Regional Planning &
Economic Development
in the Northeast Kingdom
ENERGY UPDATE Nov 2023
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VT Public Opinion on Renewable Electricity
Nov 8, 12-1pm (online)
This Wednesday there will be a lunchtime webinar presentation of the VT Public Service Department's recently released report, Vermont Weighs In – Public Opinion on Renewable Electricity. This report covers work done in partnership with MassINC Polling Group to conduct a statewide survey and focus groups to hear from Vermonters about their priorities around electricity and discuss considerations for future policies and programs. Want to learn more before attending? Read the full report or review the summary slides.
- Review NVDA's report following the Sept "Say WATT" listening sessions to see what top electricity priorities were identified in the NEK.
- Participate in the Renewable Energy Standard (RES) Reform Working Group Meeting on Nov 15 (online).
What's next with the Affordable Heat Act / Clean Heat Standard?
Nov 8, 7-8pm (online)
You’re invited to join the Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club, VNRC, and VPIRG for a webinar about Vermont's Clean Heat Standard policy. Hear from Richard Cowart of the Regulatory Assistance Project and Jared Duval from the Vermont Energy Action Network, who are also both members of the Vermont Climate Council. Join for a discussion about where things stand since the Legislature passed the Affordable Heat Act in May. As Vermont’s Public Utility Commission is working on making the Clean Heat Standard a reality, learn more about the policy and what it means for meeting Vermont’s climate requirements and reducing emissions in our thermal heating sector.
Make Big Oil Pay: Community Action, St. Johnsbury
Nov 9, 6-7:30pm - St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 1171 Main St
Join VPIRG for a night of climate action! Learn about "Make Big Oil Pay" - their newest climate campaign, share your climate change experiences, and take action with one (or several) interactive event activities. Plus, enjoy free light bites and beverages and time for mixing and mingling with your local community members! Questions? Please email [email protected].
Funding Available to Support Community-Driven Environmental Justice (EJ) Projects
Dec 1 Deadline
The Vermont Community Foundation is seeking proposals for programs or projects that help local communities adapt to the impacts of Vermont's changing climate and the increase in severe weather events.
The Environmental Justice Small Grant Program is designed to support Vermont communities facing increasingly severe weather events and rising temperatures. Just as Vermonters adapt to the changing seasons, it is important that our communities prepare themselves for the long-term effects of a changing climate.
This grant program will support communities with heightened risk and increased sensitivity to climate change, including communities that have less capacity and fewer resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from climate impacts. The degree of risk and sensitivity stems from physical (built and environmental), social, political, and/or economic factors, which interact with each other and are exacerbated by climate impacts. These factors include race, class, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, and income inequality.
Projects may represent a wide spectrum of ideas and activities, including arts, community education and skill building, food access, green jobs, projects that reduce risk and harm, multi-generational climate activities, youth leadership, movement building, and more.
Climate Accountability and Collective Action Problems: Assessing Per Capita Emissions Across New England
Nov 15, 12-1pm (online)
Join EAN for a Lunch & Learn webinar to learn about how New England states compare on greenhouse gas emissions and what it means for the responsibility of governments and policy-makers to act on climate at the state level. They will discuss different ways of comparing GHG emissions and the value of analyzing per capita emissions. They'll also touch on how these concepts intersect with climate justice and equity and the importance of collective action. The webinar will include a presentation of the key findings from our recent publication, “Assessing Vermont’s climate responsibility: A comparative analysis of per capita emissions,” followed by an opportunity for discussion and Q&A.
EVT Flood Recovery Rebates for Businesses
Efficiency Vermont’s team of technical consultants are offering assistance for businesses recovering from flooding. Businesses whose heating, cooling, refrigeration, or commercial kitchen equipment was damaged by recent floods can receive a $1,000 flood recovery rebate per product, up to four products, in addition to standard offers, for the purchase of new qualifying equipment.
Justicia y Equidad Fund - Applications due Nov 18
The Justicia y Equidad Fund is a grant fund that provides general operating support for small (but mighty) organizations and programs that primarily serve Latino/a/e communities. This year they are giving out $15,000 grants to five organizations. Selected GreenLatinos members will review your grant proposal and determine awards. You can expect to hear back within one month of your submission and they hope to give out funds by December 15, 2023. For any questions on the Justicia y Equidad Fund please contact Mariana Del Valle Prieto Cervantes at [email protected]. Learn more about JustFund here.
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.
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 and/or join our Nov 16, 11am-12:30pm, NEK Energy Network Meeting to hear from others.
New Regional Plan for the NEK – We need your input!
Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA) is beginning the process of updating its Regional Plan, a guiding document that outlines a vision for the area and goals to help achieve that vision for the community. The Plan will cover a range of topics, including transportation, housing, energy, recreation, and zoning. We are distributing a survey to get input from the community regarding existing conditions in the Northeast Kingdom. Please visit NVDA.net to take our survey and help inform the recommendations of the Regional Plan.
More funding coming soon...
Vermont Diesel Emissions Reduction Financial Assistance Program
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will once again be offering incentive funding this fall through the Vermont Diesel Emissions Reduction Financial Assistance Program! This funding will be competitively awarded to projects that reduce emissions from diesel-powered vehicles, engines, and nonroad equipment. Funding will be available for NEW projects only. Eligibility requirements apply.
**For more information, please review the 2023/2024 DERA State Program Guide. Please relay all questions about potential projects or eligibility requirements to Leigh Martin at (802) 261-0713 or [email protected].**
Funding will be available for:
- Replacement of diesel-powered heavy-duty vehicles, engines, and nonroad equipment with electric (battery, grid, or fuel cell), alternative fuel, or newer diesel options;
- Retrofitting with emission control technologies;
- Engine replacements;
- Clean alternative fuel conversions;
- Installation of idle reduction technologies;
- Aerodynamic technologies and low rolling resistance tires; and
- Electrified parking spaces for transport refrigeration units and truck stop electrification projects.
EPA 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program
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.
**Applicants must submit all materials by Jan 31, 2024, at 4:00 PM**
Northeastern Vermont Development Association | PO Box 630, 36 Eastern Ave. Suite 1, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819