July 7th, 2026 VECAN E-News
Happy July! We hope you were able to spend time with friends and family this Independence Day weekend and stayed cool during the heatwave. This July 4th marked the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. A big birthday! Check out this article that breaks down polling numbers about how Americans are feeling about their country 250 years in.
Additionally, July 1st marks an important date in Vermont where many of the new laws passed this legislative session go into effect. Check out this Vermont Public reporting on what changes Vermonters can expect to see.
Read on for more timely articles to read, events to attend, and opportunities to take advantage of.
IN THE NEWS
If you missed it, check out this recent Vermont Public story on the shifting and dwindling independent media landscape, the important role community journalism plays in the state and the rise and impact of disinformation. This piece underscores the value of local-led, fact based reporting, as does the Vermont Community Foundation’s Press Forward initiative - a national effort to strengthen local news. Check out VCF’s website to learn more.
Ensuring community conversations, policy making and elections remain focused on facts, science and civility is more important than ever. For information about what mis- and disinformation is and tips on how to ensure it doesn’t impact your community or Vermont elections, check out the Vermont Secretary of State’s website for more information.
As Vermonters continue to struggle to pay their rising gas, oil and electricity bills, it’s important to remember that renewable energy – solar and wind in particular – is now the cheapest power on the planet. It’s imperative Vermont continues to help Vermonters reduce their energy bills by deploying more clean, renewable energy. Which is why Governor Scott’s June 17th veto of a bi-partisan clean energy bill is so disappointing. H.710 – the single plant bill – would have allowed for new solar projects to be sited alongside existing solar arrays making it easier and more affordable to install solar.
For people’s pocketbooks, public health, the planet and energy independence, we need to be getting far more well-sited renewables deployed as quickly as possible. When it comes to doing that, however, the rise of mis- and disinformation is playing a role in making it harder to get projects installed – in Vermont and beyond. Check out a story out of rural northern Michigan about what’s happening there in an interview with Peter Sinclair, a longtime contributor to Yale Climate Connections.
For years, Sinclair has worked to counter the massively funded misinformation campaign that spreads lies about renewable energy. He has been a leading reporter and voice in rural Michigan, working to help farmers in their clean energy siting efforts by helping township officials and community members understand the true benefits and lack of risk of renewable energy. Read that interview here and stay in touch with us as we work to help identify strategies that will enable rural Vermonters and farmers to generate more revenue from well-sited solar on their land.
The White House announced last Friday that President Trump had issued pardons to 11 men, most of whom had been convicted of crimes related to the Clean Air Act, a bedrock environmental law that has helped protect Americans from the deadly consequences of health-harming fossil fuels. Read the article to learn more. At the same time, the Trump Administration is going after state-led policies, including Vermont’s Climate Superfund Law, intended to ensure Vermonters are left solely responsible for paying the high costs of fossil-fueled climate disasters. Learn more about those efforts and what our friends at the Conservation Law Foundation are aiming to do about it here.
In more positive news, the New York Times recently reported on how Bill Frist, a surgeon who also served as Republican Senate majority leader, has emerged as an outspoken advocate for environmental health. In his words “A healthier planet means healthier people.” He is focused on the critical work of depolarizing the climate conversation. Read this article for more info.
RESOURCES & INFO
Vermont's primary elections are around the corner!
It is an election year for Vermont, and as we get closer to the August 11th primary, it is important to educate yourself as a voter! Luckily, there are many opportunities to learn more about the candidates running to represent you and your communities. Vermont Public will be hosting a debate for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, check out more information on that here. Vermont Public also reported on a recent UNH poll on some key statewide races, including for Governor and Lt. Governor. Read that here.
Public Engagement Plan for the 2028 Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan
The Department of Public Service recently announced its Public Engagement Plan for the 2028 Comprehensive Energy Plan. The following goals will drive the strategy for the CEP Public Engagement and how the Department will communicate with Vermonters:
Engage with a wide variety of Vermonters
Offer many opportunities to provide feedback
Incorporate past engagement while bringing in new voices
Be transparent in how feedback shared during engagement is (or is not) used in the CEP
Collaborate with community partners and across state agencies
For more information on engagement activities, visit 2028 Comprehensive Energy Plan | Department of Public Service, and read the 2028 Comprehensive Energy Plan Public Engagement Plan.
Vermont DEC Funding Opportunity
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation is now offering ~$5.9 Million in grant funding from Vermont’s allocation of the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust for eligible vehicle and equipment electrification projects. They are accepting applications on a rolling monthly basis for up to six months or until the funding has been exhausted, whichever comes first. Applications are due by the last calendar day of each month, beginning July 31, 2026.
