Regional Planning & Economic Development in the Northeast Kingdom
ENERGY UPDATE April 2025
NEK Climate Action Plan Input Session - FREE Food
April 14, 6-7:30 pm (in-person @ Hardwick Town House)
VECAN special Energy Committee training on the Residential Building Energy Standard
April 9, 12pm
Join VECAN for a noon webinar to hear from Ann Janda, Senior Project Manager of Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, on RBES in more detail and what is being done at the state and local levels. This session is presented on behalf of all regional planning commissions via the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies (VAPDA) as part of a project led by Energy Futures Group. We hope you will join us.
NEK MERP Support provided by NVDA
April 30 - Quarterly Reporting Deadline
Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) Implementation Grant funds are rolling out and project development has begun in our region! MERP awardees, if you have any questions or technical assistance needs, please reach out to Carter Finegan at [email protected] or call 802-227-2506. Quarterly Reports are due at the end of this month.
NVDA is here to help and can assist with:
- Financial Hardship application (easy & quick turnaround of funds)
- Submitting required BGS documentation
- VDHP Historic Review - June 30 deadline
- Connecting with contractors or local vendors
- Best practices for initiating projects
Tax Credit Season
Rewiring America calculator!
“Yay tax season!” said no one, ever. But you can add a little pep in your step by making sure you’re getting as much money back as possible. Visit the Rewiring America incentives calculator to maximize your clean energy tax credits and get inspired for your next project.
Flood Resources
Get EVT rebates before they sunset in June!
Low- and moderate-income homeowners and renters in your community might be eligible for up to $29,500 to replace flood-damaged appliances. Time is ticking: The rebate is only available through June 30.
FREE Efficiency Products for Renters
Check the EVT website for more info!
Renters in Vermont may be eligible for free products like LED lightbulbs, smart lightbulbs, and showerheads. This offer is a no-brainer! Share with renters in your community to help save on energy costs.
Spring is for Heat Pumps
Incentives & rebates available!
Heat pumps are champions of the shoulder seasons. When it’s too warm to run your furnace or wood stove, but you still need to take the chill out of the air, a heat pump is a great energy efficient solution. Check out the discounts of $350 or more off a heat pump!
Building for the Future: Challenges & Benefits to Ensuring New Housing in VT is Energy-Efficient
April 22, 4:30pm - Hugo's Bar & Grill, Montpelier
Please join EAN to hear about and discuss Building for the future: Challenges and benefits to ensuring new housing in Vermont is clean, energy-efficient, and cost-effective, with panelists:
- Kathy Beyer, EverNorth, Senior Vice President
- Bob Duncan, AIA, Duncan Wisniewski Architecture, Founding Principal
- Richard Faesy, Energy Futures Group, Principal
- Li Ling Young, Efficiency Vermont, Senior Energy Consultant
2025 J.M.K. Innovation Prize
April 25 Deadline
The J.M.K. Innovation Prize seeks to identify and support bold problem-solvers leading transformative, early-stage projects in the fields of heritage conservation, the environment, and social justice. In 2025, they will award up to 10 Prizes, each including a cash award of $150,000 over three years and $25,000 in technical assistance funds. Awardees will also receive guidance through the Fund’s resource network, accessing hands-on training and support to help turn their ideas into sustainable growth and impact.
Electric Vehicle Charging
Infrastructure News!
This statewide program administered for the VT Department of Housing and Community Development supports turnkey services including technical assistance, a design for sighting of the chargers, completion of a full plan for installation, make-ready upgrades, charging hardware, and full installation of the chargers. Locations such as workplaces, multi-unit dwellings, and public attraction (town office, library, park and ride, park, etc.) are eligible. Grant amount varies based on level of charger installed. Pre-approved electrical contractors and local electric utilities offer technical assistance to help applicants who may have limited experience with EV charging.
VCRD Climate Catalyst Leadership Program
May 1 - Application Deadline
For five years, Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) has hosted a dedicated group of new and emerging leaders from across the state who are focused on transformative, community-scale climate economy projects. From tool lending libraries to starting an energy committee, Climate Catalysts have made significant contributions to their communities. VCRD is accepting applications for the 6th Climate Catalyst Leadership Program cohort.
The six-month program engages participants with in-person and virtual gatherings and one-on-one support. An applicant’s project may be as a community volunteer, part of paid work, or something they are doing as an elected town committee member. Previous Climate Catalysts have included college students, retirees, planning commissioners, farmers, town energy/climate committee members, teachers and more.
Vermont Emergency Preparedness & Resiliency
Resources & Updates
Vermont Emergency Management Spring Flood Seminar Videos
A series of recorded Spring Flood Seminar videos have been posted on the Vermont Emergency Management's YouTube page. These videos inform local officials about how to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the impacts of the spring flooding season.
Vermont Emergency Management Resources
Take simple steps now to prepare your family for hazardous weather and disasters down the road.
VT AI Tool that Could Help Predict Water Quality Nationwide
By pairing artificial intelligence with an existing water flow forecasting model, scientists from the University of Vermont and Utah State University hope it can be used to help predict water quality measurements across the US.
Residential Building Energy Standard (RBES) Training for Municipal Staff
Save the date! May 15, 11am-12pm
Residential Building Energy Standard (RBES) a.k.a. the Building Energy Code, is a minimum standard for energy efficient construction that applies to all new residential construction, additions, most renovations, alterations, and repairs. As per Act 89 of 2013, municipal officials must provide RBES information when a residential building or zoning permit is applied for. This educational session will explain RBES in more detail and provide municipal staff with information and tools to assist builders and ensure RBES certificates are recorded in the land records.
Northeastern Vermont Development Association | PO Box 630 36 Eastern Ave. Suite 1 | St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 US
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