Conventional wisdom has it that solar energy isn’t really practical in Vermont. But in fact, each year every acre of Vermont receives the energy equivalent of nearly five million kilowatt hours free from the sun. And by tapping a small percentage of this energy we can heat, light and power our homes.

Fifteen years ago, the number of Vermont homes using solar electric technology could be counted on one hand. Today there are hundreds of Vermont homes that get most of their electricity from the sun, and thousands of households with solar hot water systems.

The reasons for the dramatic increase in the use of solar technology are many. One major factor is the dramatic decrease in the cost of solar energy equipment over the past decade. Equally important to many consumers is the economic and environmental impact of our continuing reliance on non-renewable fossil and nuclear fuels. Each year Vermont spends over a billion dollars on energy purchases, two-thirds of which goes out-of-state to pay for imported fuels and electricity. This huge capital drain on our economy is seriously eroding our ability to create jobs and raise our standard of living.

– November 1997

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That was written fifteen years ago, before the advent of Vermont’s net metering laws and SPEED Program support for renewables. Today, the price of both solar and wind generation has fallen by another two-thirds from where it was in 1997, but still billions of our dollars flow out of state every year for energy purchases. What is the cost to Vermont’s economy from our continued reliance on foreign oil and imported electricity? Is the impact of our energy use just measured by the cost of fuel and the price of electricity, or do we need to consider its impact on local job creation, keeping dollars in Vermont, building capital in our communities, avoiding future price shocks, and controlling our energy supply?

As the legislature debates the goals and merits of a proposed Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), these questions should be addressed and answered.  There are several different paths to a renewable energy economy that Vermont can take, such as building in-state resources or mostly relying on market imports of renewable power from sources like Hydro-Quebec. Before adopting an RPS, the legislature should make sure they fully consider the implications of each path and what mix will bring the maximum benefits to all Vermonters.

– May 2012

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Well that was written seven years ago and now Vermont has a Renewable Energy Standard (RES) and the state’s electricity supply is 63% renewable (based on certified Renewable Energy Credit retirements). VT can boast of over 18,000 jobs in the clean energy sector (renewables and efficiency).

But Vermont’s transportation energy is only 5% renewable and our thermal sector (heating & cooling) is just 19% renewable. It is time for a Total Energy Standard that encourages use of renewable electricity for transportation and heating.  We can cut our carbon footprint (which is growing again), lower our transportation and heating costs, and keep more of our hard earned dollars in Vermont.

-May 2019