Regional Planning &
Economic Development
in the Northeast Kingdom
ENERGY UPDATE Dec 2023
NVDA Receives Certificate of Energy Compliance
The VT Department of Public Service has notified NVDA that its updated and readopted Regional Plan complies with statutory energy planning requirements. Upon review, Mark Whitworth, NVDA Newark representative commented that drafting regional plans involves a tremendous amount of work which requires balancing competing goals. He commended the work of the planning team at NVDA. Read the Assessment Report.
Introducing New NVDA Team Member
Carter Finegan, MERP Coordinator
Carter recently joined NVDA to assist the NEK's 50+ communities with the Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP). Originally from the southeast, Carter found her love for snow & small towns when she moved out west to pursue her degree in Organismal & Ecological Biology at the University of Montana. After graduation, she worked for a series of nonprofits involving youth in outdoor learning and stewardship. During covid, she moved her small family to Newport, continuing to involve youth in science and volunteer within the community. You'll find her hiking, biking, or skiing with her dogs on any nice day in the NEK. She can be reached at [email protected].
VECAN 2023 Annual Conference
Dec 6 - Dec 8 (online, 12-1:30pm each day)
The 2023 Annual VECAN Conference will be December 6th to 8th – virtually – from noon to 1:30 pm each day. Explore crucial topics around rebuilding and recovering from climate-induced disasters more equitably. Discover ways to access state and federal funding and programs, engage with legislators in a roundtable discussion, and participate in a peer-to-peer exchange with town energy committees. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and network with experts in the field of clean energy and community engagement.
VT's Opportunity for Federal Climate Funding
Dec 11 & Dec 12 (online)
Make your mark on Vermont's application for federal funding to boost our state's climate actions. The Climate Action Office invites you to learn about a one-time opportunity for Vermont to significantly advance our state's climate solutions. Raise your voice to influence how this funding could be used in your community and across the state. Comments may also be submitted to [email protected].
REGISTER:
VT Update on Renewable Electricity Policies
Public Comment due by Dec 20
The VT Department of Public Service (PSD) is pleased to release a draft summary of the process it has taken to review Vermont’s renewable and clean electricity policies and programs. Released November 27, the draft report begins to synthesize learnings from statewide public engagement efforts and supporting technical analyses conducted between January and November 2023. It distills five initial takeaways related to the future of electricity in Vermont and offers several reflections on the process taken to engage Vermonters in this effort. The report (review the full draft report, review the executive summary) will be open for public review through December 20.
There are multiple ways to weigh in:
- Send PSD a note: Feedback can be emailed directly to [email protected] with the subject “Public Comment – RES Summary”
- Fill out the survey: Feedback can be submitted online through this webform.
- Review NVDA's report following the September "Say WATT" listening sessions to see what top electricity priorities were identified in the NEK.
Flood Recovery Rebates for Businesses Increased
Up to $16,000 Cash Back
Efficiency Vermont flood recovery program has been enhanced to include more incentives for qualifying equipment. Businesses whose heating, cooling, refrigeration, or commercial kitchen equipment was damaged by recent floods can receive a flood recovery rebate of 100% of costs up to $4,000 per product for up to four products, in addition to standard offers.
All Eyes on 2024: Charting a Path for Clean Energy in the Pivotal Year Ahead
Dec 13, 12pm (online)
Join Advanced Energy United policy team leaders for a webinar discussion on the federal and state-level clean energy policy trends and key issues we can expect to see at play in 2024, with a focus on transmission and siting, electrification, and grid readiness.
Communities LEAP Fund - Applications due Dec 14
The DOE Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program) aims to facilitate sustained community-wide economic and environmental benefits primarily through DOE’s clean energy deployment work. Eligible applicants are low-income, energy-burdened communities. Check the map for NEK eligibility here. Multi-stakeholder applicant teams must include at least one Community-Based Organization and one local government or tribal entity. For the first time, selected communities will have the opportunity to receive funding (up to $50,000) for services rendered as part of the technical assistance delivery. DOE has designed this initiative with the aim of:
- Recognizing each community’s specific energy-related challenges and opportunities.
