Regional Planning & Economic Development in the Northeast Kingdom
ENERGY UPDATE April 2026
Decarbonizing the Home You Have
April 2, 12-1pm (online)
How to build an efficient, healthy, low-carbon home is well understood — yet unfortunately still far from mainstream. But what about the majority of us who will never purchase a new home? In this seminar, Brian Just shares practical, budget-friendly steps his household has taken over the course of more than a decade to improve an existing home. From swapping lightbulbs to full electrification, each change reflects a commitment to health, comfort, local materials, and environmental impact. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas for making meaningful improvements to their own homes—no matter the starting point. This online presentation, hosted by the Vermont Green Building Network (VGBN), will conclude with a Q+A.
Resilient Solar+Storage Training Course for Building Owners and Managers
FREE, online, self-paced course
Inclusiv and the Center for Impact Finance (CIF) at the University of New Hampshire have updated their resilient solar and storage training course for building owners and managers. The course focuses on resilient solar+storage for community-serving facilities (such as community centers, schools, health centers, etc.), but the information is useful for all types of buildings. Clean Energy Group contributed content to the course and has made some of the materials available on its website. The course has been updated to reflect OBBBA changes to policy.
The 5-6 hour course is free, self-paced, and open to all on a rolling basis. It is available in both English and Spanish. Participants receive a certificate upon completing the course. Program links are below:
Become an EV Charging Site Host Up to $13 million in funding!
Know of any NEK property owners or authorized entity (such as a retail location, gas station, or commercial or municipal property) who might be interested in hosting public EV chargers?
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is offering up to $13 million in federal NEVI funding to expand public EV charging stations statewide.
Property owners can become “site hosts” by providing space for charging installations, which must have at least four ports and meet criteria like proximity to highways, safety, accessibility, and amenities.
Site hosts benefit from financial support, increased traffic, and help improve the environment!
Site host agreements outline terms, ownership, payments, and maintenance responsibilities.
Interested property owners should complete the survey below to connect with prequalified EV charging providers.
Energy Coaching Network Webinar
April 7, 12pm (online)
An Energy Action Network team will present a summary and analysis of over 20 interviews with Vermont service providers regarding a potential Energy Coaching Network.
Energy coaching can help support residential customers in implementing clean energy projects to reduce fossil fuel use. This webinar will cover existing services from utilities and weatherization professionals, current gaps, and stakeholder opportunities for a statewide network. Attendees are encouraged to share their feedback and ideas during the presentation.
2026 LEAP Energy Fair
April 11, 9am-2pm (Duxbury, VT)
Time to weatherize your drafty house? Interested in energy efficient heat pumps, electric vehicles, or solar power for your home or business? Find the information you need at the LEAP Energy Fair, Saturday, April 11 at the Crossett Brook Middle School gym in Duxbury.
The LEAP Energy Fair is the largest in Vermont, and it’s completely FREE. Tour 60 exhibits and talk to experts about heat pumps, weatherization, solar power, energy audits, electric vehicles, electric lawn tools, financing, subsidies, and much more. Attend breakout sessions on topics of special interest.
This family-friendly event includes a free magician show, free ice cream, free electronics recycling, children’s activities, and local food and refreshments while you learn how to shrink energy bills and save money.
Brought to you by the volunteers of Waterbury LEAP.
Questions? Contact [email protected].
Efficiency Vermont Doubles Incentives for Businesses Up to $25,000!
For a limited time, Efficiency Vermont will double rebates for energy efficiency upgrades up to $25,000. Free energy consultation, a customized project plan, and ongoing support for energy-saving projects to be completed by November 2026. Is your business eligible for this enhanced incentive program? Call 888-921-5990 to start a conversation!
Also, learn about 2026 rebates your community can take advantage of in this recent press release and explore all Efficiency Vermont rebates online.
VEEP GENERATE!
Solutions for Curriculum, Climate, & Community
VEEP’s 2026 summer institute for teachers is currently open for registration. Running from June 22-26, at this institute teachers will plan a curriculum that cultivates hope and brings students meaningful learning opportunities to tackle relevant climate solutions for their community. Open to all educators, any grade, any subject. Full scholarships available to VT and NH teachers.
NVDA 2026 Regional Plan Update
Draft chapters available!
The NVDA Regional Plan is a collaborative guide to shape a sustainable, equitable, and community-empowered Northeast Kingdom for the next eight years. Explore NVDA’s dedicated webpage and find Regional Plan chapter drafts (such as Energy and Transportation), as well as draft Future Land Use (FLU) maps for the NEK.
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