New Vision for Heating Saves Money, Cuts Risky Dependence on Fossil Fuels, Creates Jobs

(Burlington) House Speaker Gaye Symington proposed a bold departure from Vermont’s current approach to heating homes and businesses today that will save Vermonters money, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and create good jobs in a clean, new energy industry.

“Make no mistake: this energy crisis is hitting Vermonters much harder than it should because of Jim Douglas’ failure to act.  Over the past six years, he did not lead Vermonters away from our risky dependence on fossil fuels toward better, cheaper more dependable sources of heat because he has no vision for a different approach to energy. We could be six years closer to breaking the destructive grip giant oil companies have on our wallets, but instead we’ve gone nowhere.  We are stuck in neutral, and it is costing us a fortune,” said the Democratic candidate for Governor.

The Roadmap to Energy Independence includes three major components:

•       The “Efficiency Pays” plan enables homeowners, building owners and tenants to purchase and install efficient heating systems and complete weatherization projects with no up-front payment and no debt obligation. Those who benefit from these money-saving investments will pay for them through a monthly charge on their utility bill, but this charge will be lower than the estimated savings that the improvements produce.

“Efficiency Pays will help Vermonters overcome the obstacles of having cash upfront or taking on debt to pay for money-saving efficiency projects.  Because they only pay back as they save money, this system should be very attractive to a wide range of Vermonters,” explained Symington.

•       Symington’s Roadmap will also stimulate the growth of a biomass industry by supporting ongoing research into biofuels and heating systems at the University of Vermont, creating a Biomass Business Incubator to accelerate research & development and bringing new technologies to market, and encouraging use of biomass fuel in state buildings.

“Vermont can become a national leader in the production and use of energy that comes from wood, grasses, crops and other local natural sources. By developing our own sources of heat, we will keep millions of dollars in our local economies and create good jobs instead of sending it off to giant oil companies,” the Speaker said.

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Symington releases Roadmap to Energy Independence – page 2


•       The third major element of the plan is creation of an “Efficiency and Renewables Training University” in partnership with state colleges, other providers of workforce training, efficiency experts, and related businesses.

“This training program will prepare Vermonters to obtain steady work in a growing sector of our economy. Our ability to achieve the vision outlined in this plan requires the availability of a trained workforce, said Symington.
“This plan will prevent a repeat of the terrible reality we now face of Vermonters being thrown into a financial crisis due to Wall Street speculators and global forces beyond their control. Vermonters have few options for lowering their bills except to lower their thermostats. They  want more options, and when I’m Governor they’ll get them.”

Today’s announcement is part of a two-part Roadmap for Energy Independence that will deal with both heating and electric use and generation.  The second part of the plan will be unveiled later this month.

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