00:14:41 Johanna Miller: Thanks to everyone for joining us at our first virtual VECAN conference workshop! And HUGE thanks to our panelists — Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Chris Campany and Amanda Carlson — and to Sebbi Wu for facilitating! 00:18:31 Charles Lindner: vangv 00:19:06 Sebbi Wu (he/him), VPIRG: For folks who prefer to focus on the speaker, feel free to enter "speaker mode" by clicking view in the top left corner of your screen. 00:20:21 Jeff Forward: I so appreciate your focus on this issue Sen. Ram-Hinesdale! 00:23:47 Chris Campany: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/01/magazine/climate-change-losing-earth.html 00:24:44 Jeff Forward: In order to make renewable energy available to L&M income folks is to change the rules for community solar to make it easier and more cost effective to build new renewable energy projects in Vermont. 00:31:17 Jeff Forward: This is an awesome document and great template for thinking about these issues. 00:33:00 Yves Gonnet: May we have a link to this doc in the chat please. 00:33:02 Bekah Kuster, VECAN: Guiding Principles for a Just Transition: https://outside.vermont.gov/agency/anr/climatecouncil/Shared%20Documents/Guiding%20Principles%20for%20a%20Just%20Transition%20-%20Final%20Approved%208.2021.pdf 00:34:04 Guy Payne: Please expand on the role of Town Plans and Energy Committees with regard to legislation. 00:34:19 Johanna Miller: Here is a link to the Climate Action Plan: https://climatechange.vermont.gov/sites/climatecouncilsandbox/files/2021-12/Initial%20Climate%20Action%20Plan%20-%20Final%20-%2012-1-21.pdf -- Find the Just Transitions rubric on Page 55 (PDF) and 47 (Plan) And read the Council’s support/statement for an EJ bill on page 244 (PDF) and page 236 (Plan) 00:34:44 Lorraine Kayser: If participants could slow down, it’s difficult to read and absorb at the pace they’re going. 00:37:51 deirdre holmes: Building on Guy’s question, I’d like to add what is the role/responsiblity of Selectboards vis a vis the legislation? 00:38:02 Sally Kerschner: This is an excellent point - about the awareness of Vt poverty 00:38:17 SPENCE AND FRAN PUTNAM: Question: If the public engagement results in suggestions for changes to the CAP, will they be incorporated, or is the CAP a done deal? How can new ideas be incorporated into the work that the Climate Council has already done, especially in relation to the just transition rubric? 00:40:11 Sam Lash: Regarding representation in committees and moving forward: Are there mechanisms being put in place to compensate participants for their time and perspective now and in the future to ensure continued input from diverse residents and not perpetuate an exploitative framework? 00:40:46 Sam Lash: WHO will be implementing these changes (same people who haven’t been for decades or new players?) and how will they be held accountable? How do we address lack of municipal and regional staff to implement at local level? (At the municipal and regional level decision-makers are reluctant to use one time funds for permanent positions- how will we fund this long term?) 00:43:17 Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale: Sam, it’s a great question on compensation and one that’s dear to me. With the help of VNRC and VPIRG, we tried to have that conversation around the Climate Council specifically last session. It was quashed in favor of a look at all state board/commission compensation this year, which is still likely to be inadequate if we just go from, say, $50 to $100 for a meeting. We want to look at far more flexibility to resource participants who otherwise cannot attend and participate without due compensation. 00:46:06 Ann Lawless: All very good points Chris, especially about small communities not having capacity to compete for grants. 00:46:09 Jeff Forward: The most likely way for L&M folks to participate in our renewable energy future is to join a community solar project. However, the current net metering rules actively discourage the development of larger ground mounted solar projects. The legislature needs to instruct the PUC and ANR that community solar is a priority and needs to be encouraged rather than discouraged. 00:46:20 Sam Lash: Thank you Senator, it is certainly a critical and basic way to practice what is being proposed along the way! 00:46:44 Sam Lash: Can we insure these frameworks be implemented in a way that ensures they impact planning and development writ large? 00:47:41 Sam Lash: +1 Ann Lawless, staff is a critical issue we need to address to get this and so much done! 00:48:15 Chris Campany: Amanda was a great contributor to the Just Transitions Subcommittee, especially her real world, real time work implementing the very types of programs proposed by the Climate Council. 00:48:53 Jeff Forward: Shout out to Chris Champany and Joey Miller for their long hours and significant contributions to the Vermont Climate Council. It has be an unbelievable amount of work over the past six months. Thank you both! 00:49:16 Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale: This does not replace full staffing capacity, but I did want to add that I will be introducing a Vermont Civilian Climate Corps bill this year. While not a full solution, I hope it also helps to diversify the climate workforce. 