MONTPELIER. Feb. 2, 2012. On March 21st citizens from across Vermont will participate in the state’s first “crowd-sourced” film on Vermont Energy Independence Day. This is a film project about everyday acts of carpooling, insulating an attic, changing a lightbulb, or buying local. It’s also about sweeping changes found in Vermont’s homegrown renewable energy industry, the new comprehensive state energy plan, and grassroots actions of 100 town energy committees.

Anyone with a camera and image to share of Vermont’s energy transition can participate. Video clips uploaded to a YouTube channel will be organized and edited into a feature length film by Bright Blue EcoMedia.

“Crowd-sourced films are part of the rapidly changing world of digital information and storytelling,” says Vic Guadagno, Director and Producer. “The world is changing, and social media and video storytelling is driving this transition. We’ll weave together one cohesive story, as told by hundreds of individuals. We are encouraging café’s to become Community Story Centers with musical events so Vermont musicians can create the soundtrack”.

Schools, towns, businesses, and other groups are signing up to film their energy stories, host energy independence events, and network via Facebook and other social media sites leading up to March 21st.

“Vermont is emerging as a global leader in the inevitable transition away from nonrenewable energy resources, and towards a more decentralized, renewable, safe energy future.” says Executive Producer Jon Erickson, Professor and Managing Director of the University of Vermont’s Gund Institute for Ecological Economics. “We hope to capture the diversity of ideas needed to achieve greater independence, and show the world what one small state can do.”

Erickson’s undergraduate ecological economics class is helping to build a “story corps” to seek out the “must film” energy stories across the state. Bright Blue is also networking with a range of other non-profit groups to recruit participants, including Vermont Natural Resources Council, Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN), 350 Vermont, Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Renewable Energy Vermont, and Vermont Green.

“We have long been interested in helping to make the case for greater energy action by pulling together the stories that will inspire more people to act,” says Johanna Miller of the Vermont Natural Resource Council and coordinator of VECAN. “This film project will help create a common voice, and celebrate the grassroots energy actions sweeping the state.”

The social media campaign and film is being facilitated and produced by Bright Blue EcoMedia, the nonprofit media company that produced the regional Emmy-award winning series “Bloom” (see bloomthemovie.org). Additional information about Vermont Energy Independence Day can be found on the project’s Facebook page (facebook.com/vteid) and website (march21st.org).

Contact Vic Guadagno, Bright Blue EcoMedia
Phone: 303-247-1800  vic@brightbluemedia.org

15 extraordinary people transforming the way we live: The worldwide climate-change movement started with the dreams of a few college friends.

HOW TO BREAK THROUGH
“Believe that the world can change, and commit to your part of the solution. Look at the world with clear eyes, but remain hopeful, and celebrate! When you feel challenged, reach out and reach in.”
- May Boeve

Four years ago, after despairing over the U.S. government’s failure to act on climate change, I found myself demonstrating with thousands of people in all 50 states. I wanted to know who had organized “Step It Up,” which was, at the time, the world’s largest action on climate change. When I dug around, I found it was a small group of, well, kids— May Boeve and a circle of 20-somethings—friends from Middlebury College who would soon go on to build an activist network that has organized record-breaking global protests.

What on Earth made May and the rest of the Middlebury group think they could accomplish such mass-scale actions? How did they not become paralyzed by the scale of the task? What makes May and the rest of the 350 kids heroes to me is that they never waited for an answer. They built a movement based on the desire to grow their friendship and concern for the world to include an ever larger circle.

“I wanted to be surrounded by others who wanted to change the world,” May told me. Back in college, she had, in some ways, felt isolated: It had taken her much of her college career to find a community that shared her concerns. Once she found it, she didn’t want to let it go.

While some students bond and form groups around rockclimbing or chess, May and her friends formed a community while working together to force Middlebury to reduce its carbon emissions. When they graduated, they planned to move together to Billings, Mont., to help stop the building of new coal-burning power plants. But author Bill McKibben, who brought world attention to climate change with his book The End of Nature, approached them and asked if they might instead turn the power of the group friendship to the task of building a national and, later, an international climate movement.

