Energy

Pathways and Recommended Actions

This section provides a discussion on achieving goals in a just and equitable manner, as well as recommending strategies to achieve the energy targets for the Windham Region across the three main energy pathways: conservation and the efficient use of energy in buildings, land use, and transportation. The Land Use and Transportation Chapters in the Regional Plan also complement this section and contain additional policies and strategies for achieving the Region’s energy goals. Several broad issues have been identified throughout the Regional Plan that will need to continued to be examined and addressed in order to achieve energy goals.

• Achieving regional goals has be accomplished in a just and equitable manner.
• The correlation between low density settlement patterns and increased energy consumption.
• The lack of adequate infrastructure to support more compact, mixed-use settlements (i.e. municipal water and wastewater systems). 
• The importance of promoting and investing in walking, biking, and shared transportation options, and reducing single-occupancy vehicle use.
• The need to plan and invest in new types of infrastructure to accommodate electric and other non-fossil fuel transportation options. 

Equity

To meet the ambitious 90x50 goals, there will need to be significant changes to the energy systems in Vermont. As the Windham Region moves towards our region’s targets, now is the time to plan to address these changes in a just and equitable manner. There are numerous inequities that have been built into the current energy system that was built piecemeal over time. Some communities have a higher energy burden than others and lower and middle income residents have less access to renewable energy opportunities despite the State programs offered to help these populations. As the Region and Vermont moves forward, we need to be finding ways to make the energy transition accessible to all.

ENERGY BURDEN

Efficiency Vermont has been examining energy burden for municipalities throughout the state of Vermont. Their study is a way to understand the impact of energy costs on residents since paying for energy expenses often competes directly with other household costs such as food, housing, and health care.

Energy Burden is determined by the following formula:

Energy Spending / Household Income = Total Energy Burden

According to the 2023 Energy Burden Report, the average Vermont household energy burden is 11 percent. About half of that spending (45 percent) is for transportation. Heating, or thermal energy, accounts for another 35 percent, with 20 percent for electricity.[¹] Table 9 shows the municipalities in the Windham Region and their Energy Burden as reported in the 2019 and 2023 Energy Burden Reports.
Table 9: Efficiency Vermont Energy Burden by Town in Windham Region, 2019 and 2023

One of the biggest factors that led to a change of a towns energy burden ranking come from the change in the Median Household Income in a community. Some of the most significant changes between the 2019 and 2023 Energy Burden Reports include:

• Dover has become the highest energy burden town at 15.2%.
• Most towns saw an increase in median income per household, some substantial. Decreases in median income were seen in Dover, Brattleboro, Halifax, and Brookline.
• 6 Highest or High energy burden towns  in 2019 changed to lower burden levels in 2023: four (Readsboro, Athens, Putney and Winhall) to moderate energy burden, and two (Rockingham and Wardsboro) to low energy burden. (Somerset does not have data.)
• New High and Highest Energy Burden towns include Dover, Halifax, and Searsburg.

Other Measures to Determine Energy Inequity

The concept of energy equity is intertwined with and builds on the long history of the movement for environmental and climate justice. These related concepts focus on equitable access to environmental benefits, addressing the proportional distribution of environmental burdens and benefits, fostering meaningful involvement in decision making, and recognizing that people of different racial and ethnic groups, cultures, and socioeconomic status have different needs, all the while seeking to transition to a more sustainable society.[²]

The Windham Region needs to more fully address equity and just transitions as it moves forward with energy planning for the Region. WRC is incorporating the recommendations from the State Comprehensive Energy Plan to be considered in all WRC energy planning. These recommendations are included in the WRC Energy Policies and Implementation Actions.

CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCY

Significant reductions in energy use and costs can be realized through conservation and efficiency measures. As discussed early in this section, approximately 42% of the Region’s energy consumption is from building heating and cooling systems and approximately 19% is from electricity used in buildings. Vermont has implemented energy building standards for residential and commercial buildings. These standards were established to set minimum efficiency requirements for new construction and renovation project. Currently, compliance with these standards is self-certified and the CEP notes this diminishes the effectiveness of these standards. Towns can help raise awareness about the State’s energy building standards through their permitting process.

Reducing the amount of energy needed to heat residential and commercial buildings can be accomplished through weatherization and making buildings more energy efficient. Examples of weatherization include improving insulation, upgrading windows and doors, and completing air sealing. These strategies are particularly helpful in older buildings that may have little or deteriorated insulation and inefficient windows and doors. Weatherization can reduce heating costs and help improve indoor air quality by keeping out pollutants and pests.

When planning for new building construction, building orientation and site design can assist with accomplishing efficiency goals. If buildings are designed and oriented to take advantage of southern exposures, they can add roof-mounted solar panels and use passive solar heating during winter months. Maintaining tree cover or planting new trees around a building provides shade and can help cool buildings during the summer months. Tree stands can also block prevailing winds during the winter months, helping to reduce drafts.

Another means of improving efficiency is installing new energy efficient appliances and heating systems.  The Energy Star program administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) helps consumers and businesses choose appliances that meet energy efficiency specifications set by the EPA. There is growing support for installing electric heat pumps in place of heating systems that rely on fossil fuels. When powered by renewable-generated electricity, heat pumps can significantly reduce carbon emissions. They also have the added benefit of providing building cooling during summer months. Advanced wood heating systems that use cord wood, pellets, or wood chips offer the ability to efficiently heat buildings renewably, and also strengthen the local forestry industry.

Efficiency Vermont provides residents and businesses with energy assessments that identify cost-effective projects to improve efficiency. The organization has identified a network of certified contractors that can complete these projects for property owners. Efficiency Vermont also provides low-interest loans, rebates, and income-based assistance to help defray the costs associated with completing projects. Local organizations in the Windham Region that provide technical support for weatherization projects include Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) and NeighborWorks, which serves homeowners in Bennington County. 

