Regional Planning & Economic Development in the Northeast Kingdom
ENERGY UPDATE December 2024
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Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) Awards in NVDA Region Announced!
Dec 16 - Grant Agreement & AUF due to BGS
Northeastern Vermont Development Association Implementation Grant Awards have been announced for the Vermont Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP). NEK communities have been awarded over $11.4 million for energy efficiency and resiliency measures across 85 municipally-owned buildings! View all MERP awardees on the BGS website.
These projects include HVAC improvements, weatherization work like air sealing and insulation, LED lighting & equipment upgrades, and solar panel & battery back-up installation. Implementing these upgrades will enhance building systems and comfort to occupants, while lowering their daily operational costs. For example, Albany received funds to upgrade their historic Town Hall, which will create a year-round, comfortable gathering space for community events while lowering heating and maintenance costs.
Lyndon received funds for five buildings to receive efficiency upgrades that, once complete, are expected to save around $31,000 annually. NVDA staff would like to thank all town employees and volunteers that worked incredibly hard from the program’s inception in early 2022 through the award notices in November 2024. NVDA will continue to provide programmatic support until the completion of these projects.
The next phase of this program is for awarded communities to review and sign the MERP Implementation Grant Agreement, and submit documentation required by BGS before December 16, 2024.
Please contact Carter Finegan at [email protected] with any questions, as well as additional support and financial strategies for communities that did not receive MERP awards, but would like to complete the recommendations from their MERP building energy assessment report(s).
VECAN 2024 - Community Energy & Climate Action Conference
Dec 3-6 (in-person & online)
Tomorrow! December 3 (9am-5:30pm) - Post-Election Gathering with Energy Action Network: This day-long event is a great opportunity for community energy leaders to get grounded in the state-of-the-state when it comes to energy and climate action in Vermont. Hear from leaders including state lawmakers, Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Public Utility Commission Chair Ed McNamara, Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore, and State Director for Senator Welch’s office Rebecca Ellis. The day will offer the chance to discuss priorities and engage in conversation about new and emerging opportunities and challenges at the federal and state levels. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
- A limited number of deeply discounted tickets – $40 – are available to community energy committee leaders in the VECAN network. Reach out to [email protected] to find out how to access the VECAN discount rate.
December 4 (12-1:30pm, online) - Town Energy Committee Peer to Peer Roundtable: Town energy and climate leaders understand the importance of learning from each other! Engage in meaningful discussions and gain practical insights on how Vermonters have navigated the challenges of community-driven energy and climate initiatives. This webinar provides a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange, ultimately empowering attendees to drive more effective and impactful energy initiatives in their own towns.
December 6 (12-130pm, online) - (Re)assessing the Climate Landscape and Advancing Pollution-Reducing Solutions: In this session, get an update on the status of the over $120 million awarded to Vermont via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to establish new programs to help low- and moderate income Vermonters access, afford and benefit from well-insulated homes, more efficient appliances, (community) solar, and clean electrification solutions for heating and transportation. Hear what’s happening (or possibly not) with awarded funds, what they are intended for, and what we can anticipate – as best as possible – in terms of timing and implementation. Hear about potential legislative and community priorities for continuing to make climate progress and reduce Vermonters’ energy burdens. And gather and share ideas for how to organize our collective, community climate efforts.
FREE Energy Consultations for Businesses!
Efficiency Vermont offers free energy consultations for businesses looking to save money and energy. Sign up for a consultation to get:
- A clear understanding of what systems are wasting energy and money
- A prioritized plan and resources for cost-effective projects
- Current financial incentives and custom rebates to minimize up-front cost
- Purely objective recommendations and a direct contact from our team for all future project needs or questions
Municipal Vulnerability Indicators (MVI) Tool
December 5, 12-1:30pm (online training)
Are you curious about your town’s social, environmental, and economic characteristics, and how climate change might impact your community? Would you like to learn how to use maps to identify vulnerabilities and inform local planning decisions?
Join NVDA at the next NEK Energy Network Meeting for a free virtual training session on using the new Municipal Vulnerability Indicators (MVI) Tool, developed by Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources. Please spread the word to other interested community practitioners and local decision-makers.
NEK Energy Network Meeting & MVI Training
Thurs, Dec 5, 12-1:30pm
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/vge-ogwd-adu
Dial in: (US) +1 617-675-4444 / PIN: 629 342 117 1032#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/vge-ogwd-adu?pin=6293421171032
Vermont Municipal Bond Bank Announces $40 Million!
MERP Financing Alternative for non-awardees
The Vermont Bond Bank announced $40M in low-interest loan funding for schools and municipalities for energy and weatherization improvements. This funding comes from the USDA Rural Energy Savings Program loan program. Currently, the program offers loans with ~2% interest at a term limit of 10 years. Municipalities interested in this program can contact NVDA for help with prioritization of local projects, loan application development, and project management assistance.
