Conversations in Congress and across the world are intensifying about how our global society will meet its energy needs and, simultaneously, tackle the challenge of climate change. Yet too little consensus around the urgency (or even reality) of climate change or the direction energy solutions must take are stalling much-needed action.

For many Vermonters though, there is no doubt that the world is warming — or weirding anyway — and that finding alternatives to dwindling fossil fuels is urgent and imperative to economic bottom lines and the health of our planet. So they are taking action.

From the grassroots to the Legislature, Vermonters are moving beyond talk and shaping real solutions that are saving energy and reducing global warming pollution.

One powerful example was cemented last spring, when Vermont became the first state in the nation to authorize the creation of a  ‘feed in tariff’ (FIT) to spur renewable energy development. This innovative program establishes above-market rates — or tariffs — the state will require utilities to pay clean-energy developers who generate electricity from solar, wind, biomass or other renewable sources. Many European nations have used FITs to successfully trigger the development of more renewable energy projects. With Vermont utilities now required to purchase 50 MW of above-market rate power from small-scale (2.2 MW) renewable developers, many believe FITs will serve as a much-needed mechanism to transition Vermont away from dirty, dangerous and dwindling supplies of power to clean, green, homegrown energy supplies.   

Community energy committees are an increasingly powerful constituency helping to shape this new direction for Vermont.
The growth in the number of these groups — from 50 in 2008 to 80 today — reflects a solidifying consensus that Vermont must lead the nation and world in swift, meaningful efforts to cut energy costs, foster renewable energy generation and lessen the state’s contribution to global warming.

Working with local officials, business leaders, friends and neighbors, these community groups are accomplishing significant energy-saving, greenhouse gas reducing results.

In June, the Middlesex Energy Committee helped organize an energy-efficiency overhaul of the local elementary school. They brought together committee members, school officials, energy professionals and a dedicated group of volunteers in what they coined a ‘21st Century Barn Raising.’  

Like building a barn by the hands of friends and neighbors, the two-day, intensive, largely volunteer-driven Rumney Elementary School community weatherization project was no small feat.

““Your in the attic, on your belly, on your shoulders, with nails poking into your head. It’s claustrophobic, its hot, its hard work,” said energy committee member Paul Zabriskie, whose day job with EnergySmart of Vermont — an enterprise of the Central Vermont Community Action Council — positioned him as the crew leader of the project.
“With seven attics at Rumney, a traditional weatherization project would have been a huge cost,” said Zabriskie, noting the project will save the school between 2,000 to 2,500 gallons of fuel oil a year — all for about 25 cents on the dollar. “The town also gets a school with improved air quality, warmer classrooms and lower heating costs.”

Further south, the Manchester and Dorset energy committees recently banded together to harness limited resources — including people power — to advance their energy goals. The energy committees, using a Stratton Foundation grant, partnered with the local Interfaith Council to sponsor two low-income homeowners with a comprehensive energy efficiency upgrade. The groups identified two homes they would ‘sponsor’ with comprehensive energy audits and the ensuing energy efficiency and weatherization measures to help the homeowners save significantly on their heating and electric bills.

“It’s a great project,” said Jim Hand, ¬¬¬¬¬¬a Manchester business owner and active member of the Dorset Energy Committee. “It will benefit people who might not be able to afford to make these changes and the result will be tremendous energy, cost and carbon savings.”

The projects town energy committees are taking on are as diverse and creative as the people who comprise the groups. Many committees are seizing opportunities made possible from Vermont’s new ‘feed in tariff’ for renewables, expanded financing tools, federal stimulus fund infusions and more. The gamut of cost-saving, carbon-reducing initiatives committees are undertaking — largely on volunteer time — is long and impressive. Here are just a few examples of some of their local projects:

•    The Hartford Energy Committee is working with the town on a streetlighting project with the goal of removing about 30 percent of the town’s existing lights and replacing the rest with energy efficient LEDs.

•    The Norwich Energy Committee applied for a Clean Energy Development Fund grant and a federal Clean Renewable Energy Bond to develop a 250 to 300 kilowatt solar system to offset the town’s electric use. The committee is also helping to conduct a feasibility study for a renewable district heating and power system for the village.

•    Westford and Underhill energy committees are working with their planning commissions to update the energy section of their town plans with the goal of better supporting energy-saving, conservation, renewable energy strategies.

•    The Colchester Energy Task Force has been working with the town to plan for use of its federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funding. They are exploring appropriate wind resource locations; development of an energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy strategy; design and installation of new LED lighting to replace aging fixtures in two school parking lots; purchasing a hybrid vehicle and developing an eco-driving Driver Education curriculum.

•    The Thetford Energy Committee is working with the local planning commission to assess different building certification programs to compare their ability to foster greater energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Their goal is to develop zoning ordinances which reward developers with higher density allowances for more efficient buildings.

•    The South Burlington Energy Committee is moving forward on both short- and long-term projects, including launching an ambitious effort to switch out 30,000 incandescent light bulbs to more energy efficient compact fluorescents and working with the planning commission to update the city’s long-range comprehensive plan to support greater energy-saving, conservation and renewable generation opportunities.