With McKibben’s prestige behind them, they used phones, email, social networks, web pages, and community connections to reach every grassroots and impromptu citizens’ group they could.

On April 14, 2007, their nationwide coalition mounted Step It Up—simultaneous actions in 1,400 communities across the country. Next, the group formalized itself into the organization 350.org, named for the number of parts per million of carbon dioxide that the atmosphere can safely contain, according to models by NASA scientist James Hansen.

At first, 350’s goal was to mobilize world opinion in advance of the 2009 United Nations negotiations in Copenhagen, where activists hoped world leaders would forge a binding international climate-change agreement.

On Oct. 24, 2009, they organized people in 181 countries to stage 5,200 demonstrations demanding global action on climate change: CNN called it “the most widespread day of political action in our planet’s history.”

The group succeeded in producing an incredible show of grassroots strength, but it was not enough to stop the negotiations from falling apart. When it became likely that Copenhagen would deliver no meaningful action, May and a group of other American youth attended a meeting with the United States’ chief negotiator, Todd Stern, and other members of a U.S. State Department delegation. May was crying so hard about the failure of the negotiations that she almost could not speak. She kept thinking of a group of 6,000 schoolchildren in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who had participated in 350’s first international day of climate action: They reminded her how many lives were at stake all over the world.

She realized that there was no policy point she could make that would have an impact. The only thing she could do was appeal personally on behalf of the global movement of friends she and the 350 team had built. “I want you to know, if you fail to rise to the challenge,” she said to Stern, “that you are personally responsible to all the millions of people who have tried to let you know how important this issue is.”

Despite the disappointment at Copenhagen, the climate movement has only gotten larger and stronger. The 350.org group has continued to organize major worldwide events: a global work party in 188 countries on Oct. 10, 2010, and Moving Planet, more than 2,000 events to show the world that it’s possible to stop using fossil fuels (by traveling by bicycle, foot, boat, and other means).

This year, 350 merged with its sister grassroots organization, 1Sky, which worked exclusively in the United States. The organization itself has little official hierarchy—everybody pitches in. May has become its executive director in part because she is good at building partnerships.

Thanks to May and her crew, millions of people in thousands of locations around the world have come together to express the depth of their friendship to each other and to all of us. It is the friendship of humanity.

www.yesmagazine.org

Our Governor, Peter Shumlin, is calling for 75% of our electricity to come from renewables within 20 years, and 90% of our total energy from renewables by 2050.  Implementing this plan  will not only mean a cleaner, more climate friendly environment, but it will also mean green collar jobs for Vermont’s working families.

Now let’s put the pressure on and tell Montpelier that we can move even faster and create good green jobs in the process. Let’s tell Montpelier that the faster we move towards a renewable energy future, the better we will stand in our fight against climate change.  Now is the time for Vermont to once again lead the way!

On Wednesday, January 25th, at 10:00 am in the Cedar Creek Room in the Statehouse, Montpelier, there will be a rally/press conference announcing the launch of the historic “Fossil Fuels Freedom Campaign.”  This campaign was formed by our partners in the 350.org Vermont organization, and seeks to build a future of sustainable, climate friendly, renewable energy reliance in our state and beyond.

The Vermont Sierra Club supports these principles, and we will be there.

We invite you to be there too!

Vermont has a time-honored history of being first in the nation on many successful social/political initiatives. Therefore, we are stepping up to be the first state to initiate a full-scale urgent response to the climate crisis and as such, set a template for the rest of the United States to follow. To initiate this urgent-response mandate, we are launching a Fossil Fuel Freedom Campaign at the Statehouse.

• What: A Press Conference to launch the Fossil Fuel Freedom Campaign
• Where: Vermont Statehouse – Cedar Creek Room  (second floor)
• When: Wednesday, January 25th 10:00 AM

The Fossil Fuel Freedom Campaign advances goals and strategies to make Vermont the leader the country so urgently needs today to solve the climate crisis. The formula for unleashing a requisite level of sustained collective effort involves clear vision, bold goals, and individual participation across the board. Whenever people have united in this way the results have always been unparalleled innovation and fresh new models of thought and action. In a word: Transformation.

