The Vermont Legislature passed Act 53 in 2017, which required the Department of Public Service to submit a report on energy storage to the Legislature by November 15 (see Sec. 22). The report covers the costs and benefits of energy storage as well as recommendations for how to encourage the deployment and integration of energy …
VPIRG Comments on Report on Energy Storage for Vermont Read More »
On November 2, the Joint Energy Committee held a hearing on the Volkswagen Settlement, and how the funds should be used in Vermont. VPIRG’s Clean Energy Advocate, Sarah Wolfe, testified in support of using the funds for replacing diesel school buses with electric school buses, along with supporting charging stations across the state. You can …
VPIRG Testimony to Joint Energy on Volkswagen Settlement Funds Read More »
On Monday August 7th, the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) passed with broad bipartisan support a resolution (starts pg. 42) urging Congress to fully fund the Department of Energy’s (DOE) appliance efficiency standards program. The resolution, which passed with broad bipartisan support, was sponsored by Vermont Representative Curt McCormack (Chittenden-6-3), who co-chairs the NCSL …
On Friday, July 7th, the Public Utility Commission (PUC), formerly known as the Public Service Board, rejected the Scott Administration’s recommendation of an 8% cut to Efficiency Vermont’s budget. Instead, they chose to adopt the recommendation put forth by the organization that runs Efficiency Vermont, the Vermont Electric Investment Company (VEIC). This is essentially a …
Commission Rejects Scott Administration’s Proposed Efficiency Cut Read More »
On Friday, March 17, the House Energy & Technology Committee voted to pass H.411, a bill that protects the Federal appliance efficiency standards from Federal rollbacks. The bill passed with tripartisan support, with only one representative (Representative Van Wyck, Addison-3) voting against it. It then passed the full House on a voice vote and has …
House Moves Toward Protecting Appliance Efficiency Standards Read More »
On Friday May 15th, the Vermont Senate passed H.40, the “Renewable Energy Standard” bill. Shortly thereafter the House (which had passed the bill back in March) approved the Senate’s changes, sending it to the Governor’s desk. He was been a supporter of the bill from day one, and is expected to sign it in the …
Vermont just passed a Renewable Energy Standard. Here’s what it does. Read More »
Last week, we reported that the Vermont Senate was considering a proposal by the Administration to raid funds for critical heating efficiency programs to help close the budget gap. VPIRG supporters launched into action, calling their senators and asking them to oppose this idea. We’re happy to report that it looks like this plan has …
You may have seen the news that the Vermont Senate is scrambling to plug a hole in the budget – and we’ve learned there are plans to raid funding for heating efficiency to do that. A vote on these cuts is expected on the Senate floor FRIDAY. Please, take one minute to call your senators …
On Tuesday the Vermont House is set to cast their final vote on a critical renewable energy bill (H.40), which would require Vermont utilities to provide their customers with renewable power. VPIRG expects a move to cut part of the bill that would get new help to over 85,000 Vermont families and businesses to cut …
Every three years the Public Service Board reviews Efficiency Vermont’s budget and decides how much they should invest, and how much they should save Vermonters, going forward. That review is underway right now, and what they decide will determine whether or not we’re leaving potential savings on the table. Saving money and reducing pollution makes …
