PACE
allows homeowners to borrow money for energy efficiency or renewable energy
improvements. The loan is then paid back to the town through property taxes.
A new state energy plan calls for a dramatic shift in how Vermonters drive to work and where they get their electricity. And now, the Shumlin Administration is taking the plan on the road to gather public reaction.
Vermont utility regulators have approved a three-year budget
for the statewide energy efficiency utility program that calls for gradual
growth and increases electric rates in each of those years by less than 1
percent.
Vermont is not on track to reach the goal of making 25
percent of its homes more energy efficient by 2020. And
a new report suggests that it’s not lack of funding that’s kept people from
making the investment.
Rutland officials are kicking off a countywide competition to
encourage energy efficiency. The competition offers $10,000 rewards to
towns that show the greatest percentage of home energy improvements and the
highest average energy savings per home.
A
new federal grant is expected to help Rutland County residents retrofit their homes to make them more
energy efficient. It’s
anticipated that the $4.5 million project will also create
hundreds of new jobs.