Energy

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Energy Resources For Municipalities

The ACRPC has developed and gathered the resources below to support energy planning both at the regional level and in member municipalities. If there is information you do not find on this page, please contact our energy planner,  Maddison Shropshire at [email protected].

Resources for Residents

Are you a resident looking for energy efficiency resources for your life? Click the links below to learn more.

Join the ACRPC newsletter to hear about energy related grants, events, and progress around the county. To see upcoming Energy events around the state, check the Vermont Energy & Climate Action Network (VECAN) calendar here, and join the email discussion group list here.

Energy Burden

Below is a table describing energy burden in each Addison Co. community and the State-wide average. This data comes from the 2019 Energy Burden Report produced by Efficiency VT. You can review the full report HERE.

Town County Median Household Income Electricity Spending Thermal Spending Transportation Spending Total Spending Total Energy Burden Energy Burden Group
Addison  Addison County $78,712 $1,653 $2,502 $2,794 $6,949 8.8% Low
Bridport  Addison County $62,159 $1,584 $2,270 $2,760 $6,614 10.6% Moderate
Bristol  Addison County $51,417 $1,161 $2,354 $2,618 $6,132 11.9% High 
Cornwall  Addison County $79,226 $1,430 $2,053 $2,745 $6,228 7.9% Low
Ferrisburgh  Addison County $67,414 $1,439 $2,411 $2,698 $6,548 9.7% Moderate
Goshen  Addison County $41,875 $1,063 $1,316 $2,753 $5,132 12.3% High 
Granville  Addison County $55,000 $1,029 $2,056 $2,727 $5,812 10.6% Moderate
Hancock  Addison County $41,250 $1,091 $2,108 $2,727 $5,926 14.4% High 
Leicester  Addison County $63,472 $1,082 $2,297 $2,689 $6,068 9.6% Moderate
Lincoln  Addison County $64,625 $1,155 $2,078 $2,763 $5,996 9.3% Moderate
Middlebury  Addison County $53,250 $1,122 $2,039 $2,492 $5,654 10.6% Moderate
Monkton  Addison County $85,625 $1,356 $2,463 $2,752 $6,571 7.7% Lowest
New Haven  Addison County $63,889 $1,458 $2,288 $2,713 $6,458 10.1% Moderate
Orwell  Addison County $56,979 $1,419 $2,196 $2,777 $6,393 11.2% High 
Panton  Addison County $59,444 $1,777 $2,117 $2,772 $6,667 11.2% High 
Ripton  Addison County $48,125 $1,114 $1,587 $2,753 $5,454 11.3% High 
Salisbury  Addison County $62,019 $1,276 $2,212 $2,736 $6,224 10.0% Moderate
Shoreham  Addison County $61,250 $1,567 $2,215 $2,801 $6,584 10.7% Moderate
Starksboro  Addison County $68,980 $1,320 $2,281 $2,752 $6,353 9.2% Moderate
Vergennes  Addison County $56,250 $1,127 $2,199 $2,465 $5,791 10.3% Moderate
Waltham  Addison County $71,250 $1,421 $1,977 $2,772 $6,170 8.7% Low
Weybridge  Addison County $82,788 $1,654 $2,203 $2,740 $6,597 8.0% Low
Whiting  Addison County $51,250 $1,753 $2,185 $2,745 $6,683 13.0% High 
Statewide average $57,539 $1,146 $2,051 $2,634 $5,831 10.1%

Energy Scorecards

Following the release of the Vermont Climate Action Plan and Comprehensive Energy Plan, it is important to understand how our work at a local level translates to the goals set by the State. To that end, ACRPC has developed energy scorecards to report on the progress made by towns and across Addison Region in achieving energy targets set by the enhanced energy planning (EEP) process. These scorecards are intended to act as a progress report for the community and provide suggestions for next steps. They are not part of any required reporting. Regional targets were used for towns that have not completed an EEP to demonstrate the work being done in the context of regional goals. If you have questions about how this data was used, your town’s results, or how you can increase energy efficiency in your town, please reach out to ACRPC or the resources cited in this document for assistance.

Find instructions on how to read the scorecard and a regional summary here: Regional Energy Scorecard.

Find the energy scorecard for your town below:

If you would like more information on the data behind these scorecards, the spreadsheet of compiled data can be found at this link.

If you have read your scorecard and are looking for resources to help you implement new projects, please contact Maddison Shropshire at [email protected] or at 802.388.3141 (ext 7).

