Vermont’s ‘energy secession’ goal: 90 percent renewables by 2050

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Vermont is known for its lush Green Mountains, idyllic farm landscapes, and progressive politics. What many people may not realize is that Vermont has a pretty active secessionist movement too.

Vermont isn't likely to secede from the U.S. But it is undertaking an ambitious renewable energy program that could at least put it on a path toward "energy secession" -- developing a road map for procuring 90 percent of its heat, electricity, and fuels from renewables by 2050.

Under Vermont's new governor, Peter Shumlin, regulators are developing the state's first comprehensive energy plan in over a decade. And this one is certainly forward-looking.

Vermont currently gets about 25 percent of its electricity from renewables -- mostly biomass and hydro. But officials want to diversify technologies, address underserved markets like heat and fuels, and dramatically improve efficiency in all sectors. The state released its final comprehensive plan for 2011 last week.

Vermont has already embraced a modest transition to renewables, implementing a feed-in tariff in 2009 and developing a renewable energy standard (heat and electricity) of 20 percent by 2017. This latest plan, which just went through an extensive public commenting period, takes these efforts to the next level.

After Vermont received a devastating surprise pummeling from Hurricane Irene in August, state planners have taken the experience to heart, using it as one of the central drivers in the state's new energy plan.

In the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, the need to align local, regional, and state policies across agencies and departments to support thoughtful and resilient growth in our downtowns and villages has never been more acute. The Agency of Commerce and Community Development, with the support of the Climate Cabinet, will complete a review of the state's designation programs in 2012.

Prior to Tropical Storm Irene, the state had already set a goal of 5 percent reduction in energy usage across state government. Now that the state faces significant infrastructure repair and rebuilding, energy usage in our state buildings is even more central to our planning. The CEP recommends that the state sharpen its focus on efficient buildings while strategically deploying renewable energy systems.

... We recommend the midcentury goal while recognizing that we must pursue our goals responsibly, ensuring overall energy costs for our businesses and residents remain regionally competitive. But we must also act boldly to protect our environment and our economic security.

Kudos to Vermont for considering such a bold vision for the future and taking a real step toward independence.

http://www.grist.org...ewables-by-2050

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Why wait for Obama to do something? Are you kidding me? We will have our own healthcare system, single payer, before the rest of you get an aspirin from Obama.

The rest of the dufuses can continue arguing over which careeer politician you will elect to do nothing.

Another of the reasons we are the "healthiest state"

Edited December 26, 2011 by Gary and Alla

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Why wait for Obama to do something? Are you kidding me? We will have our own healthcare system, single payer, before the rest of you get an aspirin from Obama.

The rest of the dufuses can continue arguing over which careeer politician you will elect to do nothing.

Another of the reasons we are the "healthiest state"

See, government can work for the people. Thank you, Vermont.

[Danno 1,228]

See, government can work for the people. Thank you, Vermont.

Should the people actually thank the Gov't when their energy prices soar?

If energy were free, absolutely no one would be cold in the winter.... the higher you drive the price the more victims of cold you create. These victims can't afford to turn the heat on or use space heaters which result in the loss of live via house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

You care more about your agenda than you do for the poor.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

See, government can work for the people. Thank you, Vermont.

As long as you avoid the FEDERAL government. I am not against people using their combined resources to solve problems. It is impossible in our country on the federal level (they cannot even decide on a 2% payroll tax break for more than 2 months at a time) This is why I am against the Feds doing almost anything.

You'll warm up to the "state's rights" thing Steven.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Now for the bad news

Vermont has had relatively stagnant population growth for the past 100 years. Our population in 2010 is not much more than the population in 1910. It is an extremely difficult place to open a business due to environmental regulations which far exceed anything in Federal or even California law. There are few good paying jobs. There are NO "smokestack" industries. We have excellent education facilities but our students have to leave the state to find work after graduating. We have a population of young people and retired people, few in between. College grads are our most valuable export.