00:51:29 Mark Kennedy: I wonder if there's a way to schedule and hold information sessions and conversations in local communities (e.g., South Hero, where I live) through libraries, local congregations, schools, other community orgs. Will there be/is there a Speakers Bureau that includes those involved today and others involved in preparing and implementing plans to reduced CO2 emissions. Thank you and thank you for this outstanding conference. 00:51:53 Ann Janda: When did the Mileage Smart program start? 00:52:30 Ann Lawless: Mileage Smart is awesome. Are there enough used Hybrid and EV cars available to meet the need? 00:52:35 Kevin Thorley: Is this quick turnaround time the reason that MileageSmart is only available to cars purchased from a Dealership? Does the incentive come off the price at the dealership directly? 00:53:08 deirdre holmes: Thank you Senator Ram Hinsdale for the Climate Corps bill! 00:54:49 Jeff Forward: There needs to be dealer training too. I bought a used Leaf from a dealer and was surprised to find out I knew more than the car sales people about incentives, charging station availability and how to drive an EV. BTW that car had less than 20,000 miles on it and cost less than $13,000 before any direct in-state incentives. 00:55:25 Johanna Miller: We are about to transition to questions: Please drop any questions you have in the chat (and thanks for those who already have!) and be ready to ask your questions, directly, briefly! coming off mute, when Sebbi opens up the opportunity. 00:56:48 Michelle Mccutcheon-schour: @jeffforward - Efficiency Vermont in partnership with Drive Electric Vermont has recently launched a program to certified dealers as EV dealers and this certification program include training 00:57:36 SPENCE AND FRAN PUTNAM: From Fran Putnam: What will the CAP do to insure that landlords weatherize their buildings? This is an equity issue because low income and BIPOC Vermonters are more likely to rent than to own their homes and are unable to take advantage of the Weatherization Assistance Program unless their landlords cooperate. 00:58:52 Johanna Miller: Here is a link to Sen. Ram Hinsdale’s environmental justice bill, FYI: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2022/S.148 01:01:00 Allie Webster (she/her): Can you please speak more to effective/inclusive public engagement strategies and any lessons learned during the Climate Coalition's Just Transitions outreach efforts / or around specific program roll-outs like Capstone described? 01:03:20 Sebbi Wu (he/him), VPIRG: For folks who would like to verbally pose your question, please raise your Zoom hand so I can call on you! :) 01:03:41 Mark Kennedy: Does VT have a statewide land use and conservation plan, in addition to regulation? If not, where does developing one stand? Does VT provide assistance to all towns and cities in VT to develop and implement land use and conservation plans that are consistent with climate action goals? If not, where does providing such assistance stand? 01:04:14 Johanna Miller: Fran, RE: Your question on weatherizing buildings and recommend, I’d recommend you/others check out the buildings/thermal section in the climate action plan (page 89 in the plan and page 90 which speaks to renters) and draw your attention to Pathway 1, Strategy 2 as well, which calls for instituting a rental efficiency standard too. 01:04:17 Jeff Forward: It is critical for Energy Committee members to participate in more conventional town committees in addition to the Energy Committee. Select boards and Planning Commissions is where many decisions on climate change actions are being made on the local level. 01:05:26 Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale: I’m going to be that legislator and say I ALSO have a bill to reintroduce a statewide planning office 🙂 S.96 01:07:09 Mark Kennedy: Thank you, Sen. Ram Hinsdale. We really need to make local land use planning and conservation mandatory, with the state support necessary to assure that every town and city can meet the requirement. 01:07:54 Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale: Agreed! 01:08:29 Chris Campany: One issue I've noticed with town energy committees is that while they tend to be excellent on weatherization, and often on fuel switching, there tends to be a lack of understanding about the relationship between land use and energy consumption. I don't think it's a lack of interest, but simply a lack of awareness. This is something I want our RPC to work with town energy committees on so they can become advocates before town planning commissions and selectboards. 01:08:31 Sam Lash: +1 Mark 01:08:35 Ann Lawless: To Mark's comment, I agree,, but capacity especially in small towns is a huge issue. 