To learn more about this bold initiative and find out how you can do your part, please go to:  Fossil Fuel Freedom Campaign. 350VT.org

__________________________________________________________

Renewable Energy World, a global online magazine for renewable energy has nominated two Vermont initiatives for their 2012 Reader’s Choice Awards. You can help Vermont gain national recognition by take just a few seconds to vote for one of these great initiatives!

The winner will receive the Readers’ Choice Award at the Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards ceremony, which takes place during the Renewable Energy World North America Conference & Expo in Long Beach, California from February 14-16, 2012.

First-in-the-Nation Solar Registration

REV and partners were phenomenally successful during last years’ legislative session with the passage of the Vermont Energy Act of 2011. Part of the energy act included the passage of a solar registration provision making it quicker and easier to install small-scale solar photovoltaic systems in Vermont.

The new solar registration process, which replaces permitting allows solar customers to install the system 10 days after completing a registration form and certificate of compliance with interconnection requirements. The Vermont timeline is among the fastest in the nation.

Click here to vote for this innovation in renewable energy policy.

Sheffield Wind

This past October Vermont celebrated the commissioning of its second and largest wind power facility. REV Member First Wind unveiled its 40 megawatt (MW) wind project in Sheffield, VT which will produce enough electrical energy for the whole of Caledonia County. The goal of the Sheffield Wind project is to deliver clean, renewable wind energy that will not only provide natural power to Vermonters, but also generate other benefits for the local community. Developed, owned and operated by First Wind, Sheffield Wind delivers a clean energy alternative to Vermont utilities to help stabilize energy costs.

Click here to vote for this fantastic example of Vermont’s leadership in renewable energy.

Thanks for your support and taking the short time to cast your votes! REV looks forward to working with you in 2012 to continue to strengthen the renewables and efficiency community in the state.

gabrielle@revermont.org
(802) 229-0099

www.REVermont.org

Caption: First Wind today marked the commencement of commercial operations of the company's 40 megawatt Sheffield Wind project in Vermont, which will deliver clean, renewable power to about 15,000 Vermont homes.

Sheffield, VT – October 26, 2011 – First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, today marked the commencement of commercial operations of the company’s 40 megawatt (MW) Sheffield Wind project in Vermont.  Governor Peter Shumlin, local officials and members of the community joined company representatives for a ribbon-cutting event to recognize the environmental and economic benefits of the project, which will deliver clean, renewable power to about 15,000 Vermont homes.

“The Sheffield Wind project is an exciting development for our state as it is producing significant clean energy in Vermont for Vermonters today,” said Governor Shumlin.  “It is critical for Vermont to diversify its supply of energy to develop more sustainable sources of power, and projects such as this represent a path for a more sustainable and secure energy future.”

Located in the Town of Sheffield in the Northeast Kingdom, the Sheffield Wind project is comprised of 16 Clipper Liberty 2.5 MW turbines, and will generate enough power for about 45 percent of the homes in the Northeast Kingdom.  The Sheffield Wind project will diversify the portfolio of electricity generation in Vermont, and it will be integrated into the grid in a manner that increases reliability and helps reduce costs for consumers.

State Representative Tony Klein, Chair of the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee and the Chair of the Joint House & Senate Energy Oversight Committee, spoke about the significance of the project during the ribbon-cutting event.

“This project represents a huge step forward towards Vermont’s sustainable clean energy future,” said Representative Klein.  “It is very gratifying to see our energy policy, ten years in the making, finally become a reality.”

Beyond producing clean energy, the Sheffield Wind project has also undertaken several cutting-edge environmental mitigation and conservation measures that surpass even the most stringent industry standards.  One of these measures is an intricate system of ditches which convey runoff to 27 basins designed to catch and filter storm water.  In addition, the project also features narrower roads and smaller turbine pads than most utility-scale wind projects, measures to protect wildlife—including bear and moose habitat—and the preservation of the site for recreational uses.