- Supporting community member and stakeholder leadership in designing and implementing actions to address those challenges and opportunities.
- Building toward long-term community economic and environmental change and a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future.
The Opportunity in Modernizing VT's Renewable Energy Standard
Dec 15, 12pm (online)
Join to learn about Vermont’s current Renewable Energy Standard (RES) and whether its 2032 requirements are going far enough to help reduce carbon pollution and combat climate change. Is a more robust RES that requires 100% renewable energy and more in-state renewable energy generation the answer Vermont needs? Hear from panelists from VNRC, Conservation Law Foundation and VPIRG and dig into the details of proposed changes to the RES.
VTrans Research Ideas - due Dec 15
Do you have a Research Idea that can fulfill a Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) need? The VTrans Research Section welcomes the submission of research ideas from anyone (VTrans staff, potential external researchers, municipalities, RPCs, etc.). Tell us if you have an idea for research that you think the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) should fund which can be conducted by a research team on our Qualified Researchers List (QRL). Research ideas for the 2024 cycle are due December 15, 2023. Research ideas are vetted by AOT managers and must be paired with an AOT Staff Champion who has supervisor approval to go forward. We are looking for 6-24 month long projects that can be conducted with a $50,000-$150,000 grant. Ideas will be distributed as Research Problem Statements to our QRL in January.
Leahy Institute - Funding Opportunity
Letters of Interest due Dec 18
The Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships will fund project costs associated with engaged partnerships between organizations and the University of Vermont (UVM).
Through this funding initiative, UVM will join as partners with Vermont leaders who are working towards impactful solutions to rural challenges in priority focus areas:
- Regenerative Agriculture
- Transit & Housing Solutions
- Resilient Energy Systems
- Healthy Ecosystems
- and more!
Update on MERP: Municipal Energy Resilience Program
Congrats to all the communities that have signed up for FREE Energy Assessments for their Municipally-Owned Buildings through the Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP). Communities MUST receive an energy assessment in order to apply for the MERP Implementation Grant (up to $500,000).
**51 NEK communities signed up for 85 energy assessments, totaling nearly 450,000 square feet of municipal buildings!**
As a reminder, the application for the $4,000 community capacity mini-grant is still available for towns. The MERP mini-grant can be used for energy-related outreach and education or to hire a consultant to help enhance municipal energy capacity/staff support. Contact NVDA energy planner to brainstorm/ask questions.
January 2024 is just around the corner...
VNRC’s Small Grants for Smart Growth Program
Explore the opportunity to shape the future of your community with VNRC’s Small Grants for Smart Growth program! This special grant round, open until January 15, 2024, offers 1-3 grants of up to $5,000 for initiatives promoting flood-resilient community development. Smart growth principles guide this program, emphasizing inclusive, community-driven decisions for sustainable land development. Projects supported range from advocating for improved land use regulations to revitalizing downtowns, enhancing sidewalks, promoting housing affordability, and conserving agricultural or forestry lands. Be sure to share this opportunity to catalyze positive change in your town!
EPA 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program
**Applicants must submit all materials by Jan 31, 2024, at 4:00 PM**
EPA has announced the 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program! This is the second rebate funding opportunity through the multi-year funding program. Under the 2023 Rebate Program, EPA anticipates awarding at least $500 million in rebate funding with the potential to modify this figure based on the application pool and other factors.
Eligible applicants can apply to receive funding for the purchase of up to 25 zero-emission (ZE) and/or clean school buses, along with ZE charging infrastructure and eligible workforce development costs. Selectees may be eligible for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits applicable to their bus and infrastructure purchases. For example, the Clean Vehicle tax credits for qualifying school buses are worth up to $40,000.
As always, if you have news or events to share email [email protected] -- or a colleague who'd like to subscribe -- please sign up here. We publish monthly.
Northeastern Vermont Development Association | PO Box 630, 36 Eastern Ave. Suite 1, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819