1pm webinar on either Friday June 11 or Thursday June 17. We would also be happy to coordinate with Network Members and Partners to offer presentations about our findings to your networks. Please be in touch if you are interested in scheduling an event.

Additionally, this is the last week for you to provide feedback to us on the EAN Network Member and Partner Survey. If you haven’t taken the survey yet, we would very much appreciate it if you could take 10-15 minutes to complete this survey, which will help to guide our work over the coming year. Survey participants who choose to enter their name will also still be entered in the drawing for an electric lawn mower or electric lawn tool of their choice up to $450 of value.

The EAN Staff Team (Jared, Cara, and Mei)
News from the World
IEA lays out energy roadmap to net-zero emissions by 2050

This comprehensive energy roadmap shows how government action to boost clean energy and reduce fossil fuel use can create jobs and improve the economy on the path to net-zero.

IEA
Best selling vehicle in the U.S. (and VT) going electric in 2022

The Ford F-150 is Vermont’s best selling vehicle. Starting next year Ford plans to start selling the F-150 Lightning, an all electric version of the truck.

New York Times
Halting the vast release of methane is critical for climate

A new United Nations report shows the importance of reducing methane emissions to reach Paris Agreement Goals — and for health, development, and food security.

Climate & Clean Air Coalition
Data Download – EVs are less expensive to drive than fossil vehicles.
Our new report shows that drivers of gasoline and diesel passenger vehicles are subject to wide price swings from month to month and year to year. Electric vehicle charging costs have proven to be lower on a gallon equivalent basis and much more stable. And when drivers utilize one of the off-peak charging programs provided by some electric utilities, the cost decreases even further. For example, Burlington Electric Department offers an EV rate that is just $0.60/gallon equivalent, while Green Mountain Power’s EV rate is around $1.00/ gallon equivalent.
Member Profile
Vermont Council on Rural Development
and their Summit on the Future of Vermont
The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of the locally-defined progress of Vermont’s rural communities. Their mission is to help Vermont citizens build prosperous and resilient communities through democratic engagement, marshalling resources, and collective action.
VCRD’s Summit on the Future of Vermont is May 26 and 27. This event will bring Vermonters together to consider the Vermont Proposition ‒ a framework of ideas for the future of the state, drawn from the input of thousands of Vermonters, that lays out a set of bold opportunities for our economy, communities, and environment by mid-century.

Join VCRD to consider ideas for Vermont’s future, think with experts and leaders, contribute your ideas for action, and engage in partnership for the future of Vermont.

What’s Coming Up?
EAN Annual Progress Report Webinars
EAN will host two lunch-and-learn overview webinars about our newly released 2020/2021 Annual Progress Report for Vermont on Emissions, Energy, Equity, and the Economy on Friday June 11 and Thursday June 17.
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, and a new public comments portal.
Climate Action Works: Understanding Climate Science
Vermont state climatologist Dr. Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux will discuss the latest climate science and what that means to Vermont and Vermonters. Also hear from Dr. Janel Hanrahan, an Atmospheric Science Professor at Northern Vermont University about building climate change literacy with effective communication. The webinar is May 26 at noon.
Comprehensive Energy Plan – regional forums
The Department of Public Service is hosting four virtual regional forums in June focused on energy planning efforts by Regional Planning Commissions and municipalities. Please consider attending the forum if you are involved in energy planning efforts at the local level and would like to engage on the key energy issues, elements, challenges, and considerations unique to your area of Vermont. Forums are June 1 for SE VT, June 2 for NE VT, June 8 for SW VT and June 28 for Central VT.
The Vermont Total Energy Ticker
New data shows VT’s GHG emissions declining – slowly

Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation has released its newest Vermont Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast, showing that Vermont is halfway to its 2025 emissions reduction requirement.

VT Digger
Improving migrant farmworker housing in Vermont

A migrant worker rights group, a worker-owned construction cooperative, and an efficiency utility are collaborating on new housing designs and financing to improve farmworker living conditions and reduce energy waste.

Energy News Network
Mow Electric! helps Vermonters ditch gas-powered lawn equip.

The new Mow Electric! Campaign and website share information on electric lawn equipment, available incentives, events, and other resources for transitioning away from more polluting fossil equipment.

Seven Days
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