Vermont H 610: An act relating to airport expansion and primary agricultural soils

Bill Text

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VT LEG #386174 v.1
H.610 1
Introduced by Representatives Campbell of St. Johnsbury and James of 2
Manchester 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Public service; energy; energy efficiency 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to direct 7
Efficiency Vermont to study the creation of a community-based energy 8
navigator program statewide. 9
An act relating to an energy navigator program report 10
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 11
Sec. 1. ENERGY NAVIGATOR PROGRAM; REPORT 12
(a) In collaboration with existing community-based energy navigator 13
programs in Vermont, such as the Climate Economy Action Center of Addison 14
County, Efficiency Vermont shall design a Vermont community-based home 15
energy navigator and coaching program that will provide in-person and remote 16
energy coaching services to residential consumers in communities statewide. 17
Efficiency Vermont shall consult with the Vermont State Energy Office, the 18
Vermont Climate Action Office, Vermont’s community action agencies, the 19
Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network, Vermont’s electric utilities, and 20

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VT LEG #386174 v.1
other states, including Connecticut and Massachusetts, that have experience 1
with community-based energy programs. For the purposes of this section, 2
“residential consumers” includes homeowners, landlords, and renters. 3
(b) The program shall: 4
(1) provide guidance to residential consumers, particularly those with 5
low and moderate incomes, to better understand and navigate energy efficiency 6
and clean energy investment options to affordably meet their home energy 7
needs; 8
(2) advise residential consumers on accessing available grants, rebates, 9
financing, and other assistance programs and incentives to meet their home 10
energy needs; 11
(3) assist residential consumers in prioritizing identified energy-saving 12
opportunities, including through the integration of weatherization strategies to 13
reduce heating and cooling loads that could minimize the need for the 14
installation of new equipment and lower future electric demands on the grid; 15
(4) help residential consumers connect to local contractors and review 16
and analyze contractor recommendations regarding cost, payment, and other 17
relevant factors; 18
(5) advise residential consumers in person, as necessary, and over time, 19
recognizing that hands-on coaching help may be needed at a consumer’s home 20
and over several years; 21

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VT LEG #386174 v.1
(6) provide ongoing State funding to support the operations of 1
community-based energy coaching programs; and 2
(7) use available grant funds and private partnerships to support 3
program implementation. 4
(c) On or before January 15, 2027, Efficiency Vermont shall submit a 5
report on the program design to the House Committee on Energy and Digital 6
Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. 7
The report shall include a description of the design of the program, which 8
could include the creation of a pilot program or expansion and support of 9
existing community-based programs, a description of the technical assistance 10
and educational materials to be developed as part of the program, an estimate 11
of program costs, funding sources to provide ongoing support to community-12
based energy coaching programs, a target number of residential consumers to 13
be served by the program, energy and emissions savings that will result from 14
the program, and a proposed timeline for the implementation of the program. 15
Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS 16
(a) In fiscal year 2027, the sum of $15,000.00 is appropriated from the 17
General Fund to Efficiency Vermont for the energy navigator program report. 18
(b) In fiscal year 2027, the sum of $150,000.00 is appropriated from the 19
General Fund to the Climate Economy Action Center to collaborate with 20
Efficiency Vermont on the energy navigator program design; continue to 21

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VT LEG #386174 v.1
develop its community-based energy navigator resources, programming, and 1
expertise; and support the expansion of its Energy Navigator Program to a 2
neighboring county. 3
Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026. 5