Vermont renewable industry hails passage of energy bill
Montpelier, VT, May 5, 2011 
Vermont renewable industry hails passage of energy bill
New statewide solar adder promises to expand net metering throughout Vermont
MONTPELIER, Vermont | May 5, 2011 - A bill promoting renewable energy development in Vermont and clean energy jobs won final approval by the Vermont legislature late yesterday.
Martha Staskus, Chair of the Board of Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) says the bill helps keep Vermont on the map as a leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency. “The bill will spur the development of new local renewable energy, produce economic growth, and continue to grow clean jobs.”
H.56, The Vermont Energy Act of 2011 continues Vermont’s efforts to promote a green economy and energy independence. It expands and improves Vermont’s successful net metering program and prevents a gap in funding for the successful Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF). This fund leverages private investment to create renewable energy projects.
Net metering allows Vermont ratepayers to generate their own energy with renewable systems and run their meter backwards when producing excess power. Modeled after the successful Green Mountain Power SolarGMP program, which recognizes the peak power savings of net metered solar, the new bill requires utilities to offer a .20¢ credit for every excess kilowatt hour of solar electricity a customer produces.
“The new statewide solar adder gives Vermont homeowners, businesses, non-profits and municipalities the incentive and ability to produce their own solar energy while recognizing the public benefit of distributed solar energy to Vermonters statewide,” added Staskus.
The bill includes expansions Vermont’s existing Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) districts, a program that allows towns to offer loans to homeowners looking to make energy efficiency retrofits.
Other provisions in the bill provide incentives for consumers looking to install high efficiency biomass heating systems. It also establishes low sulfur and biofuel mandates for heating oil sold in Vermont, timed to match implementation by surrounding states.
About Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), www.revermont.org
REV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing nearly 300 businesses, individuals, colleges and others committed to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and expanding the availability of renewable sources of energy in Vermont.
For more information contact:
Scott Merriam, Interim Director, REV
(802) 595-3517
(802) 229-0099
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Download a PDF of this release here.