A STATEWIDE UMBRELLA FOR ADVANCING COMMUNITY-LED THERMAL ENERGY NETWORKS IN VERMONT
Bringing needed expertise together with local, regional, and state leaders
Engaging communities, developing projects, and supporting opportunities to scale this solution
Coordinating with other Vermont organizations, coalitions, and state and national networks
WHAT WE DO
Outreach & Engagement
We provide information and host learning opportunities to engage Vermonters around the many benefits of Thermal Energy Networks.
We make connections between community decision makers, organizations, state agencies, and national experts to understand how Thermal Energy Networks can be designed to best serve Vermonters.
Community Energy & Equity
We explore community-based models and ownership structures to help Vermont communities maximize the potential of these local energy systems.
We are bringing Thermal Energy Networks to energy-burdened communities and identifying paths to provide training and ensure quality jobs for Vermont workers.
Feasibility & Financing
We are working to demonstrate the viability of Thermal Energy Networks for Vermont’s climate, geography, density, diversity of buildings, economy, and other state-specific concerns.
We are also exploring how to finance community-based projects by leveraging unprecedented incentives and levels of state and federal funding.
WHO WE ARE
VCTN also helps to coordinate Energy Action Network’s Thermal Energy Network Team, which includes individuals from:
Regional Planning Commissions, Efficiency Vermont/VEIC, Vermont Bond Bank, VGS, and others with legal, financial, clean energy, and community organizing experience.
Samantha Lash, Projects
Dedicated to adapting our physical and social infrastructure to support our Vermont communities now and into the future, Sam brings over a decade of expertise in climate change and community systems research, fieldwork, and stakeholder engagement. Sam is currently the Climate & Energy Planner with Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, where she supports state-wide policy and program development and implementation as well as local project development and planning.
Maddison Shropshire, Projects
A climate policy and sustainability professional, Maddison brings over five years of experience in community outreach, stakeholder engagement, and grant management. She holds an MS in Climate Policy and MBA for Sustainable Business from Bard College. Her previous role as the Energy Planner at Addison County Regional Planning Commission gave her a deep knowledge of the energy and sustainability challenges facing Vermont, and a passion for community-led, resilience-building solutions like Thermal Energy Networks.
Debbie New, Coordinator
with dedicated volunteers:
James A. Dumont, Esq.
Susan Smiley, Outreach
Sally Burrell, Community Organizer