Energy and Climate

The CCRPC assists towns with the energy element of their town plans, which includes an analysis of energy usage in buildings, renewable energy opportunities, land use best practices, and transportation strategies. As a regional organization, we also support municipal energy committees and staff. Additionally, we work collaboratively with Efficiency Vermont, Drive Electric Vermont, VTrans, Vermont’s Public Service Department and Climate Action Office, and other state partners to ensure regional energy and climate resilience.

The CCRPC works with member municipalities and regional partners on a variety of projects that help us to either mitigate climate change or adapt to it. Climate mitigation includes activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate adaptation means taking action to prepare for and respond to changes in climate patterns, extreme weather events, and other climate-related impacts.

SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON:

INCENTIVES »
ELECTRIC VEHICLES »
BUILDINGS »
ENERGY PLANNING »
CONTACT »

INCENTIVES

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

EV and Charging Tax Credits After the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Electric Vehicle Charging Grants
A Municipal Guide to Sustainable Public EV Charging Rates
Incentives for Electric Vehicles » | Learn about incentives for EVs.
Drive Electric Vermont » | Compare EV models, find incentives, and learn about charging and charging installation.
Electric Vehicle Safety Information | NFPA resources on EV fire safety
Mow Electric Vermont » | Learn about the health and environmental benefits of electric lawn mowers both commercial and residential, compare electric lawn care equipment, and find incentives.
Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment (EVSE) – Friendly Development Regulations for Municipalities » | Prepared by the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
Community Charging Best Practices | This work was funded by the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and was authored by staff from the U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Center.
Vermont State NEVI Plan » | In the fall of 2021, VTrans worked with Drive Electric Vermont to develop a ten-year, statewide strategic EVSE deployment plan. This plan was updated in 2025.
Drive Electric Vermont Guide for Managing Light-duty EV Fleet Charging » | Managed charging is the practice of controlling the time and/or power level associated with recharging EV batteries. Managed charging can significantly reduce capital and operating costs of EV fleets.
Fleet Electrification Study for CWD » | This 2022 report, prepared by VEIC, provides analysis and recommendations to Champlain Water District (CWD) on how to electrify their fleet of vehicles over eight years.
Fleet Electrification Study for Williston | This 2025 report, prepared by VEIC, assesses potential light-duty EV deployment in Williston’s municipal fleet.
Fleet Electrification Study for Shelburne | This 2025 report, prepared by VEIC, assesses potential light-duty EV deployment in Shelburne’s municipal fleet.
Fleet Electrification Study for South Burlington | This 2025 report, prepared by VEIC, assesses potential light-duty EV deployment in South Burlington’s municipal fleet.
A Strategic Framework to Advance Electrification | This 2026 report by the Electrification Coalition provides a policy framework to advance vehicle electrification in the next era of transportation.

BUILDINGS

Energy Use Intensity (EUI) »
Municipal Energy Resilience Program
Residential Building Energy Standard (RBES) In 2025, CCRPC represented the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies (VAPDA) in the development of a Residential Building Energy Code Administration Plan for the State of Vermont to consider. This effort included outreach to municipal staff and local contractors to raise awareness. See presentations and educational materials below.
- RBES 2/5/2025 Presentation for Contractors. View the slides here.
- RBES 2/21/2025 Presentation to RPC Energy Planners. View the slides here.
- RBES 4/9/2025 Presentation to Municipal Planners and Zoning Administrators. View the slides here.
- RBES 4/9/2025 Presentation to Energy Committees. View the slides here.
- RBES 5/15/2025 State-wide Presentation to Municipal Staff. View the slides here.
- Get assistance from the Energy Code Support Center.
- Read the Municipal Guide for Vermont Energy Codes
- Understand EV Readiness Requirements of the Code
Heat Pumps 101 » | VECAN hosted a webinar about heat pumps on 1/31/24. View the slides here.
Heat Pump Incentives: A heat pump provides high-efficiency heating or cooling. See rebates and incentives below.
- GMP and VEC customers: everyone can receive a rebate through their contractor, and the low-income bonus can be accessed through this link: Ductless Heat Pumps | Efficiency Vermont
- Burlington Electric customers: click here for information on incentives and rebates.
- Air to Water Heat Pumps: High level of design, up to $6,500K back in rebates
- Ground Source Heat Pumps: Hire a participating contractor and get up to $2,100 cash back per ton on qualifying equipment, plus a $500 bonus for income-eligible Vermonters.
- Tax credit amount is 30% of total project cost (equipment/installation) up to $2K max
Thermal Energy Networks » | This webinar goes over the basics and benefits of networked thermal systems. See a presentation on developing a Municipal Thermal Strategic Plan here.
Webinar: Weatherization and the Windows Conundrum » | In this webinar held 2/24/2022, Efficiency Vermont discussed the reasons why it may be better to weatherize your home before you replace your windows. Watch the video » | View the presentation »
Solar & Battery Storage Fire Safety Webinar | In this Clean Energy Group webinar, Captain Richard Birt, a 30-year veteran of the fire service, shares curriculum that has already trained over 1,000 firefighters in California on preparedness and response to solar and battery storage fires.
Residential Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Fact Sheet Clean Energy Group created this fact sheet to build battery storage safety awareness and dispel common misconceptions.
Utility Scale Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Fact Sheet Battery energy storage systems can be a cost-effective tool for utilities to meet peak demand and provide flexibility to the power grid. Clean Energy Group created this fact sheet to build battery storage safety awareness and dispel common misconceptions.

ENERGY PLANNING

Municipal Energy Data Guides | CCRPC developed Municipal Energy Data Guides in 2017 and updated them in 2025 as part of the update to the regional plan. These guides can be used to develop or update municipal enhanced energy plans. Find guidance on municipal enhanced energy plan standards here.
Chittenden County Regional Energy Plan » | The CCRPC developed a focused Regional Energy Plan to advance the State’s Comprehensive Energy Plan’s climate and energy goals while also being consistent with municipal and regional land use plans.
Climate Change and Land Use » | This guide provides municipalities with guidance on how to amend the land use regulations to limit low density sprawl, enable compact walkable neighborhoods, and protect the working and natural landscape to ensure climate change resilience.
Energy Action Network Energy and GHG Emissions Dashboards | The Vermont Energy Dashboard tracks progress toward the adoption of key clean energy technologies that were recommended in Vermont’s 2021 Climate Action Plan, including cold-climate heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, comprehensive home weatherization, and electric vehicles. The Vermont Greenhouse Gas Emissions Dashboard visualizes Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions data, published each year by the VT Agency of Natural Resources.
Energy Revolving Loan Fund Presentation » | This presentation provides municipalities with information on how to start an Energy Revolving Loan Fund to pay for energy and efficiency projects.

CONTACT

For more information or to be added to the energy email distribution list, please contact Ann Janda, CCRPC Senior Energy Project Manager, at (802) 846-4490 x 133.