Municipal Energy Resilience Program

Passed on June 2^nd, 2022, Act 172 (As Enacted link) authorized MERP $45 million to support dependable and sustainable connections to critical municipal services for all Vermonters. Buildings owned by cities, towns, fire districts, incorporated villages, and all other governmental incorporated units except for school districts are eligible for the program.No local match is required for this funding.

The Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) will provide staff support, application and technical assistance, and funding to help communities become more energy resilient, reduce energy use and operating costs, and curb greenhouse gas emissions by promoting renewable energy, battery storage, electric vehicle charging, weatherization, thermal improvements, fuel switching, and enhanced building comfort in municipal buildings and facilities.

The program will provide the following funding opportunities:

Free building energy assessments
Up to $4,000 grants for energy resilience community capacity building
Up to $500,000 grants for building renovation projects for weatherization, thermal efficiency, and supplementing or replacing fossil fuel heating systems with more efficient renewable or electric alternatives.
Revolving loan program to support future retrofit needs beyond Implementation grant funds. This program will be developed following the successful launch of the other program components that have a spending deadline.

Learn more about each program in the sections below. An FAQ is also available by clicking HERE.

A quick review of the program and template selectboard approval language is available here: Template Selectboard approval.

Community Capacity Grant - NOW OPEN

The application is now open, click here to complete the application.

These grants provide up to $4,000 to support energy resilience community capacity building. This is a non-competitive grant, all towns that apply with an applicable project can expect to recieve this grant. Funds granted must be expended by December of 2024. Selectboard approval for proposed projects is required, meaning any applicant should have approval included in the selectboard meeting minutes. Potential uses include:

Direct mailings to residents regarding efficiency programs, weatherization programs, and/or rebates
Translation of energy efficiency outreach materials into other languages
Hire a consultant or grant writer
Pay for standing racks to hold handouts on energy efficiency programs in municipalities and hardware stores
Host a community energy fair or similar public energy event
Training for municipal officials/town staff on energy efficiency topics (basics of weatherization, heat pumps etc.)
Host a public informational meeting about energy resilience (provide refreshments, print/distribute materials etc.)
Start an energy committee

To use these funds efficiently applicants are encouraged to develop projects shared across multiple municipalities.

The application is now open, click here to complete the application.

To learn more, review the draft Grant Agreement for these funds.

Free Energy Assessments

Towns can apply for building assessments of any municipally owned building except schools. These assessments will provide recommendations and cost estimates for HVAC and thermal envelope improvements, weatherization, renewable energy equipment, battery storage and EV charging equipment. Two levels of assessment are available:

Level 1: Walk-through assessment. Takes ~1.5 hours and goes beyond Efficiency VT assessment qualifies the building for MERP Implementation Funds.

Level 2: Investment grade audit. Similar to an ASHRE Level 2 energy audit, takes ~4 hours and qualifies the building for MERP implementation funds and other Federal and State funding sources. Requires the following information at the time of application:

Electrical use and demand history- last 5 years
Fuel use (oil, gas, propane, wood, etc.)- last 5 years Building mechanical and electrical plans
Lighting schedules
Sequences of operations
Building control system points list
Building maintenance programs, operations and maintenance manuals, training programs, capital improvement programs
Plans related to the broader facility, campus, or complex (e.g., underground utility lines, property acreage, parking lots)

If you don’t have any of the documents for a Level 2 assessment, or you want to swiftly access the MERP implementation grant, consider a Level 1 assessment. In addition, if the town is aware of vermiculite in the building, please apply for a Level 1 assessment because a blower door test will not be available to you. Covered municipalities may apply for multiple assessments of either level. Both are free and will qualify the building for a MERP implementation grant.

Implementation Grant

Each municipality can apply for a maximum of $500,000 for building renovation projects regarding weatherization, thermal efficiency, and supplementing or replacing fossil fuel heating systems with more efficient renewable or electric alternatives. Any municipal building that receives an energy assessment through the MERP program is eligible for this funding. These funds can be split across several eligible buildings under one project grant.

Printable MERP Handout

Click here to view a one page handout on this program.

MERP Timeline

The timeline below is subject to change as the program develops:

March 8th 2023 – Applications open for $4,000 Community Capacity Grant
April 2023 – Applications open for free Energy Assessment
January 2024 – Energy Assessments must be completed
Spring 2024 – Applications open for up to $500,000 Implementation Grant
December 2024 – Community Capacity Grant and Implementation Grant funds must be obligated.
December 2026 – All Implementation Grant funds must be expended
December 2028 – All funded projects must be completed

Eligibility

All Addison County municipality-owned buildings are eligible for the MERP programs. To receive MERP Implementation funds the town must comply with the following:

The covered municipality has access to high-speed Internet as defined in the State’s Telecommunication Plan set forth in 30 V.S.A. § 202c or a plan is in place by 2024 to ensure access to high-speed Internet (participation in a Communications Union District qualifies); and
Any building that is assessed is compliant with the American Disabilities Act at the time the project is completed.

MERP Project Prioritization

The Community Capacity grant is non competitive, meaning any town that applies for a qualified use will receive funding.

Allocation of funds for the Free Energy Assessment and Implementation Grant will be prioritized based on need. Towns with a high energy burden defined as the proportion of income spent on energy, including heating, electricity, and transportation will receive highest priority. The MERP program is using the 2019 Efficiency VT Energy Burden report as the standard for this portion of the priority scoring. Other prioritization criteria include: administrative capacity, geographic location, and community size.

The list below shows where your town falls on the energy burden scale.

High Energy Burden

Whiting (13%)
Goshen (12.3%)
Bristol (11.9%)
Ripton (11.3%)
Orwell (11.2%)
Panton (11.2%)

Moderate Energy Burden

Shoreham (10.7%)
Bridport (10.6%)
Middlebury (10.6%)
Vergennes (10.3%)
New Haven (10.1%)
Salisbury (10%)
Ferrisburgh (9.7%)
Leicester (9.6%)
Lincoln (9.3%)
Starksboro (9.2%)

Low Energy Burden

Addison (8.8%)
Waltham (8.7%)
Weybridge (8%)
Cornwall (7.9%)
Monkton (7.7%)

Community Capacity Grant - NOW OPEN

The application is now open, click here to complete the application.

The application is now open, click here to complete the application.

Free Energy Assessments

Implementation Grant

Printable MERP Handout

MERP Timeline

Eligibility

MERP Project Prioritization

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