VNRC, Partners Comment on State's Draft Energy Plan

At a press conference in front of Montpelier's U.S. Post Office, VNRC’s Executive Director Elizabeth Courtney joined her peers at the Conservation Law Foundation, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility and Vermont Public Interest Research Group and returned the state's draft 'Comprehensive Energy Plan' back to sender. The groups called on the state to modify its plan to include more specific and ambitious implementation strategies and solutions.
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Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network

The Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network — VECAN — is a collaborative of statewide nonprofit and membership-based organizations, including VNRC, who's goal is to start and strengthen town energy committees.
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VNRC Offers Energy Planning Assistance to Vermont Communities

Planning is a powerful tool for combating Vermont’s energy and climate change challenges. Unfortunately, communities, regions and the state have not taken full advantage of available planning tools to help prepare for a carbon-constrained world. VNRC can offer technical assistance to Vermont communities interested in updating the energy component of their local plan or serve as a resource to municipalities and energy committees.
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VNRC COMMENTARY: Is Vermont Crafting an Energy Plan for Success?

VNRC's Executive Director asserts that Vermont, and the world, must employ the best tools possible to meet the state's energy needs and challenges of climate change. In VNRC's opinion, the May release of the state's comprehensive energy plan - a guidepost for tackling these important issues - falls startlingly short. Read more about the plan and how VNRC thinks the state can strengthen this important document.
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Energy Audit At VNRC's Home Office

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2008 Energy and Climate Change Bills Summary

After a long, hard fight, including a gubernatorial veto, lawmakers supported two pieces of energy and climate change legislation in the 2008 legislative session. One bill, S.209, provides a solid step forward by creating programs to help Vermonters save money by weatherizing inefficient homes and expanding opportunities for renewable energy development in Vermont. The other bill, S.350, took a small step forward. This bill requires tracking the sources from which Vermont's global warming pollution is generated and directs the state's transportation agency to better integrate our transportation network and expand opportunities for public transit, pedestrians, bikes and rail in Vermont.
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A Primer on Energy Planning Opportunities

Strengthening town and regional plans - especially the energy component of the town plan - is a powerful tool to help advance conservation, efficiency, smarth growth development, renewable energy and alternative transportation opportunities. Check out this very basic primer on where you might start looking to update the energy component of your master plan. And find more information about how VNRC might help you and your community undertake this useful process.
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VNRC Asks for Leadership on Climate Change

VNRC's Executive Director Elizabeth Courtney recently wrote about the remarkable Step It Up day of climate action. She points to the day, where tens of thousands of people gathered across the nation, as a great example of the powerful grassroots movement growing around climate change. Read Elizabeth's editorial, where she describes the need to respond to climate change and embrace the new opportunities it will offer for prosperity and independence.
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Al Gore on Vermont's Climate Change Bill: "Put This Terrific Law Into Place"

Former Vice President Al Gore recently called on the Vermont Legislature to advance a bill to help Vermonters save money in home heating costs, create new jobs, expand renewable energy opportunities in Vermont and tackle climate change. The comments from Gore - one of the world’s foremost advocates for action on climate change - came over a live video feed into Vermont a day after Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed H.520, the big energy bill passed by the Legislature this spring.
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Town Energy and Climate Action Guide

The Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network's "Town Energy and Climate Action Guide" offers an important resource to communities interested in establishing, or currently working on, town energy committees.
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