Heat Clean

A report released today found that Vermonters will save an additional $1.4 billion by improving the energy efficiency of their homes and businesses and switching to renewable heating sources if the state expands funding for these programs. According to the report, the typical homeowner could cut their heating bill by $1,000 per year through efficiency alone. The findings from the Thermal Efficiency Task Force drew praise from numerous trade associations, low-income advocates and environmental organizations.

In August, the Montpelier City Council approved an initial leg of the District Heat project while getting bids for remaining connections, which would include Union Elementary School and City Hall.  Since then, city staff members are hard at work enlisting business customers needed to make this renewable heating project work even better. On Wednesday, November …

Final Vote on Montpelier District Heat Read More »

Montpelier’s City Council voted 5-1 in favor of the District Heat project.  The vote cast in special session reversed the previous week’s 4-2 council vote to halt the project.  Following a week of intensive negotiations between the city and state and a tremendous outpouring of public support, VPIRG is delighted to see the project moving …

Montpelier’s District Heat Project is a Go! Read More »

Dozens turn out in lead up to special City Council session For Immediate Release: August 29, 2012 MONTPELIER, VT—Less than a week after a majority of the Montpelier City Council rejected a long-planned upgrade to a wood fired boiler run by the state that would pump heat to municipal buildings and local businesses, dozens of …

Montpelier Residents Rally in Support of District Heat Project Read More »

On Wednesday, August 22nd, Montpelier’s City Council voted 4-2 to halt a decade’s worth of progress on a district heating project.   While the vote is disappointing, the mayor convened a special session a week later, where, following a updates to the plan and an outpouring of public support, the councilor reversed it’s earlier decision …

Montpelier District Heat Project Resources Read More »

VPIRG canvassers are hearing Vermonters across the state say yes to clean heat. Vermonters want to save money, save energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels by weatherizing and switching to local, renewable heating fuels, like solar hot water and wood pellets. We just need to make sure it’s as easy and affordable to take these steps as possible.

VPIRG is talking to Vermonters from every corner of the state this summer to help make a clean, affordable heating future a reality. Keeping our homes comfortable in the winter costs over a billion dollars a year and nearly $800 million of that goes right out of the state to pay for dirty fossil fuels. Making Vermont’s comfortable, affordable heating future a reality wouldn’t only save money – it’s what’s right for our economy and the environment.

Over the past five years, VPIREF has released three major reports addressing the challenges and opportunities in determining Vermont’s energy future. These reports provided insights into the economic challenges and environmental impacts of energy use in Vermont and identified solutions that could help Vermont build a clean energy future.