On Saturday, December 7, the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN) held its 12th Community Energy and Climate Action Conference at Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vermont. This year’s theme was Meeting the Moment: Collectively Confronting the Climate Crisis.

VNRC is the proud coordinator of VECAN, a growing network of 125+ energy committees across the state. The annual VECAN conference brings together energy leaders, business innovators, policy makers, nonprofit thinkers, and Vermonters working for climate solutions.

Break-out sessions focused on topics ranging from transportation electrification and weatherization strategies to improving soil health for climate resilience, and tips for energy committees looking to effectively engage their municipalities.

Senator President Pro Tempore Tim Ashe spoke to a packed house of nearly 300 Vermonters about combating climate change in every committee room of the Vermont Legislature in 2020, previewing the upcoming session and what he expects will get accomplished.

Chloe Maxmin, Representative for the rural Maine House District 88, delivered an energizing keynote address about her winning strategies for engaging even the least expected supporters on the importance of climate action. Maxmin, 27, is the first Democrat to ever win her District’s seat, and its first climate champion. In college she founded Divest Harvard, a campaign calling on Harvard University to divest from fossil fuels. Maxmin inspired conference-goers with stories from the campaign trail in her conservative rural community. She also shared valuable tips for engaging people from all sides of the aisle on climate action.

There was a special treat outside the conference hall: a zero energy modular (ZEM) mobile home that VECAN attendees had the opportunity to tour, constructed by the modular home builder Vermod. All-electric ZEM homes make as much energy as they use, with the help of solar power and heat pumps. (They’re attractive, comfortable, and spacious, too!)

Thank you to everyone who attended our 12th Annual VECAN Conference! Learn more about VECAN at vecan.net. Please browse some photos from the event below — and let us know if you’re in any of them!