“We are pleased to celebrate the completion of this project and we are excited that it can now deliver clean, renewable energy to Vermont consumers,” said Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind.  “First Wind has worked hard over many years to develop and build the Sheffield project the right way, and today’s commercial operations have been a long time coming.  In designing and building this project, First Wind was highly attentive to protecting the natural resources here at the site.  We believe this project is one of the most innovative in the country in taking steps to reduce overall impacts to the natural resources.”

“We’d like to thank our numerous project partners, including our utility power buyers, along with all of our supporters within the local community and throughout Vermont for helping us move this beneficial project forward,” added Gaynor.

The renewable power generated by the project has been sold to three Vermont utilities including the Burlington Electric Department (BED), the Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc. (VEC) and the Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WEC).  VEC and WEC both provide power to several towns in the Northeast Kingdom, so much of the power produced in Sheffield will stay within the area.

“We have supported this project from its earliest stages, and we are thrilled to add the production from Sheffield Wind to our power portfolio,” said Avram Patt, General Manager of Washington Electric Cooperative.  “The clean energy produced from this wind project also provides long-term cost certainty, a valuable hedge to more volatile fuels, which is a direct benefit to our residential and business members throughout Central Vermont and the Northeast Kingdom.”

Now that the project has achieved commercial operations, the Town of Sheffield will begin to receive more than $520,000 annually in tax revenues, which can be used toward local services including roads, schools, police, firefighters and more.  In total, including payments and services for land, property and state taxes, and local maintenance contracts, about $1 million a year will be paid into Vermont for the life of the project.

“Throughout the development and construction process, First Wind has been very cooperative and worked hard to be sure that Sheffield and the surrounding areas benefited in the process,” said Max Aldrich, chairman of the Sheffield Select Board.  “This project will prove to be both a valuable renewable energy source and economic contributor to the area.”

During construction, Sheffield Wind created about 200 jobs, and several local businesses saw an increase in business and revenue during the building of the project.  Additionally, the general contractor on the project, RMT, Inc., hired Vermont-based businesses and subcontractors including J.A. McDonald, Inc. of Lyndon Center; J.P Sicard, Inc. Excavating of Barton; Carroll Concrete of St. Johnsbury; and Deter Security of Rutland to work on the project.

Development and construction of the project required about 185,000 direct and on-site labor hours, or about 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs over a full-year.  First Wind and its contractors used about 50 different Vermont businesses for site work, supplies and equipment, environmental services, fuel and maintenance and lodging.

“It was exciting to be part of the state’s largest wind project,” said a representative of J.A. McDonald, Inc.  “The Sheffield Wind project has provided us with steady work and has been very good for our business during an otherwise difficult economy.”

A traditional fossil-fuel plant of the same scale as the Sheffield Wind project would burn 61,000 tons of coal or about 221,000 barrels of oil per year.  To further educate the public about the benefits of the Sheffield Wind project, First Wind has created a video that provides details and testimonials on how the project has supported the community and economy of the region.  You can view the video at First Wind’s Media Center or on YouTube..

About First Wind
First Wind is an independent wind energy company exclusively focused on the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of utility-scale wind projects in the United States.  Based in Boston, First Wind has wind projects in the Northeast, the West and in Hawaii, with the capacity to generate up to 735 megawatts of power and projects under construction with the capacity to generate up to an additional 141 megawatts.  For more information on First Wind, please visit www.firstwind.com or follow us on Twitter @FirstWind.

RICHMOND, Vt., Nov. 4 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today helped mark the opening of a solar energy project at the Camels Hump Middle School, one of the greenest public schools in Vermont.

“The solar project here at Camels Hump is a step forward as we work to transform our energy system in Vermont and across this country,” Sanders told more than 350 students who joined him to celebrate the project’s completion.

“Thank you for what you are doing. You are a model for the state,” he added. “The reason that today is important is that your school is doing something no other school is doing in Vermont. You are helping lead the way.”