•    The Richmond Climate Action Committee, among other energy-saving projects it undertakes, utilizes public outreach events as a powerful way to help inform, engage and motivate local residents. Beyond their annual Earth Day event and hosting another ‘Button Up’ home weatherization workshop this fall the RCAC is hosting an October 20 conversation about the future of Vermont Yankee — the state’s aging nuclear power plant whose operating license is set to expire in 2012.

•    The Hardwick Energy Action Team, partnering with Hardwick Area Transition Town, beyond a big, bold day of action on October 24 – the International Day of Climate Action — is facilitating a daylong public engagement process on November 15 about how the community will meet its energy needs into the future.

One big opportunity that several energy committees are considering, recently authorized by the Legislature, enables Vermont municipalities to help local property owners finance approved efficiency and renewable energy projects by creating ‘clean energy assessment districts’ or CEADs.    

In rural Moretown, the energy group has started a conversation about CEADs with its neighbors.

“We’re looking at options for what a town can do to help residents significantly reduce their energy usage and make the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy,” said Moretown Energy Group member Karen Horn. “There’s a lot of homework to do, but we’ve done the basic start up energy committee activities. This opportunity could enable residences and businesses to undertake bigger projects, like weatherizing their home or putting solar panels on their roof. Projects they might not otherwise afford on their own.”

Further south, the Putney Energy Committee is working with the town Selectboard to consider utilizing this creative financing tool too. Daniel Hoviss, chair of the PEC, expressed optimism about the potential for his town to create a fund local residents can tap into for renewable energy and weatherization projects. Looking to harness available grants or rebates — including federal economic stimulus dollars — Hoviss noted that the PEC wants to help local residents finance energy projects today which they can pay back to the town over time.

“It’s a win-win situation because homeowners can do projects sooner rather than later and afford it through this mechanism,” said Hoviss.

Among many more technically oriented projects the Putney Energy Committee is undertaking, including a micro-hydro feasibility study to determine the potential of installing a turbine in the lower Sacketts Brook, the energy committee is organizing a rally on October 24 — the International Day of Climate Action. The committee is working to get 350 people riding 350 bikes through town for 350 seconds to shed light on the number leading climate scientists say is the maximum amount of parts per million of atmospheric carbon the planet can safely sustain. “All around the world events will be happening. We’re organizing an event on this day out of respect and in solidarity with the 350.org action day,” noted energy committee chair Daniel Hoviss.

The influence of town energy committees is growing in many ways too.

“We’re working more in partnership with utilities now,” said Bob Walker, Thetford Energy Committee chairman and Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy Resource Group. “It’s clear that utilities are starting to see the light, working with town energy committees and others to develop programs that help homeowners save energy and move toward renewables. Green Mountain Power especially is leading the way with innovative programs, including being the first utility in the state to offer high efficiency LED streetlighting for towns in Vermont.”

Energy committee influence is also reaching the highest levels of state government, affecting far-reaching change on the ground.

“Absolutely everything the Legislature is able to do is a result of coming from people, from the ground up,” said Tony Klein, chair of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee, who also represents two districts with very active energy committees — East Montpelier and Middlesex. “Town energy committees end up being the conscience of energy issues for local towns.”

Reflecting on the successful passage of the ‘feed in tariff,’ Klein noted,” I think the Legislature was a little bolder this year. And it’s the boots on the ground that helps the Legislature be more bold.”

It’s a symbiotic relationship that is evolving around energy and climate action in Vermont. While much of the world waits on leaders to wake up to the need — and the opportunities — to transition toward carbon-reducing, green energy innovating strategies, Vermonters are taking action in their own hands. And town energy committees are one pivotal and increasingly powerful example of where good ideas, leadership and action are coming together to produce results. Town-by-town, energy committee by energy committee, working in conjunction with state and local officials, businesses, faith leaders and others, the network of Vermonters pushing for more efficient and renewable energy use and self-reliant, interconnected Vermont communities is expanding.

“Being on a town energy committee is a good way to help raise consciousness, spread the word about solutions and help to avert global climate catastrophe,” noted Putney’s Daniel Hoviss. “Everything we do is critical; every tree and every fish matters. Being on an energy committee is just one small way of helping to change the world.”

WHAT’S HAPPENING:

•    Over 30 town energy committees are spearheading efforts to offer ‘Button Up’ home weatherization workshops this year. Find out about joining or hosting one of these useful ‘how-to’ energy-saving summits at www.efficiencyvermont.org.  

•    The Vermont Energy & Climate Action Network, an umbrella organization which works to start and support town energy groups continues to host regional energy networking meetings in locations across Vermont as well as plans to host its annual daylong “Community Energy and Climate Action Conference” on December 5. Find out more about these upcoming events, VECAN and how you can join or start a town energy committee in your community by visiting www.vecan.net or calling Johanna Miller 802-223-2328.

ABOUT THE VERMONT ENERGY AND CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK

The Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network — VECAN — is a collaborative of organizations working to support, strengthen and start town energy committees as a powerful player in advancing local, regional and state strategies to reduce energy consumption, advance renewable generation opportunities and combat climate change.

ABOUT THE VERMONT NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL

VNRC is a founding partner in the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network. VNRC works with members and activists from the grassroots to the Legislature to advance policies and practices that strengthen the foundation upon which Vermont’s economy thrives — vibrant communities and healthy downtowns, clean, abundant fresh water, working farms and forests, wild, majestic places, and a green energy economy.