Projects for this opportunity include Electric Replacements and Repowers of the following vehicles and equipment:
1992-2009 Engine Model Year Class 4-8 Local Freight Trucks
1992-2009 Engine Model Year Class 4-8 School, Shuttle, or Transit Buses
pre-Tier 4 Freight Switchers operating at least 1,000 hours/year
pre-Tier 3 Airport Ground Support Equipment
Forklifts with a Lift Capacity Greater than 8,000 lbs.
pre-Tier 3 Ferries or Tugboats
Is your project eligible? Try our Eligibility Determination Tool to find out!
Award funding will be provided as a reimbursement of eligible project costs (the electric vehicle/equipment and the purchase and installation of its associated charging station). Government entities are eligible to receive up to 85% reimbursement and private entities are eligible for up to 75% reimbursement.
Full program eligibility requirements are detailed in the Request-for-Applications document.
Questions about this opportunity? Email ANR.DECGrantsContracts@vermont.gov or call Eric Thomas at 802-636-7577. Answers to all questions will be posted to the bid site periodically.
Important Links:
More information about this opportunity can be found at https://dec.vermont.gov/air-quality/vw-environmental-mitigation-funds/vw-request-applications.
The Request-for-Applications document and all application forms are available for download from the Vermont Business Registry and Bid System at https://www.vermontbusinessregistry.com/BidPreview.aspx?BidID=73893.
Join 350VT in Peak-busting this summer!
Peakbusting is the practice of communally reducing our electricity use when there is an excess demand, or peak, predicted on our electric grid. This is a fun and powerful opportunity to take tangible and impactful action (with the ultimate goal of shutting down all Peaker Plants in New England) while also building organizing skills, community, and our movement’s power.
What is a Peaker Plant, you might wonder, and why do we want to shut them down? Peaker plants turn on to generate electricity only when there is demand beyond what normal electricity generators can create.
The problem is, these plants are high greenhouse gas emitters, are often located in BIPOC and low-income communities resulting in negative health impacts, and cost us (all the electric ratepayers in New England) millions of dollars just to keep these plants available. Check out this two-pager to learn more.
I want to peak-bust! What do I do?
Make sure you are getting alerts for when peaks are happening by signing up through No Coal No Gas at nocoalnogas.org/peakbusters
When a peak comes, conserve electricity (here’s a little checklist) during peak hours–either on your own or, ideally, with your community. This can be as simple as meeting up for a picnic of no-cook foods in a shaded park or a gathering where folks also deepen their understanding of this way of change making. Here are some ideas for fun, discussion questions, and talking points.
Share a photo of you and your community peakbusting! (Email to rebecca@350vt.org). Every photo you send will be equal to one entry into a raffle for a prize.
After the peak, be sure to report what you did here–this is how we can track our impact!
EVENTS
Vermont Extreme Weather People's Hearing – TOMORROW Evening!
As the Trump administration continues their efforts to roll back key policies that protect people from the impacts of a warming planet, such as extreme weather, we need more people than ever to stand up and speak up. Tomorrow evening in Barre there is an event designed to do that by elevating the huge personal and community costs of the climate crisis – impacts that are driving up bills and endangering people’s lives, particularly the most vulnerable among us.
This event is hosted by a coalition of partners including Climate Action Campaign, Vermont Natural Resources Council, Vermont Conservation Voters, VPIRG, Vermont AFL-CIO, and the Sierra Club. Join us for the “Vermont Extreme Weather Hearing” at the Old Barre Labor Hall (46 Granite St, Barre, VT 05641) on Wednesday, July 8th at 6:00 pm. This event will include a panel of local leaders (Senator Peter Welch, Congresswoman Becca Balint, and state senators Anne Watson and Andrew Perchlik among them) and testimony from around 20 people impacted by fossil-fueled disasters over the last few years with the goal of continuing to elevate the high costs of the climate crisis and the solutions needed to address it.
Join us to support your community, enjoy food and refreshments with neighbors, and learn about opportunities to get more engaged. Register at www.mobilize.us/climateactioncampaign/event/927947
Save the Date: 2026 Energy Action Network Annual Summit
Save the date for September 23, 2026 in Essex, Vermont to join other EAN members and partners to learn about the latest data and analysis on energy affordability and Vermont’s energy and climate commitments, hear from energy leaders from Vermont and beyond sharing new ideas, and connect and network with other energy leaders in the state. Learn more and register.
Save the Date! 2026 Community Leadership Summit
On October 6th, join hundreds of community builders from across the state for the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s annual Leadership Summit -- a full day of connection, learning, and inspiration for anyone working to strengthen their town.
Whether you're a longtime local leader or someone just beginning to get involved, you'll find space to learn, share, and gather ideas you can bring home to your community. All people who care about their community and the future of our state are encouraged to attend! Registration will open in mid-August. In the meantime, stay tuned to vtrural.org/summit and their e-newsletters for agenda and speaker announcements, info about the Castleton campus, and more!
Thank you for all you do!