$400 Million in Funding to Lower Energy Costs & Enhance Energy Resiliency
New funding for rural and remote communities!
The Department of Energy's OCED plans to fund anywhere from 20-50 projects with a 5–50% minimum non-federal cost share per project. Eligible applicants include tribes and tribal organizations, state and local governmental entities, non-profit and for-profit entities, rural electric cooperatives, farming associations and cooperatives, labor unions, institutions of higher education, and both incorporated and unincorporated consortia.
The funding announced today is part of the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program, which aims to fund community-driven projects that demonstrate clean energy systems, deliver measurable and sustained benefits to people who live in areas with fewer than 10,000 people, and build clean energy knowledge, capacity, and self-reliance throughout rural America. The funding opportunity provides support for rural and remote communities to build clean energy projects that provide benefits to their communities—ranging from cleaner, more resilient, more reliable, and more affordable local energy sources for rural and remote communities, to local energy independence, tax revenue, economic development, local jobs, and a reduced environmental and health burden.
Efficiency Vermont Energy Services for Rental Properties
- Consultant services to multi-family rental property owners - Click here to start
- Incentives on commonly used appliances - Products & Services Rebates
- Weatherization - Home Performance with Energy Star
- Home Repairs that coordinate with weatherization project - Home Repair Program
Vermont Climate Action Office is Hiring
Please spread the word about these two positions!
Climate Change Data Analyst - Job Details
The Climate Change Data Analyst is an exciting and dynamic position in the state's Climate Action Office (CAO) in the Agency of Natural Resources. The primary responsibilities of this position include the preparation of the state's annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the scoping and development of a new data tool that will measure and track the progress of meeting the state's climate action goals over time. While the primary functions of this position will be the development and communication of data, this position will work closely with other members of the CAO to support specific mitigation, resilience, or natural and working lands initiatives through the interpretation of data for discrete projects.
Environmental Analyst VII - Limited Service - Job Details
The Climate Mitigation Section Lead is an exciting leadership position in the Climate Action Office (CAO) that will support crafting and implementing policies and programs that support Vermont in meeting its emission reduction requirements. In doing so, this position will coordinate closely with other State Agencies, as well advance the programmatic work of the CAO including the decarbonization of the transportation and non-energy sectors, the deployment of climate funding, and leadership on relevant rulemaking initiatives. While this position is currently limited service, the funding is built into the base budget, and they do not envision the position ending.
Mobile Home Infill Program
The Mobile Home Infill Program (MHIP) is up and running! MHIP makes mobile homes available for sale *at-cost* to eligible low- and middle-income homebuyers by identifying vacant lots in established parks, investing in new concrete pads, purchasing energy-rated homes, and identifying income-eligible buyers. Resources are available to help buyers secure financing that may include down payment assistance, lower interest mortgage rates, and/or closing assistance.
Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) - Appy by Dec 31
TAP provides funding to towns for on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, safe routes to school projects, salt and sand sheds and more.
Amount: $4.3M available!
No cap – 20% match required.
https://vtrans.vermont.gov/highway/local-projects/transport-alt
Climate Economy Resilient Communities - Apply by Jan 7
Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is now accepting applications from communities on a rolling basis until January 7, 2025. Learn more and please share broadly with your networks!
https://www.vtrural.org/climate-economy/resilient-communities/
Downtown Transportation Fund
Application Deadline is Feb 17, 2025 @ 5pm
Since 1999, the Downtown Transportation Fund program has invested over $16 million in public infrastructure and helped municipalities update streetscaping, parking, rail, and bus facilities, bicycle and pedestrian safety, utilities, street lighting, and wayfinding signage. These vital infrastructural improvements to civic center’s directly contribute to healthier and happier communities.
Eligibility for Designated Village Centers
The Downtown Transportation Fund has expanded eligibility to Designated Village Centers that have participated in the Better Connections Program and Designated Village Centers that have completed a comprehensive downtown/village center/community area planning process with public input, comparable to the Better Connections Program. See the program application for a full list of eligible municipalities. Please note that the application includes a preliminary project review by Historic Preservation, which must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the application deadline.
See the 2025 Downtown Transportation Fund Guidance and Application for complete details of the program. The maximum grant amount is $200,000 with a 20% match requirement.
Please contact Natalie Elvidge at [email protected] if you have questions or need assistance. Applicants are strongly encouraged to set up a pre-application meeting to discuss project ideas.
11 thoughtful, energy-conscious gift ideas for everyone in your life
Gift-giving doesn't have to be a chore. It can be a special way to show someone how much you care. This holiday season, you can make thoughtful purchases (and even try some DIY projects) that will keep your loved ones smiling all year long.
Gift Ideas from Efficiency Vermont
Northeastern Vermont Development Association | PO Box 630 36 Eastern Ave. Suite 1 | St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 US
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