New pilot to spur innovation in energy management and save money for Vermont employers
Burlington, VT
Efficiency Vermont, the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and the Vermont Public Service Department today announced that nine major Vermont employers will participate in a new Pilot program to reduce operating costs and spur innovation in energy management.
Representing manufacturing, tourism, and government, the participating businesses and institutions together employ more than 4,500 Vermonters. In every corner of the state, each is an anchor of its community, supporting the local and statewide economy by employing Vermonters and investing in the region.
The new Energy Savings Account Pilot will support innovative efficiency projects for Chroma (Bellows Falls), Collins Aerospace (Vergennes), Jay Peak Resort, Killington Resort, Mack Molding (Arlington), Okemo Mountain Resort (Ludlow), Stowe Mountain Resort, Weidmann (St. Johnsbury) and Westrock (Sheldon).
“This Pilot allows businesses to invest in themselves and invest in Vermont,” said Michael Schirling, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. “These organizations are ready to take energy efficiency to the next level. By providing flexibility to manage their energy use, they can go further to cut costs and support a strong, vibrant Vermont economy.”
The Pilot will enable further innovation and total energy management for participants, with Efficiency Vermont as a dedicated resource to support project development and implementation. The range of eligible products allows for more flexibility and custom solutions to fit the participant, including energy productivity, demand reduction, thermal energy efficiency, and energy storage.
The Energy Savings Account Pilot was created in 2017 through an act of the legislature, with the intent of creating a program to allow some of the state’s largest energy users more flexibility to direct energy efficiency dollars toward the most impactful projects for their unique energy needs. Efficiency Vermont, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and the Public Service Department collaborated to design the Pilot, solicit proposals, and select the participants. The Public Service Department will partner with Efficiency Vermont to verify and measure the total energy savings achieved during the three-year Pilot period.
Participants will receive up to 100% of their Energy Efficiency Charge back to use for eligible projects and evaluation, measurement, and verification costs. The total funds for the Pilot cannot exceed $2 million over the three-year period. Of that allowance, an additional $400,000 is still available for additional eligible participants through a second round of proposals. Eligible participants must currently contribute at least $5,000 per year to the Energy Efficiency Charge.
If your organization is interested in participating in the Energy Savings Pilot, you can find the RFP for the second round of proposals at http://www.veic.org/company/requests-for-proposals/energy-savings-account-pilot-participation-rfp.
About Efficiency Vermont
As the nation’s first Energy Efficiency Utility, Efficiency Vermont has helped Vermont avoid over 13.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award for the last eight consecutive years. Efficiency Vermont works with partners to help our state transition to more affordable, low carbon energy use through education, incentives, and support for our clean energy workforce. Learn more at www.efficiencyvermont.com.
About ACCD
The Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development’s (ACCD) mission is to help Vermonters improve their quality of life and build strong communities. ACCD accomplishes this mission by providing grants, technical assistance, and advocacy through three divisions: The Department of Economic Development, the Department of Tourism and Marketing, and the Department of Housing and Community Development. For more information on ACCD please visit: https://accd.vermont.gov/.
About the Public Service Department
The mission of the PSD is to serve all citizens of Vermont through public advocacy, planning, programs, and other actions that meet the public's need for least cost, environmentally sound, efficient, reliable, secure, sustainable, and safe energy, telecommunications, and regulated utility systems in the state for the short and long term.
Efficiency Vermont Press Contact
Matthew Smith
Phone: (802) 540-7662
[email protected]
Agency of Commerce & Community Development
Nate Formalarie
Communications Director
802-522-7323
[email protected]
Public Service Department
Kelly Launder
Assistant Director, Efficiency and Energy Resources Division
802-828-4039
[email protected]