Finally, though not yet developed to its full capacity, energy storage has the potential to dramatically aid the Region in reaching the 90% renewable by 2050 State goal. Storage for renewable energy generation could boost capacity substantially while also feeding into microgrids. Increased distributive generation, storage, and microgrids will allow communities to be more resilient in the event of power outages.

LAND USE

Land use is an important indicator of energy consumption. Dispersed settlement patterns result in higher energy consumption due to the lack of efficiency in building design, inability for efficient heating distribution, increased energy input to deliver services to businesses and residents, and a reliance on single-occupancy vehicles for transportation. Land development is primarily regulated by local zoning regulations and through the Act 250 process. Many zoning bylaws allow for a dispersed settlement pattern and can make it difficult to develop in a compact manner within existing centers. In addition, many communities lack public water and wastewater systems needed to support more housing, and new and expanding businesses.

For future development, a critical strategy for the Region is to encourage compact, mixed-use settlements that result in lower overall energy consumption. This can be accomplished through zoning regulations that include provisions for smaller lot sizes, higher residential densities, and a greater variety of permitted land uses in village and town centers. Residential and commercial buildings in village centers and downtowns tend to be smaller in scale and use land more efficiently. This helps reduce energy needs for heating and cooling. Settlements with a variety of businesses, uses, and services allow residents to travel less to meet their needs. These centers are also better able to support pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure given the proximity of residences, businesses, and services, as compared to more rural settings.

In addition to providing land use regulations that support compact development, economic and community development investments are also needed to sustain the vitality of community centers. One tool is the State Village Center and Downtown Designation program, which provides tax incentives for building and façade improvements for eligible, income-producing buildings. Communities can make investments in pedestrian infrastructure and streetscape improvements to create a more welcoming environment, such as sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, seasonal plantings, and signage.

Another strategy for energy conservation through land use planning is supporting local agricultural and forestry enterprises. By putting an emphasis on locally produced food, the Region can cut the amount of fuel needed to transport products from greater distances. Supporting local forestry operations helps sustain cord wood and wood pellet production for advanced wood heating system. Conserving forestland also provides for carbon sequestration benefits. Towns can support local agriculture and forestry by identifying these land areas within their community and developing regulations to ensure these areas are not subdivided and fragmented.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation and land use are closely connected as it relates to energy use. Approximately 39% of the total energy consumed in Vermont annually is for transportation. The Region’s transportation network is a result of how communities have developed over time. The primary employment and commercial centers in the Region are Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, and the Deerfield Valley towns of Wilmington and Dover. Outside of these more densely settled areas, and some village centers, most of our residents live in rural settings and need to commute long distances for work, shopping, and services. As a result, personal transportation is a necessity for most residents.

With few population and commercial hubs, supporting a public transportation system is extremely challenging. The region benefits from having the MOOver bus transit service, which has routes serving communities in the Connecticut River Valley, Deerfield Valley, and along Route 9, and an Amtrak line with stations in Brattleboro and Bellows Falls. However, bus and train schedules are still limited and not all communities in the Region have access to these services, leaving them underutilized. Supporting the continuation of service on existing bus routes and expanding the service area is critical. In particular, there is a need for bus transit on Route 30 from Brattleboro to Winhall. Improvements have been made to the Vermonter Amtrak route in recent years that have shortened the length of trips to major destinations such as New York City, Springfield, MA, and New Haven, CT. Massachusetts is seeking to make improvements to rail service between Boston and the western part of the state, which would benefit the Windham Region as well. 

Alternative transportation options, such as shared transportation (carpooling, public transportation, car share) and active transportation (walking and biking), should be supported and improved to reduce energy consumption.  Shared transportation is a broad term covering public transportation, carpooling, car share organizations, bike shares, and others.  Access to information about shared transportation options is often a barrier to increasing their rate of use. The Vermont Agency of Transportation manages the Go! Vermont website, which provides information on local bus and train routes, and supports carpooling by providing matches for individuals with similar schedules and destinations. 

Complete Streets is an approach to transportation planning that accounts for all users, including vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit riders. By considering different modes of travel, we can make roads safer and reduce the need for using a private vehicle. Towns can consider adopting a Complete Streets policy to consider these issues when planning for and making road improvements. Adding pedestrian infrastructure, like sidewalks, can be difficult due to high construction costs and limited space because of historic settlement patterns. Spread out development and significant elevation changes make commuting by bicycle more challenging. Many of the Region’s roads are also dirt, which can be more difficult for bicyclists, especially during mud season in the Spring. The State offers several grants to help communities plan and construct sidewalks and bicycle facilities to help reduce municipal costs. Programs like bike shares and rebates for electric assist bikes also encourage use of this mode of transportation.

As single occupancy vehicles will continue as a necessity for most residents, incentivizing and encouraging the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is important. This can be accomplished by increasing the number of charging stations, including high-speed charging stations, throughout the Region and offering free parking for charging EVs. Towns can identify preferred sites for charging stations and encourage local businesses to install charging station. The transition to EVs presents a financial barrier as well. As EVs become more affordable with increased demand and improved infrastructure, conversion to EVs will become more viable. 

 

 

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[1] Efficiency Vermont 2023 Energy Burden Report. https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/Media/Default/docs/landing-pages/energy-burden-report/2023-EfficiencyVermont-EnergyBurdenReport.pdf

[2] Vermont Climate Council, Just Transitions Subcommittee, August 2021. Guiding Principles for a Just Transition. https://aoa.vermont.gov/sites/aoa/files/Boards/VCC/Draft%20Guiding%20Principles%20for%20a%20Just%20Transition%20June%202021.pdf