Officials at Vermont Technical College say a school competition
and a grant from IBM helped reduce the school’s electric bill by more than $40,000 in
one year.
Both energy developers and
the citizens who oppose their projects complain that the state’s regulatory
process is too burdensome. But both sides fundamentally
disagree about what’s wrong, and how to fix it.
As Vermont heads into the heating season, the state has launched
a major change in how it helps people who heat with wood. For the first time, the fuel
assistance program is making benefits directly to people on electronic debit
cards.
Castleton’s Planning Commission is
working on changes to ridgeline zoning regulations. The commission says there’s widespread
agreement that commercial development shouldn’t be permitted on at least 20 peaks.
Gov. Peter Shumlin has named
a new commission to consider ways to improve how energy projects are sited and
approved in Vermont. The governor’s executive
order follows increasingly contentious debate over large-scale wind projects.
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Burlington Mayor
Miro Weinberger are touting a new revolving loan program that will allow businesses
to work with the city-owned electric department to make energy upgrades.
Montpelier’s City Council has approved a plan to upgrade and expand a state operated wood-fired heating system for downtown buildings, reversing its decision last week to kill the project due to financial concerns.
Montpelier’s City Council has opposed a district energy project that called for the city to enter a contract with the state to purchase
thermal energy, even after voters approved it.
In Montpelier, the city’s energy committee next Tuesday will host
its first so-called "Energy Challenge Town Meeting." The city says the goal is to help residents get ready for winter by
giving them information about home energy audits and weatherization measures.