Regional Planning & Economic Development in the Northeast Kingdom
ENERGY UPDATE January 2025
Municipal & Residential Incentives and Offers
Energy & Resilience Upgrades
Municipal Offers:
NEW Residential Offers:
Customers looking for “next steps” should contact Efficiency Vermont by calling (888) 921-5990 or emailing [email protected] 
Vermont Municipal Bond Bank Announces $40 Million!
MERP Financing Alternative for non-awardees
Northeastern Vermont Development Association The Vermont Bond Bank announced $40M in low-interest loan funding for schools and municipalities for energy and weatherization improvements. This funding comes from the USDA Rural Energy Savings Program loan program. Currently, the program offers loans with ~2% interest at a term limit of 10 years. Municipalities interested in this program can contact NVDA for help with prioritization of local projects, loan application development, and project management assistance.
VECAN 2025 Webinars
Jan 15 & 29 (online)
Join the VT Energy & Climate Action Network for their January webinar series:
SETO’s Hottest 2024 Solar Resources
Check these links out!
Solar+Battery Storage to Support Community Preparedness & Disaster Response
Jan 15, 12-1pm (online)
This webinar will focus on innovative applications of solar+storage to assist vulnerable communities in the event of an outage and emergency event. Footprint Project, a non-profit organization that deploys solar+storage to communities in crisis, will speak to their experience deploying mobile solar+storage systems to support critical facilities and first responders during, and after, an emergency event.
Powering Change: The Role States Can Play in Transmission Reform
Jan 21, 2-3pm (online)
In the face of rising energy demand, looming deadlines for clean energy targets, and soaring energy prices, America is in need of a major overhaul in transmission capacity. While much of transmission is governed at the federal level, states play a crucial role in the planning, deployment, and management of transmission infrastructure across the country. A panel of experts will explore the role of states in transmission reform and the policy levers state actors can pull, such as engagement at the federal and regional levels to state legislation, regulation, and more.
$300K Grants for Clean Energy Projects – Jan 24 Deadline
Climate United NEXT is accepting applications for pre-development grants up to $300,000 to help underserved and low-income communities deploy the next generation of clean energy projects. The deadline to apply for the first round of grants has been extended to January 24.
State & Utility Coordination Can Maximize Impact of IRA Rebates
This ACEEE brief outlines how two actions—pairing Inflation Reduction Act rebates with utility efficiency efforts and growing those utility programs—could result in cost savings and job creation far beyond what the federal rebates can achieve.
Regional Planning & Leveraging Nature as Climate Infrastructure
Jan 27, 12pm (online)
Join VPIRG, Rebuild By Design, VNRC, VCRD, and other special guests for the third installment of the Building Resilience in Rural Communities Speaker Series! This free webinar will offer expertise and relevant case studies from national and local partners, plus a deep dive into current resiliency gaps and how our communities can address them. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with leaders, ask questions, and take action.
EAN’s Leveraging Change Speaker Series
Feb 6, 4:30pm – Hugo’s Bar & Grille, Montpelier
Learn about zero-emission heating equipment standards: An emerging strategy to reduce pollution from buildings. Fossil fuel use in buildings—primarily for heating—is the second largest source of Vermont’s climate pollution. Zero-emission heating equipment standards are an emerging regulatory approach to reduce GHG emissions and air pollution from buildings. States across the U.S., from California to Maryland, are exploring emissions-based standards for new equipment as a strategy to help meet state-level climate commitments. Lena Stier, EAN’s Data Manager and Research Analyst, will facilitate a conversation with Emily Levin (NESCAUM) and Nancy Seidman (RAP) about the history of equipment standards, what is happening in other states, and considerations for advancement in Vermont.
Downtown Transportation Fund – $200K grant
Application Deadline is Feb 17, 2025 @ 5pm
Since 1999, the Downtown Transportation Fund program has invested over $16 million in public infrastructure and helped municipalities update streetscaping, parking, rail, and bus facilities, bicycle and pedestrian safety, utilities, street lighting, and wayfinding signage. These vital infrastructural improvements to civic center’s directly contribute to healthier and happier communities.
Eligibility for Designated Village Centers
The Downtown Transportation Fund has expanded eligibility to Designated Village Centers that have participated in the Better Connections Program and Designated Village Centers that have completed a comprehensive downtown/village center/community area planning process with public input, comparable to the Better Connections Program. See the program application for a full list of eligible municipalities. Please note that the application includes a preliminary project review by Historic Preservation, which must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the application deadline.
See the 2025 Downtown Transportation Fund Guidance and Application for complete details of the program. The maximum grant amount is $200,000 with a 20% match requirement.
Please contact Natalie Elvidge at [email protected] if you have questions or need assistance. Applicants are strongly encouraged to set up a pre-application meeting to discuss project ideas.
Northeastern Vermont Development Association | PO Box 630 36 Eastern Ave. Suite 1 | St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 US
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