Vermont Business MagazineVermont Gas is celebrating 50 years of bringing clean, affordable natural gas service to families, businesses and institutions in Chittenden and Franklin counties. The company first began serving customers in 1966 and today provides service to 18 Vermont towns, with expansion planned to several more communities in 2016.
“For the past 50 years, this company has provided a clean, safe, affordable and reliable heating option that now serves 50,000 customers,” said Don Rendall, President and CEO of Vermont Gas. “As we look forward, this company is committed to bringing energy choice and opportunity to Vermont families and businesses to reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency, and expand alternatives such as renewable gas from landfills and dairies. We will do all this while maintaining affordable and competitive rates.”
“Congratulations to Vermont Gas on reaching this important milestone,” said Earl Handy, of Handy’s Lunch. “As another longtime Vermont business, Handy’s has been proudly serving up delicious and affordable breakfasts and lunches for the past 70 years and appreciates having clean, affordable and reliable natural gas service to help keep us in business. We look forward to continuing our relationshipwith Vermont Gas for many years to come."
In this 50thanniversary year, the company expects to add 1,100 customers in its existing footprint and complete the Addison Natural Gas Project, which will extend service from Colchester to Middlebury and Vergennes in 2016.
Vermont Gas will increase investments in efficiency by becoming a designated energy efficiency utility (EEU), startingFebruary 1.Over 30,000 families and businesses have participated in the company’s nationally recognized efficiency programs. Those customers, in just two of Vermont’s counties, avoid emissions equal to 3% of Vermont’s cars and light trucks while saving more than $14 million in energy costs. Thecompany expects another 2,000 customers to participate in 2016.
Further, Vermont Gas will help bring renewable gas to Middlebury by connecting to a manure conversion project in Salisbury, and by offering renewable gas to customers starting in latter 2016.
“The state of Vermont last week announced a comprehensive energy plan that reinforces aggressive goals for carbon reduction and renewable energy by the year 2050,” stated Rendall. “By taking the steps we plan for 2016, Vermont Gas reaffirms its role as one of Vermont’s leading companies committed to reducing carbon emissions and encouraging the growth of renewable energy.”
Other 2016 priorities include paperless billing and making steady progress on the Energy Champ Challenge, which supports energy efficiency at Burlington apartment buildings, in cooperation with Burlington Electric Department.
“It is an honor to serve the families, businesses and institutions of Franklin and Chittenden Counties and we look forward to providing service to Addison County later this year,” Rendall concluded.