Northeastern Vermont Development Association
Regional Planning &
Economic Development
in the Northeast Kingdom
ENERGY UPDATE Jan 2024
New NVDA Regional Plan
Public survey closes Jan 3
Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA) is in 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. Please visit NVDA.net to take our survey and help identify priorities for the NEK and inform the recommendations of the new Regional Plan.
Climate Resiliency - What's Needed, What's Possible
Jan 8, 12pm (online)
As we continue to recover and rebuild in communities ravaged by floods across central Vermont, we were once again reminded that our state needs to take proactive action to build the resilience we need. We must reduce flood risks with nature-based solutions, invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, improve government response and capacity, and implement a suite of funding solutions to make these critical investments. Join to learn more about these solutions and how you can get involved in creating a more resilient Vermont.
VCRD's Climate Economy Resilient Communities
Apply by Jan 16
All around Vermont, communities are seeking to become more resilient and thrive in a changing world and climate. VCRD’s Resilient Communities Program supports three to five communities each year working on local climate action solutions that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy use, increase climate resilience, and/or strengthen the local climate economy. Services are adaptable based on the community’s needs and can include support with community engagement processes, strategic planning, technical assistance, and/or project implementation.
An Equitable Approach to Energy Transition
Jan 17, 12pm (online)
Join VECAN for the first session of the Winter Webinar Series! Mark your calendars for noon on January 17th for a session on environmental and climate justice. This session is intended to help inform and guide our collective efforts to accelerate just climate action and a clean energy economy. Get an update on what’s happening related to Vermont’s important environmental justice law. Hear from state leaders about their efforts – including an overview of a new resource related to core principles of community engagement – and get an update from Vermont’s Climate Action Office on their environmental, climate justice and public engagement efforts focused on helping to build a more inclusive and equitable Vermont.
Leveraging Change: Climate Resilience Successes & Opportunities
Jan 24, 5-7pm, Café NOA, Montpelier
Join EAN for a conversation about climate resilience successes and opportunities in Vermont. Speakers Sue Minter, Executive Director of Capstone Community Action and Neale Lunderville, President & CEO of VGS both served as Chief Recovery Officers after Tropical Storm Irene. Peter Walke, Managing Director of Efficiency Vermont, will moderate the conversation. Enjoy networking, light food and drinks.
VT Agency of Transportation Announces EV Incentive Program for Fleet Vehicles
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is accepting applications for the Electrify Your Fleet incentive program on a first-come, first-served basis. A total of $500,000 is available, and $200,000 of that amount is available for applicants who are from or serve historically underserved communities. Awards will be made in the form of reimbursements of as much as $2,500 for each internal combustion engine vehicle replaced or avoided with a maximum of 20 incentives allowed per fleet.
Awardees are encouraged to apply this funding toward the purchase or lease of Plug-In Electric Vehicles (PEVs) in combination with any local utility rebates and the recently authorized federal tax cut for Commercial Clean Vehicles, which together could reduce the upfront cost of each eligible vehicle by as much as $10,000 for businesses and tax-exempt organizations. Other eligible fleet options could include electric bicycles, electric cargo bicycles, adaptive electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, or electric snowmobiles. Applicants must demonstrate that the vehicles funded will contribute to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
EPA Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program
Apply by Jan 31, 4pm
Under the CSB 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.
GMP Powerwall and BYOD battery programs
Green Mountain Power (GMP) customers on Rate 01 or commercial Rate 06 can participate in the GMP Storage Lease and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs. Depending on the amount of physical space available for batteries and the backup needs of a home or business, an option could be to have up to two leased Powerwall systems installed (one system is two batteries, 27 kWh of backup, for $55/month; two systems is four batteries, 54 kWh of backup, for $110/month). Read more about how battery storage plays a role in Vermont's resiliency strategies.
VEEP Adult Programming
Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP) brings experiential learning to K-12 classrooms across VT, so students and teachers can understand where our energy comes from and how our energy usage impacts the climate. In support of the Climate Action Plan, they are now offering our hands-on workshops for adult audiences as well. These workshops are especially useful to communities that are considering weatherization initiatives, transportation planning, or other energy conservation/emissions reduction work.
DeltaClimeVT Climate Economy Accelerator
Apply before Feb 5
Are you an entrepreneur of an innovative, start-up and/or seed stage, energy company offering innovative products or services aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions? DeltaClimeVT Business Accelerator wants YOU for their Energy 2024 business accelerator program!
Flood Recovery Rebates for Businesses Increased
Up to $16,000 Cash Back
Efficiency Vermont's 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, including fossil fuel boilers and furnaces (equipment must meet eligibility requirements), insulation & air sealing materials.
Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP)
Do you have questions about MERP or need community support? Please schedule a time with Carter Finegan, NVDA's MERP Coordinator here.
Also, there's still time to sign-up for the $4K MERP Mini-Grant, expanding energy savings and resilience to the community through info-sharing, outreach and capacity-building. Email Carter ([email protected]) with any questions.
Northeastern Vermont Development Association | PO Box 630, 36 Eastern Ave. Suite 1, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
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