June 23, 2026 VECAN E-News
Happy Solstice and the official start to summer! We hope you have been staying dry these past soggy days and looking forward to some sun and fun in the coming week. Until then, read on for timely news, updates, opportunities, and events. And, as always, please keep us posted on news that you think we should be noting – or otherwise keep in touch with your ideas, events, and opportunities you see to continue to make needed cost-saving, pollution reducing progress.
Reach out to info@vecan.net with any news, ideas or events!
IN THE NEWS
As the costs for oil and gas have risen so dramatically over the past several months, many Vermont families and businesses have been struggling to pay those higher energy bills. For more specifics on the recent price spikes and impacts, the Energy Action Network (EAN) recently published an updated assessment of the Recent Fossil Fuel Price Increases on Vermonters. This analysis covers the three months from March through May 2026 – since the U.S. invaded Iran – and specifically overviews the cost increases to gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil in Vermont.
An energy development company has signed a lease for the former Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant site in Vernon, but it's unclear what they plan to do with the property. The Texas-based PowerTransitions initially said it wanted to build a battery energy storage system, or BESS, at the site. But Vernon Planning Commission Chair Jim Pinkerton said at the board’s last meeting a representative from the company said it was also considering small modular reactors and has also discussed siting a data center in Vernon. Read more here.
This news about a potential data center falls directly on the heels of a recent veto of H.727 – a data center siting bill that would have put strong parameters around how large-scale AI data centers would or could be sited in Vermont. Read more about that veto from VNRC’s perspective here, as well as the perspective of Representative Katherine James, who as chair of the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee was one of the lead architects of the AI data center bill.
Across the country, farmers are facing a level of financial pressure that would have been hard to imagine a generation ago. For many family farms, simply covering property taxes has become a struggle, let alone breaking even after months of hard work, investment and risk. Where policy allows, community solar projects can serve as the difference between recurring stabilizing income and not having a farm at all. Read the article here.
Good news! The Trump administration is abandoning its plan to dismantle a $368 million ocean monitoring system critical to understanding climate change and marine ecosystems, bowing to a bipartisan backlash on Capitol Hill.
The Senate passed a measure last week that would block the government from dismantling the system, with lawmakers in both parties warning that the action would be illegal and would threaten the safety of coastal communities. The Trump administration had also tried to cut the program’s funds the last two years, but Congress restored the money both times. Read more here.
RESOURCES & INFO
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
Starting in July 2026, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation will be 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 will be accepting applications on a rolling monthly basis for up to six months or until the funding has been exhausted, whichever comes first.
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
Eligibility requirements will be detailed in the forthcoming Request-for-Applications document. Please note that this is a replacement program, so applicants must have an eligible diesel vehicle or piece of equipment to replace, which must be scrapped once the new electric vehicle, equipment, or engine has been purchased.
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.
Applications are due by the last calendar day of each month, beginning July 31, 2026.
More information about this opportunity can be found at https://dec.vermont.gov/air-quality/vw-environmental-mitigation-funds/vw-request-applications and will be updated once the application period opens with links to the Request-for-Applications document and all application forms.
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!
Arthur Gibb Award for Sustainable Community Leadership
Established in 2006, the Arthur Gibb Award honors the legacy of the late Arthur “Art” Gibb, whose success as a public servant was directly attributable to his leadership, character, and personal convictions. Gibb served Vermont for decades as a legislator and advocate for balanced land use policy, committed to environmental stewardship and improving quality of life. Every year, in honor of his enduring legacy, VNRC recognizes an individual whose leadership has similarly brought about positive and lasting change toward more equitable, sustainable, and healthy communities.
The Sustainable Community Leadership Award is presented to a Vermont resident who has a demonstrated legacy of thoughtful leadership, civility, and commitment to advancing solutions that address the complex challenges facing Vermont and the shared goals of the people who call this unique place home. You can find the criteria and nomination form for the Art Gibb Award here. Nominations are due no later than Friday, July 3, 2026. The award will be presented at VNRC’s annual celebration this fall.
Local Leadership Award
New in 2026, the Local Leadership Award celebrates Vermonters who are making a meaningful difference in their communities as environmental and sustainability stewards. These are individuals who have demonstrated genuine commitment, and taken meaningful action in their careers or in their years of public service or volunteering. These are the community members who are building a notable track record and making a difference at the local level.
This award recognizes that great community leadership does not always announce itself through major achievements or decades of experience. Sometimes it appears in acts like organizing one’s neighbors to address a problem, bringing energy and creativity to a local board, or finding one’s voice around an important issue. The Local Leadership Award is for community members who are actively engaged in supporting sustainability, climate action, or natural resource protection through local community groups, advocacy, or public service, with a focus on town- or regional-level impact. You can find the criteria and nomination form for the Local Leadership Award here, due no later than Friday, July 3, 2026. The award will also be presented at VNRC’s annual celebration this fall.
EVENTS
Vermont Extreme Weather People's Hearing
The Trump administration is working to roll back key climate protections including the requirement that the EPA protect people from the pollution that causes climate change and its impacts, such as extreme weather and health harms. These actions will accelerate the climate crisis, drive up costs, and endanger the lives of our communities, particularly the most vulnerable among us. There’s no denying the dangers of climate change and now is the time to speak out!
To make the case, a coalition of partners including Climate Action Campaign, Vermont Natural Resources Council, Vermont Conservation Voters, VPIRG, Vermont AFL-CIO, and the Sierra Club will be holding a People's 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, State Senator Anne Watson and State Senator Andrew Perchlik among them) and testimony from around twenty people impacted by fossil-fueled disasters over the last few years.
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!
