Clean Energy for Vermont: A plan today for tomorrow

Energy planning in Vermont stands at a crossroad. In little more than a decade, the sources of twothirds of our energy may be shut down or priced out of reach. The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant’s federal license expires in 2012; the state's contract with Hydro Quebec expires in 2016. The Bush administration’s  federal energy policy continues to push increased reliance on coal, oil and nuclear power, forcing a critical decision on Vermont: Do we remain reliant on dirty, dangerous and expensive energy sources, or do we create a new vision for our energy future, one relying on efficiency and renewable energy, stressing energy independence?

The last time Vermont wrestled with an energy agenda this momentous, the state's utilities -- with approval from regulators -- signed a disastrous 25-year contract with Hydro Quebec. Rates paid through that contract continue to be at above-market levels -- one reason Vermont has some of the highest electric rates in the country. That contract was negotiated largely in secret, with the public unable to participate or comment on the deal. Similarly, the Department of Public Service’s first draft of its 20-year energy plan was written behind closed doors --only to be rescinded in the face of public outcry. A second draft was made public only after VPIRG Open Documents requests forced the department to share its work with the outside world and a promised public comment process has not yet been outlined. VPIRG believes full, open discussion is essential to energy planning, as it is to all public planning. Decisions made today will affect Vermonters for generations; all Vermonters must have the right raise their voices in the process.

In the last decade Vermont has fallen behind neighboring New England states in its commitment to clean, renewable, local energy resources. As we look beyond our reliance on Vermont Yankee and Hydro-Quebec, we should see the opportunity to take responsibility for our energy future to save money, improve our environment and strengthen our economy.

We must re-envision our energy portfolio, seeing beyond the narrow perspectives of old fuel sources and market rates. Our new vision must be grounded in the real world with its real limitations, but we must not be blind to opportunities and technologies that were unavailable in the past.

An important concept clearly absent from the administration’s energy proposal is Least Cost Integrated Planning (LCIP or Least Cost Planning). LCIP directs us to examine not just the market rate for electricity, but the total societal cost of energy’s production, transmission and use. The administration’s approach to energy planning -- even in its current, revised draft -- is the  opposite of Least Cost Planning -- a narrow, short-term focus on reducing rates for the biggest consumers in the state. This ignores the effect of energy choices on our health, our environment and results in higher rates for residential consumers and Vermont society as a whole. VPIRG seeks to correct  this oversight. LCIP is the foundation upon which VPIRG’s vision is based.

VPIRG’s vision of Vermont's energy future is bright. Vermonters are known for tackling difficult questions and leading the nation with innovative solutions. A few of our many resources: Efficiency Vermont, a nationally-recognized leader in  energy innovation, saves energy and money for Vermont businesses, protects the environment and strengthens our economy almost immediately with every cent it receives from taxpayers. Burlington's  municipal electric utility, Burlington Electric Department, uses in-state, renewable energy sources and invests aggressively in efficiency - yet still charges rates a third lower than the state average, proving clean energy and affordability not only can thrive together, but are in fact connected. Finally, VPIRG has  the support of thousands of Vermonters for our energy plan and concrete proposals to increase funding for efficiency and renewables and make these our primary energy solutions, rather than bigger nuclear  plants. Around the state we see that elements of our vision are not only possible, but are already taking  root and need only be nurtured to blossom into a sustainable energy future.

At VPIRG we also know good planning considers structural and institutional change and involves the public. We believe the best  decisions about Vermont’s energy future will be made by listening to Vermont citizens. In a democracy, the public has a moral and civic right to be involved in decision making, and public ownership of those decisions will expedite implementation. Our plan not only discusses what mix of energy can be created in Vermont but how discussion, debate and dialogue can create an energy future as homegrown as the renewable energy sources Vermonters prefer.