Funding Resources

  • FEDERAL DIRECT PAY RESOURCES: Courtesy of Vermont League of Cities and Towns. They recommend the following resources be reviewed in the order they are presented. (Updated 6/10/24)

    • Direct Pay Through The Inflation Reduction Act from The White House – A good introductory resource to learn about the credits and how to claim them.
    • Capital Planning Forum Presentation
    • from the Vermont Bond Bank – This recorded presentation by Lawyers for Good Government provides next-level depth about the tax incentives.
    • Elective Pay & IRA Tax Incentives Resources Webpage from Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) – The most understandable information for using the credits after reviewing the introductory level information from above. L4GG has distilled IRS-speak to usable information. There are fact sheets for first-time tax credit claimers, annotated forms that can help municipalities understand and complete IRS forms, webinars, and Frequently Asked Questions. Best of all, you and municipalities can submit questions that L4GG will answer.
    • Elective Pay and Transferability Webpage from the Internal Revenue Service – You’ll need caffeine to dig into this site, but we recommend you review it anyway. Focus on information relevant to the tax credit being pursued. The Frequently Asked Questions page is helpful.
    • Map of Low Income Community Bonus Tracts developed by the US Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory – Low Income bonus credits are offered on top of the typical 30% tax incentive available for solar and wind projects under 5 MW. You must apply to the Department of Energy to receive these credits using the Department’s Dashboard prior to applying to the IRS to claim the direct pay refund.
  • Energy Funding sheet – Compiled list of funding opportunities for various energy projects
  • Contact Green Mountain Power (HERE) for incentive options for energy upgrades
    • Residential Incentives – Any EV purchased in Vermont is eligible for a free EV charger from GMP. Residents are responsible for electrical work/ installation.
    • Business innovation team provides financial incentives to commercial properties (including municipalities) for everything from EV chargers (GMP EV Charging Incentive Program Material) to pizza ovens. Reach out to the team to learn how they can help with any equipment upgrades.
      • General Commercial Incentive – GMP will pay any commercial owner $750 for each new charging port installed.

Mapping Resources

The links below will connect you with the ArcGIS online map link and instructions for their use.

Regional Energy Maps [2017] – (8 1/2 x 11′)

Data

Efficiency VT Report – aggregated data from 2016-2020, updated each year in July

Community Statistics – to track progress on energy goals

Energy site map – for identifying existing and potential generation locations

For the most recent regional data from Efficiency Vermont, contact our energy planner at [email protected]

Energy Efficiency in Land Use and Buildings

Zoning and planning officials are in a unique position to influence the long-term affordability and environmental impacts of the buildings that occur within their town. They can do this by providing critical information to builders and home or business owners about how they can build to meet or exceed Vermont’s energy codes. This Municipal Guide to Vermont Energy Codes and Above-Code Programs will make it easier for municipalities to achieve this by providing clear and relevant information so that zoning and planning officials can easily respond to permit applicants. Efficiency Vermont has created the Energy Code Assistance Center that provides background information on energy code requirements, explains the energy code process from application through documented compliance and addresses specific municipal responsibilities associated with implementing energy code-related requirements under Act 89. For immediate support, builders, contractors and permit applicants can be referred to the Energy Code Assistance Center (ECAC) at 855.887-0673

Below are resources that will support the development of land use and building regulations in your town to increase energy efficiency.

Energy Committees

Town Energy Committees are implementing on-the-ground energy innovation projects in their communities. They are also helping Vermont meet its important Greenhouse Gas Reduction goal and 90 by 2050, all-sector renewable energy goals. These volunteer groups are working with municipal officials, schools, businesses, and neighbors to get buildings weatherized, solar projects electrified, heat pumps installed, transportation options expanded and far more.

In Addison County, several Energy Committees have webpages with more information, including Bristol, Middlebury, Monkton, Starksboro, and Weybridge. Several other municipalities also have Energy Committees or Coordinators. To see if your town has an energy committee or coordinator, check the map here.

Don’t see your town or city? Starting or joining a town energy committee is one of the most effective ways to take action on energy and climate change in your community!

For more information on getting started, check out the great resources on the Vermont Energy & Climate Action Network (VECAN)’s Getting Started webpage, including:

More resources available from the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC):

Webinar Library

ACRPC Energy Partners

The Addison County Regional Planning Commission has partnered with Climate Economy Action Center of Addison County to promote a healthy economy through carbon reduction.

The Addison County Regional Planning Commission works with a number of organizations to bring resources and programs to Addison County, including:

For questions or suggestions concerning Municipal Energy Committees, please contact ACRPC energy planner Maddison Shropshire.

Energy Committee

The Energy Committee sets priorities for regional energy policies, projects and issues, co-sponsors monthly energy programs, and supports Town Energy Coordinators and their Committees. Minutes may be found here.

Committee Members

  • Cheryl Brinkman, Chair
  • Ross Conrad
  • James Dayton
  • Peter Grant
  • Jim Walsh
  • Rich Warren
  • Jeremy Grip
  • Tom Perry

Meetings

The Energy Committee meets on an as-necessary-basis at ACRPC’s office at 6:00 p.m. on the Tuesday 8 days prior to the full Commission meeting. The Full Commission meets on the second Wednesday of the month, so that is usually the first Tuesday of the month.

Staff Contact

Adam Lougee

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