Energy
Act 174 and Energy Planning
Regional and municipal plans currently receive "Due Consideration" in the Section 248 siting process. Act 174 was passed in 2016, which establishes a new set of energy planning standards for municipal and regional plans. Plans that meet these standards will be given an affirmative "determination of energy compliance" and will receive "Substantial Deference" in the Public Service Board's Section 248 siting process. Meeting these standards is entirely voluntary; if municipalities do not wish to update their plans, they will continue to receive "Due Consideration" in the Section 248 process. If your town wishes to seek a determination of energy compliance for your plan, you must submit your plan directly to NVDA along with a completed checklist.
Contact Allie Webster, Energy Planner for support and technical assistance (awebster@nvda.net) and/or David Snedeker, Executive Director (dsnedeker@nvda.net); Northeastern Vermont Development Association; PO Box 630; Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819.
NVDA's Energy Plan
Please note that NVDA's Regional Plan was updated and readopted on July 29, 2023 in accordance with 24 VSA 4348b, which allows regional planning commissions to readopt plans that are approaching expiration. In accordance with statute, we have prepared an Assessment and Report. The report addresses the new requirement for certification of regional plans by the Department of Public Service, including equity requirements. The plan update, however, does not include new municipal breakouts of LEAP analysis, as the new LEAP analysis was being completed just as the readoption of the plan commenced.
NVDA is working on a new regional plan that will incorporate new municipal targets for 2023 LEAP projections, and we will begin making this information available to towns as soon as possible. In the meantime, the existing municipal energy targets, based on 2018 data, can be found in the Appendix of the energy plan. This data is valid until new data is available.
NVDA's amended Regional Plan was certified by the Department of Public Service on June 26, 2018 Click here to read the full plan.
Proposed resource maps:
Caledonia: Solar, Wind, Hydro, Woody Biomass
Essex: Solar, Wind, Hydro, Woody Biomass
Orleans: Solar, Wind, Hydro, Woody Biomass
Municipal Energy Profiles and Targets for Meeting 90 X 2050 Goals
NVDA has developed energy estimates for each Municipality using best available data and guidelines from the Department of Public Service. Estimates are not precise, but they can help establish a baseline for your community as you identify and assess strategies for meeting 2050 goals. Please note that this data model is more region-specific and may vary from the Community Energy Dashboard data.
Below are links to the Municipal Energy Estimates by county:
Municipal Estimates:
If your community would like technical assistance, please contact David Snedeker at NVDA.