The 507 solar panels will generate enough electricity to cover about 25 percent of the school’s annual energy use and save $25,000 each year in electricity costs based on current prices. “What you are showing is what a community and a school can do to combat global warming, clean up our air, move us toward energy independence and create jobs,” the senator said.

The Richmond middle school solar project is one of the biggest at any public school in New England. The panels were manufactured in California and installed by a Vermont company.

Also speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony today was Vermont Public Service Commissioner Liz Miller. “I want you all to go home tonight and tell your parents, ‘Wow, this is what we are doing,’” she told the students.  Miller said she hopes that as more schools install arrays of solar panels, they will compete with each other about who is producing more electricity.

Camels Hump now has the largest solar array at a public school in Vermont, but significant progress has been made at other schools throughout the state in making the transformation to renewable energy systems. For example, Vermont has 47 schools that heat with efficient biomass, instead of oil.

Sanders is a member of the Senate energy and environment committees. He chairs the Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee. He helped secure $274,000 from the Department of Energy to pay for half of the solar panels at the Richmond middle school. The state of Vermont contributed $250,000 and Green Mountain Power, as part of its Solar on Schools program, put $20,000 toward the pilot project.

Sanders also secured funding to help 10 other Vermont schools install photovoltaic solar systems.

Contact: Michael Briggs (202) 228-6492

COLCHESTER, VT–(Marketwire – October 26, 2011) – Green Mountain Power (GMP) and Healthy Living Market unveiled a public electric vehicle (EV) charging station in the Healthy Living Market parking lot on Dorset Street in South Burlington, VT on Wednesday, October 26. Drivers will be able to charge an electric vehicle at no cost for the first year of operation. The charging station is incorporated into a striking sculpture of a tree by Vermont artist Kat Clear.

“We are excited to partner with Healthy Living to make this new EV station available to the community,” said Mary Powell, President and CEO of Green Mountain Power. “Having charging station infrastructure is critical to the adoption of electric vehicles. This project and others like it will also help GMP learn more about how people use electric vehicles, so we can move away from fossil fuel-based transportation without jeopardizing reliability and cost.”

“What an exciting project for Healthy Living, GMP, and the City of South Burlington,” said Eli Lesser-Goldsmith, the store’s owner and general manager. “Customers can fill up their electric cars while shopping for groceries. And the sculpture by Kat Clear makes this charging station the most unique and beautiful one I’ve ever seen. This is an excellent partnership that I hope to see grow as the market for electric cars grows.”

“Reducing Vermonters’ reliance on carbon-intensive fuels is a high priority of the Shumlin Administration,” stated Brian Searles, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Transportation. “Forty-seven percent of Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation. Increasing the number of cars that run on renewable electricity is one of many strategies that Vermont can employ to change this.”

This new Coulomb Technologies CT2100 Chargepoint electric vehicle charging station is compatible with all electric vehicles on the market today. It includes customer-oriented features such as on-line and smartphone directions and reservations, driver notification of charge status, and effortless charging session initiation. The system will also provide feedback so that GMP can better understand how plug-in drivers use charging stations in the community.

The station will be paired with a net-metered solar array that is planned for the roof of Healthy Living Market. “The solar panel will help demonstrate how renewable energy fits in with new technologies to displace the carbon emissions from transportation,” said Ms. Powell.

It is anticipated that the electric vehicle market will grow in the coming years, with more than 100 plug-in electric or hybrid models available by 2013. The EV charging station will be different than the traditional gas station model, as fully charging a vehicle takes multiple hours, and will typically be done at home. However, it is expected that public charging stations will be used to “top off” electric vehicles to expand their range.

GMP has launched a new website at ev.greenmountainpower.com to share details about its charging station installations, and to be a resource where people can learn more about plug-in electric vehicles and EV charging station infrastructure.

Green Mountain Power’s environmental commitment has already inspired some electric vehicle purchases for the company. The company operates 22 hybrid vehicles, including two bucket trucks and three Toyota Priuses converted to plug-in hybrids powered by solar arrays, and two GEM neighborhood electric vehicles.

