About Us
VECAN is a network of statewide Vermont organizations helping communities across the Green Mountain State to reduce energy costs and climate impacts through conservation, increased energy efficiency and conversion to renewable energy sources.
VECAN project partners include 10% Challenge Program, New England Grassroots Environment Fund, Sierra Club, Sustainable Energy Resource Group, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, and the Vermont Natural Resources Council.
VECAN endeavors to:
- Serve as an information resource and clearinghouse: VECAN connects town energy committees with the tools, resources, and initiatives you need through our website and through email communications.
- Facilitate networking among communities and resources: VECAN fosters communication and collaboration among local energy committees by encouraging communities to work together regionally and facilitating communication with energy efficiency and renewable energy resource providers.
- Provide direct technical assistance and education: VECAN works directly with town energy and climate action committees by conducting educational workshops, attending local energy committee meetings, and fostering the creation of new energy committees.
How We Can Help
VECAN can help your town energy committee with:
- Energy Planning: Developing a local energy and climate action plans, or the energy chapter of the town master plan;
- New Town Energy Committees: Establishing a new town energy committee in your community;
- Municipal Energy Use: Reducing municipal energy consumption by sharing information on energy efficiency and renewable energy programs from other Vermont communities;
- Existing Town Energy Committees: Building the capacity of your town energy committee, including how to organize volunteers;
- Energy Fairs: Organizing a town energy/sustainability fair or festival;
- Information Referral: Providing information referrals on financial and technical support;
- Educational Workshops: Conducting and organizing educational workshops;
- Regional Energy Meetings: Coordinating regional networking meetings to foster information exchange among local energy committees;
- Energy/Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Providing technical assistance on how to develop an energy and/or greenhouse gas inventory of your community or local government;
- Community-Based Energy Programs: Providing technical know-how on programs to reduce energy consumption of residents and businesses in your community
- Informational Materials: Providing informational materials for public education and outreach
We welcome new town energy committees to join us and strengthen our mutual efforts to reduce energy use and the impacts of global warming at the state, local, and personal levels. Contact the VECAN team at info@vecan.net.