Northeastern Vermont Development Association NVDA
Regional Planning & Economic Development in the Northeast Kingdom
ENERGY UPDATE July 2023
OPPORTUNITIES
$7M in Grants for EV Chargers Available Now
Statewide grant open to applicants from all of VT
This grant, made possible by the Department of Housing and Community Development, is here to help you cover ALMOST ALL the cost of installing EV charging stations for businesses, multi-unit dwellings, and public places.
**Funding is limited so apply now!**
Please complete the pre-application to the best of your ability and they will help you receive the technical and financial assistance you need.
The funding is for full installation (hardware, design, and utility make-ready included); anticipated funding will cover approximately 150 sites and 1,300 ports installed.
Program Flow:
- Pre-application available online now (through January 2026)
- Pre-screen eligibility phone call
- Connection to installer/contractor if needed
- Submission of project estimate and site design
- Utility make-ready and incentives
- Civil make-ready
- Hardware/software
- Labor
- Approval of Application (first funding payment dispersed)
- Installation (within 12 months of approval)
- Submission of project completion documentation and final project invoices (final funding payment dispersed)
If you have questions about the program, please review the full eligibility requirements and contact [email protected] or call 802-655-8722.
Public Level 2 Charger at the Albany Town Clerk's Office
Public Level 2 Charger at the Peacham Library
Public Level 2 Charger at the Old Stone House Museum
Empowering Rural America
"New ERA" Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be opening a Letter of Interest (LOI) process for the Empowering Rural America (“New ERA”) program, which makes $9.7 billion available to eligible rural electric cooperatives to deploy renewable energy systems, zero-emission and carbon capture systems. Rural electric cooperatives, including current and previous USDA borrowers, are eligible for funding.
To apply, eligible entities must submit their LOI between July 31 and Aug. 31, 2023.
MERP *Free* Building Energy Assessments - Schedule Now!
FREE Energy Assessments for Municipally-Owned Buildings:
The application for FREE building energy assessments through the Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) is open! There are two levels of energy assessment to choose from, EITHER of which qualify a municipality for the MERP Implementation Grant. Communities MUST receive an energy assessment in order to apply for the MERP Implementation Grant (up to $500,000)!
**Schedule a meeting with Allie Webster, NVDA Energy Planner, for assistance filling out the application together.**
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.
$1 Million Soon Available for Schools and Municipal Buildings
The Public Service Department (PSD) issued this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for Vermont’s public schools and municipalities to access $1.0 million in U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funds through a congressionally directed spending award originating with Senator Bernie Sanders. Grant awards will be made to provide financial and technical support for the installation and/or repair of clean energy technologies in public schools and municipal buildings in underserved and disadvantaged communities in Vermont with the goal of lowering their energy costs, decrease emissions from heating and power sources, and increase the exposure and experience with clean energy technologies in these public buildings.
The clean energy measures supported via this funding opportunity will be limited to the following three technologies:
- Solar photovoltaics (PV) systems (up to 15kW AC)
- Advanced wood-fueled heating systems
- Cold climate air- or ground-source heat pumps
VTrans' Draft Carbon Reduction Strategy
Your Input Needed - Aug 2 Virtual Meetings & Survey
To help ensure Vermont achieves its carbon pollution reduction requirements and meets the US Department of Transportation’s requirement for every state to develop a Carbon Reduction Strategy, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is developing a plan to reduce emissions in our transportation sector. Even with the state's recent efforts to reduce transportation emissions – Vermont’s most polluting sector – there is still a gap projected in the state’s ability to meet both the 2030 and 2050 emissions reduction requirements.
VTrans is inviting all Vermonters to participate in a survey and attend virtual public meetings on August 2, at 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. via Zoom to help inform and shape the state’s Carbon Reduction Strategy. Virtual meeting details available here.
Save the Date!
Aug 5 - Calling All EVs for the Danville Fair Grand Parade
Everyone loves a parade. Electric vehicle owners: charge up your vehicles and join the Danville Energy Committee at the Danville Fair Grand Parade. Saturday August 5, 10:30 am. More information and registration online. Be sure to say you have an EV on the registration form!
Sept 18 - FREE Weatherization-Technician Training - $300/week stipend
Do you like working with your hands? Start a new career as a Weatherization Technician. ReSOURCE’s FREE 6-week Weatherization 101 workshop starts September 18 in Newport. Gain hands-on instruction, trade credentials, and JOB PLACEMENT. Learn more and apply: https://resourcevt.org/training-programs/weatherization-101/
Sept 24 - NEK Solarbration @ Peacham Community Solar Array
Sunday, September 24, 12-4pm. Join us for an afternoon of FREE family-friendly fun, live music and energy education. Celebrate the new 150kW Community Solar array providing renewable electricity to Peacham Town facilities, as well as participating homes, farms and businesses in the area. Learn about strategies for community resilience and an affordable, clean energy future.
- Live music by Bob & Sarah Amos, Colin McCaffrey, and Migmar Tsering.
- Food trucks + Solar Cooker demo
- Energy-themed arts & crafts for all ages. Help build a community art project!
- Agrivoltaics (solar+farming) in action with Bee the Change!
**Register now and please spread the word**
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