About Green Mountain Power
Green Mountain Power (www.greenmountainpower.com) generates, transmits, distributes and sells electricity in the State of Vermont and is a leader in wind and solar generation. It serves more than 96,000 customers.

About Healthy Living
Healthy Living Market and Café (www.healthylivingmarket.com) is Vermont’s premiere and largest Natural Foods Store. Selling the finest natural, organic, and local foods, Healthy Living is a one-stop-shop for all your foodie needs. Started almost 30 years ago, the store has grown exponentially over the years, now employing over 150 people and epitomizing the “local food movement.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.///October 20, 2011/// A sour U.S. economy, tight state budgets, and a failure by Congress to adopt a comprehensive energy strategy have not slowed the growing momentum among U.S. states toward increased energy efficiency, according to the fifth edition of the annual ACEEE State Energy Efficiency Scorecard released today by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) during a National Press Club news conference.

Available online at http://aceee.org/research-report/e115, the ACEEE Scorecard shows that the top 10 states are:  Massachusetts (taking the #1 position for the first time); California (slipping from the top spot it held for the first four editions of the ACEEE Scorecard); New York State; Oregon; Vermont; Washington State; Rhode Island; Minnesota, Connecticut; and Maryland (making its first appearance in the top 10 and also one of the six most improved states in the 2011 ACEEE Scorecard).

The 10 states most in need of improvement (starting with dead last) are: North Dakota; Wyoming; Mississippi; Kansas; Oklahoma; South Carolina; West Virginia; Missouri; Alabama (also one of the top six most improved states); and South Dakota.

The six most improved states include Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Alabama, Maryland, and Tennessee.

“Energy efficiency is America’s abundant, untapped energy resource and the states continue to press forward to reap its economic and environmental benefits,” said ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel.
“The message here is that energy efficiency is a pragmatic, bipartisan solution that political leaders from both sides of the aisle can support. As they have over the past decades, states continue to provide the leadership needed to forge an energy-efficient economy, which reduces energy costs, spurs job growth, and benefits the environment.”

“Thanks to our investments in innovation and infrastructure, Massachusetts is now leading the nation in energy efficiency,” said Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. “Through our Green Communities Act, we set aggressive goals and laid the foundation for greater investment in energy efficiency — and now we are proud to be a model for the nation and world.”

“I am thrilled that Maryland is being recognized as one of the top ten states and one of the most improved states for energy efficiency,” said Malcolm Woolf, director of the Maryland Energy Administration. “As a result of Governor O’Malley’s vision in establishing one of the nation’s most aggressive energy efficiency goals, Marylanders have already saved over 700,000 MWh of electricity and over $91 million dollars since 2009, and our peak demand program has helped us avoid major blackouts during our record-setting summer heat wave.”

“Illinois is a purposeful leader in the area of sustainability, investing more than $600 million in energy efficiency projects over the last four years alone,” Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Warren Ribley said. “By supporting aggressive policies including the state’s energy efficiency portfolio standard and advanced building industry training and education, we are creating jobs, building more sustainable communities and securing our place in the new energy economy.”

“We are excited that Michigan’s positive action on energy efficiency is being recognized nationally,” said Valerie Brader, the chief energy policy officer for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The ACEEE report observed that Michigan’s improvement is particularly due to the implementation of energy efficiency programs advanced in state legislation P.A. 295.

The fifth edition of the ACEEE State Energy Efficiency Scorecard presents a comprehensive ranking of the states based on an array of metrics that capture best practices and recognize leadership in energy efficiency policy and program implementation. The Scorecard benchmarks progress and provides a roadmap for states to advance energy efficiency in the residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors. A new, diverse set of states has followed a group of leading states by adopting significant energy efficiency policies, which will lead to innovative and effective programs. Tremendous potential remains for energy efficiency savings in all of the states should motivate decision-makers to advance energy efficiency.

“Clearly, 2011 has not been kind to our economy, but energy efficiency remains a growth sector that attracts investment and creates jobs,” said Michael Sciortino, ACEEE senior policy analyst and the report’s lead author. “With even higher energy savings possible, we expect leading states to continue pushing the envelope next year and inspire those at the bottom of the rankings to embrace energy efficiency as a core strategy to gain a competitive advantage by generating cost-savings, promoting technological innovation, and stimulating growth.”