Low paying service jobs are a dime a dozen, if you cannot find A job in 2 hours you are doing something very wrong or just not trying. You will earn $9-10 per hour. Homes are expensive because of environmental restrictions on building new ones.

We have had almost -0- problems with foreclosures, home values have been stable. Try to find a job paying enough to buy a house.

It is a very beautiful, I mean "hurt your eyes" beautiful place, very clean, very safe, very healthy, incredible outdoor opportunities...but extremely difficult to make a living. I chose to live here for all these reasons because I CAN and I can make a living here in my work. I could make MUCH MORE money elsewhere but I do not want to.

Our policies have resulted in exactly what they were intended to produce. A beautiful place hostile to business, manufacturing, industry.

Not all states want the same, and it would be a very poor country if other states had the same restrictions, to be honest. Hopefully we would find a market to trade our maple syrup, chocolate, cheese and teddy bears for other stuff we would need.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Should the people actually thank the Gov't when their energy prices soar?

If energy were free, absolutely no one would be cold in the winter.... the higher you drive the price the more victims of cold you create. These victims can't afford to turn the heat on or use space heaters which result in the loss of live via house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

You care more about your agenda than you do for the poor.

We have lots of trees here. We cut them down and burn them for heat and electricty. Burlington Electric burns hundreds of thousands of trees for electricity along with coal. Trees are called "biomass fuel" but they are really just trees, cut down, burned and the smoke sent over to Canada. It's OK Canada, it is "biomass"!!! It is counted as a "renewable energy" source. They have electric car charging stations in Burlington to fuel cars with trees and coal.

Almost every high school here burns trees for heat in their "wood chip" boilers. We have been building dozens of them over the last 5 years with the state picking up 90% of the construction costs! I think I can build them in my sleep now.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Vermont currently gets about 25 percent of its electricity from renewables -- mostly biomass and hydro.

Biomass is also known as "wood". Comes from trees. We cut them down and burn them. Feel better Steven?

The vast majority of hydro power comes from Quebec, HydroQuebec to be exact, that generates power from many dams on resevoirs far north of Montreal. These dams flooded millions of acres of Indian land. The natives were unceremoniously tossed off their land for a profit. How about now, Steven? Just displace some native Americans and anything is possible. It is Quebec's leading export! Big $$$$ being made by tossing Indians.

Vermont itself has a few hydro dams but it is a minimal component. And there are the small private hydro plants used by people living "off the grid". A remarkable small water turbine can make enpugh electricity for a home and is relative cheap. Even in winter the water flows and generates power 24/7 to charge batteries

[mr and mrs 187]

Now for the bad news

Vermont has had relatively stagnant population growth for the past 100 years. Our population in 2010 is not much more than the population in 1910. It is an extremely difficult place to open a business due to environmental regulations which far exceed anything in Federal or even California law. There are few good paying jobs. There are NO "smokestack" industries. We have excellent education facilities but our students have to leave the state to find work after graduating. We have a population of young people and retired people, few in between. College grads are our most valuable export.

Low paying service jobs are a dime a dozen, if you cannot find A job in 2 hours you are doing something very wrong or just not trying. You will earn $9-10 per hour. Homes are expensive because of environmental restrictions on building new ones.

We have had almost -0- problems with foreclosures, home values have been stable. Try to find a job paying enough to buy a house.

It is a very beautiful, I mean "hurt your eyes" beautiful place, very clean, very safe, very healthy, incredible outdoor opportunities...but extremely difficult to make a living. I chose to live here for all these reasons because I CAN and I can make a living here in my work. I could make MUCH MORE money elsewhere but I do not want to.

Our policies have resulted in exactly what they were intended to produce. A beautiful place hostile to business, manufacturing, industry.

Not all states want the same, and it would be a very poor country if other states had the same restrictions, to be honest. Hopefully we would find a market to trade our maple syrup, chocolate, cheese and teddy bears for other stuff we would need.

mr. gary's description is as about spot on as possible. well said.

my husband and i could live elsewhere and make more money, but we more than happily stay here in burlington,vt for the excellent quality of life, the community involvement, the progressive politics, and the importance placed on environmental policy. we will only move if its to go back to the uk. (maybe to brighton?)

i am proud to be a vermonter, proud of what we have accomplished as a state.

