Douglas against significant efficiency funding increase

June 25, 2008

MONTPELIER — The Douglas administration is resisting calls for a big increase in spending on Vermont's statewide energy efficiency utility, saying Efficiency Vermont's efforts to promote compact fluorescent light bulbs is about to be made redundant by the private market and federal regulations.

The comments filed this week at the Public Service Board by the Department of Public Service follow calls by two environmental groups, the Conservation Law Foundation and Vermont Public Interest Research Group, for boosting the current $30.5 million budget for Efficiency Vermont to $52.2 million next year and $85 million by 2011.

The Department of Public Service replied to that request by lauding Efficiency Vermont but...

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Administration Resists Calls For Efficiency Spending Boost

June 24, 2008

MONTPELIER Vt. -- The Douglas administration is resisting calls for a big increase in spending on Vermont's statewide energy efficiency utility.

The Department of Public Service told the Public Service Board that Efficiency Vermont's efforts to promote compact fluorescent light bulbs are about to be shunted aside by the private market.

Two environmental groups -- the Conservation Law Foundation and the Vermont Public Interest Research Group -- maintain there are big untapped energy savings to be achieved if the state steps up its investment in efficiency programs.

Those groups are asking for the Efficiency Vermont budget...

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PSB ought to put energy efficiency first

State needs to put more money into conservation




By JAMES MOORE and SANDRA LEVINE
June 22, 2008

Challenging times demand creative solutions. Fortunately in Vermont, as we face an uncertain energy future, we have tried and true answers born of our foresight and ingenuity. We don’t need to increase our reliance on dirty and expensive energy sources. We can lower our energy costs and tackle global warming by responsibly expanding energy efficiency. It’s what we have been doing for over a decade already and we have barely scratched the surface of possible savings.

Thankfully, Vermont’s Legislature and utility regulators have been steadfast and responsible supporters of energy efficiency. As a result, Vermont is a leader on energy efficiency...

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Cavendish to host energy forum

June 16, 2008

CAVENDISH — The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will sponsor a forum on the future of energy production at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 23 at the elementary school.

The forum will focus on the pros and cons of different energy sources in the state, including Vermont Yankee in Vernon and Hydro Quebec. Forum panelists will include James Moore, clean energy advocate for Vermont Public Interest Research Group; Rep. Ernie Shand, D-Windsor; and Dallas and Leslie Cox of the Cavendish Solar Store.

The forum will discuss the many sources of energy available to state residents and what the state is doing to combat rising energy bills.

For more information, call Robin Timko at 226-7736.

Groups call for hike in efficiency program budget

June 11, 2008

MONTPELIER — Two of the state's leading environmental organizations have urged the Vermont Public Service Board to nearly double funding for the state's energy efficiency utility.

In a June 6 letter to the three-member panel that oversees Vermont's public utilities, the Conservation Law Foundation and Vermont Public Interest Research Group said adding more than $20 million to Efficiency Vermont's budget offers the lowest-cost mechanism to meet the state's growing energy demands.

"Efficiency is the cheapest and cleanest resource that we can use to address Vermont's electricity needs," says James Moore, clean energy advocate for VPIRG. "And there's a lot of untapped potential that can help reduce Vermonters' electric bills."

The environmental groups have proposed a fiscal year 2009 budget of $52.5 million for Efficiency Vermont, up by almost $22 million over this year's funding levels. By 2011, the groups say in their letter, Efficiency Vermont should command a budget of $85 million. The Public Service Board sets funding rates for Efficiency Vermont every three years; the budget is funded via a surcharge on Vermonters' electricity bills.

"For every dollar you invest in energy efficiency, you save two or three dollars on electricity that you would have had to buy," Moore says. "That's a terrific savings opportunity for Vermonters in a time when energy prices are soaring."

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Groups urge spending on energy efficiency utility

June 10, 2008
MONTPELIER -- Two environmental organizations have recommended that the state increase its energy efficiency utility's budget by more than $20 million while the state Department of Public Service has suggested inflation-only increases.

The Conservation Law Foundation and Vermont Public Interest Research Group filed paperwork Monday with the Public Service Board recommending an increase from $30.75 million to $52.5 million in 2009.

The utility, called Efficiency Vermont, is charged with reducing Vermonters' use of electricity and is funded through a fee on electric customers' bill. The fee would increase from two-thirds of a cent per kilowatt-hour to 1 cent per kilowatt-hour under the CLF/VPIRG recommendation, said Sandra Levine, senior attorney with CLF.

Sarah Hofmann, public advocacy director for the state Department of Public Service, in an April letter to the Public Service Board, recommended level increases in the energy efficiency utility's budget...

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