OTHER KEY FINDINGS

Facing uncertain economic times, states are continuing to use energy efficiency as a key strategy to generate cost-savings, promote technological innovation, and stimulate growth.  The ACEEE Scorecard documents the following trends:

·       Total budgets for electricity efficiency programs increased to $4.5 billion in 2010, up from $3.4 billion in 2009. Combined with natural gas program budgets of about $1 billion, total energy efficiency budgets in 2010 equal about $5.5 billion. Given the increasing regulatory commitments to energy efficiency, this growth will likely continue over the next decade.

·       Twenty-nine (29) states have either adopted or have made significant progress toward the adoption of the latest energy-saving building codes for homes and commercial properties – up from twenty in 2010 and ten in 2009.

·       Twenty-four (24) states have adopted an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS), which sets long-term energy savings targets and drives utility-sector investments in energy efficiency programs. States that adopted EERS policies in 2007 and 2008 are now realizing significant energy savings and moving ahead in the Scorecard rankings.

·       States continue to improve policies to reduce financial, technical, and regulatory barriers to adoption and deployment of combined heat and power (CHP) systems, which generate electricity and thermal energy in an integrated system. Tremendous potential remains for CHP, particularly in states with heavy industrial and manufacturing bases.

·       A group of leading states remains ahead of the curve in adopting policies to reduce vehicle miles traveled and promote the purchase and manufacture of efficient vehicles. A major gap exists, however, as over half the states have minimal or no policies to encourage efficiency in the transportation sector.

METHODOLOGY

This ACEEE Scorecard provides a comprehensive assessment of policy and programs that improve energy efficiency in our homes, businesses, industry, and transportation sectors. The Scorecard examines six state energy efficiency policy areas and presents these results in six chapters: (1) utility and public benefits programs and policies; (2) transportation policies; (3) building energy codes; (4) combined heat and power; (5) state government initiatives; and (6) appliance efficiency standards. States can earn up to 50 possible points in these six policy areas combined, with the maximum possible points in each area weighted by the magnitude of its potential energy savings impact.

ABOUT ACEEE:  The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, visit www.aceee.org.

October 20, 2011 | Montpelier, VT — On Wednesday, October 26, Vermont will celebrate a banner day in advancing clean, sustainable, local energy production by marking the completed construction of two wind power projects.

First Wind will commission Sheffield Wind, a 40 megawatt (MW) wind facility which will produce enough electricity for the whole of Caledonia County. In nearby East Burke, Burke Mountain Ski Area will celebrate its new wind turbine, manufactured by Barre-based Northern Power Systems. The Northwind 100 turbine at Burke is expected to produce close to 20% of the ski resort’s power needs. Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin is slated to speak at both ribbon cutting events.

“Across the state, Vermonters embrace a clean energy future that creates local jobs, keeps Vermonters’ money working in our state, and creates a future for our children that we are proud of,” says Gabrielle Stebbins, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Vermont (REV). “Vermont leads the nation in many ways with our progressive approach to a clean energy economy, and this Wednesday we celebrate new, clean Vermont-made energy.”

The Sheffield Wind Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be located at 1868 New Duck Pond Road in Sheffield, VT. The dedication and speaking portion of the event will begin promptly at 11:00am.

Burke Mountain Ski Area will celebrate its new wind turbine at a Grand Opening Ceremony at the summit of Burke Mountain at 3:30pm. The ski area is located at 223 Sherburne Lodge Road in East Burke, VT.

About Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), www.revermont.org
REV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing nearly 300 businesses, individuals, colleges and others committed to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and expanding the availability of renewable sources of energy in Vermont. REV works as the only advocacy organization dedicated solely to advancing renewable energy and efficiency in the state.

For more information contact:
Scott Merriam, Program Manager, Renewable Energy Vermont (REV)
(802) 229-0099 office; (802) 595-3517 mobile