[Danno 1,228]

We have lots of trees here. We cut them down and burn them for heat and electricty. Burlington Electric burns hundreds of thousands of trees for electricity along with coal. Trees are called "biomass fuel" but they are really just trees, cut down, burned and the smoke sent over to Canada. It's OK Canada, it is "biomass"!!! It is counted as a "renewable energy" source. They have electric car charging stations in Burlington to fuel cars with trees and coal.

Almost every high school here burns trees for heat in their "wood chip" boilers. We have been building dozens of them over the last 5 years with the state picking up 90% of the construction costs! I think I can build them in my sleep now.

From what I understand the "green folks" haVve waged a mini war on Wood burning stoves as well, in some places it's banned!

Wood stoves have become much more expensive as well to comply with regulations which require a method to reburn the gases produced, perhaps like a cars Catalytic converter?

ONe of the oddities of the South is nearly every home, new or old has a fire place, where up north, where one would need one, they seem to be an option.

Lately many are just gas but rare is the home with no fireplace around here.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

mr. gary's description is as about spot on as possible. well said.

my husband and i could live elsewhere and make more money, but we more than happily stay here in burlington,vt for the excellent quality of life, the community involvement, the progressive politics, and the importance placed on environmental policy. we will only move if its to go back to the uk. (maybe to brighton?)

i am proud to be a vermonter, proud of what we have accomplished as a state.

Even the airport and DMV are pleasant esperiences! Very weird place!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

From what I understand the "green folks" haVve waged a mini war on Wood burning stoves as well, in some places it's banned!

Wood stoves have become much more expensive as well to comply with regulations which require a method to reburn the gases produced, perhaps like a cars Catalytic converter?

ONe of the oddities of the South is nearly every home, new or old has a fire place, where up north, where one would need one, they seem to be an option.

Lately many are just gas but rare is the home with no fireplace around here.

Not sure about other areas but wood stoves and particularly wood pellet stoves are hugely popular here. The cost of oil and even more so, propane gas, have made it nearly a requirement in any place outside the few cities with natural gas supplies. Unless you have bags of money you cannot afford to heat a home with propane or oil anymore. Insurance companies have driven the wood fired boilers to outside little enclosures which look like "outhouses" but wood pellet stoves and wood pellets are for sale everywhere! The wood pellets look like rabbit food, they are usually fed automatically from a hopper. They are simply smaller versions of what BEC uses for its power plant or what are used for the school boilers. The school boilers are housed in separate buildings away from the school for fire safety reasons.

Our old house used propane and wood and even then it cost 3 times as much to heat as our new place with natural gas. If we did not have the wood stove at the old place there is no way we could have paid to heat the place and I even insulated it and changed all the windows and it still cost much more than $300 per month to heat, and I mean EVERY month, I had a year 'round contrct for propane, paid the same amount every month of the year.

Now I pay $125 per month year 'round for gas (no more wood heat) for a larger house.

[mr and mrs 187]

i worked in the intervale for years and wood stove heated agricultural greenhouses were a hot topic with a lot of farmers trying to buck the yoke of fossil fuels. of course the intervale is full of hippies. heh.

then theres the ever-popular discussion of wind turbines and whether or not the are a blight on the landscape. personally, i think they are rather graceful. and i dont care too much if they take out a bird or two.

is it middlebury college (my alma mater!) that put in the systems that try to capture thermal energy from manure? i was chatting with very nice guy in ferrisburgh about this summer while picking strawberries. sounded interesting. and intially very expensive.

lots of options.

id prefer not to buy so much energy from hydroquebec. they are a bit shady.

[mr and mrs 187]

interesting facts about burlington electric department and the mcneil wood fired power station:

sources of energy

facts about burning wood for energy

in the next few weeks, xmas trees will be picked up curbside by the city or dropped at the power station by residents to be burned with the other wood. ah, the circle of life.