01:08:55 Jeff Forward: Several VECAN members have organized energy committee members who want to take direct action on advocacy for legislation. Please feel free to contact me if you want to learn more and be on the list of advocates: forward@gmavt.net 01:09:07 Sam Lash: +1 Chris 01:09:54 Chris Campany: If you're interested in a deeper-dive re: local government capacity and policy, this is my article in our latest newsletter: http://www.windhamregional.org/news/from-the-director-2021-fall 01:10:10 Mark Kennedy: Yes, which is why we absolutely need state financial and technical support to support towns in developing the land use and conservation plans. Yes, costs $s. Not doing this, though, will cost much, much more in all ways, as we all know. 01:11:17 Johanna Miller: Sen. Ram Hinsdale… I’d love to hear a bit more about your state planning office bill — what’s in it and why it matters. And folks can follow over the session? We will hope to track action on that via our weekly legislative Climate Dispatch (as well as the EJ bill and other climate and clean energy priorities): Learn more and sign up for the Climate Dispatch here: https://vnrc.org/category/climate-dispatch/ 01:13:01 Mark Kennedy: Yes, would be great to hear more about S.96! 01:16:08 Mark Kennedy: I'll refer back to my question about a way to disseminate this information and converse about it in local communities so that it is accurately, consistently presented and provides opportunities for people not here today to ask questions, have input. Please let us know any plans to bring everything to people throughout VT so that people know what is being planned, discussed, and can begin to understand it, have input into it, own it. Thank you. 01:18:31 Amanda Carlson, Capstone (she/her): In regards to questions about MileageSmart: the program really got off the ground Fall 2020, we are finding a shortage of used vehicles that meet our criteria, especially in the $10-15K range. The incentive price comes off the price of the vehicle at the dealership. We work through dealerships to ensure fair pricing and vehicle safety. 01:18:34 Johanna Miller: On page 247/239 in the climate plan, check out how the climate plan speaks generally to this concept of a state planning office (which fell short of gathering full council support but the concept remains). This section also speaks to the need for greater capacity at key partner organizations and community partner orgs. https://climatechange.vermont.gov/sites/climatecouncilsandbox/files/2021-12/Initial%20Climate%20Action%20Plan%20-%20Final%20-%2012-1-21.pdf 01:19:33 Jeff Forward: ANR is incredibly myopic. Each division focuses on their piece of the puzzle while ignoring the bigger picture. This is true with equity as well as with the development of renewable energy projects. 01:19:48 Kevin Thorley: Thanks Amanda! 01:20:04 Sam Lash: Off of planning infrastructure, I would also love to hear about the potentiality of strengthening/diversifying the role State Infrastructure Bank could play in connecting municipalities with state and federal funding opportunities (e.g. like the Rhode Island model, among others, which includes lobbying for green bonds for dedicated climate action grants and programs)… I ask this, totally naive of current discussion regarding this or a similar plan/mechanism for addressing a lack of capacity at the municipal and regional levels 01:20:15 Johanna Miller: Sen. Ram Hinsdale: I believe UVM put together a great (initial) mapping tool, I believe. Is that something you can share with folks here? I can’t seem to find it… 01:20:52 Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale: Prof. Panikkar got back from COP26 and started putting some of this together for public consumption. I don’t have it yet! 01:21:10 Johanna Miller: K. Keep us posted when its available. We’d love to share! 01:21:10 Michelle Mccutcheon-schour: This is the UVM study Sen. Ram Hinsdale referenced in the beginning - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rGHtuk95gCgZPb11NBkTHLi3VA7Kvtq1/view 01:21:18 Amanda Carlson, Capstone (she/her): https://uvm.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=68a9290bde0c42529460e1b8deee8368 01:21:22 Amanda Carlson, Capstone (she/her): Mapping tool in the works 01:21:39 Michelle Mccutcheon-schour: It doesn't talk about a mapping tool but it does demonstrate who is being left out of the energy transition in Vermont 01:21:55 Johanna Miller: Thank you too Michelle and Amanda! 01:23:13 Michelle Mccutcheon-schour: Also an interesting article this morning - "Education is top predictor of efficiency program" enrollmenthttps://www.utilitydive.com/news/education-is-top-predictor-of-efficiency-program-enrollment-lbnl-finds-po/610878/ 01:23:38 Michelle Mccutcheon-schour: *Education is top predictors of efficiency program enrollment" 01:24:13 Sally Burrell: If students were offered education on the CAP they would see themselves in it and may be inspired to get involved. 01:24:53 Mark Kennedy: As far as ways to get info. out to local communities: use every local agency/org. possible. Here in So. Hero, we have a very active, involved library, the Worthen Library, that perhaps could hold something. Maybe something could happen this year as a part of every town meeting. Again, local schools and congregations would be good groups through which to reach people. Thank you again. 01:25:43 Johanna Miller: HUGE thanks to our amazing panelists (and Sebbi!) for your time today and, more so, for ALL you do everyday. We very much look forward to staying in touch with you all and sharing what you’re doing with this network — and growing it and expanding it too (as Amanda just noted!). 01:25:54 Mark Kennedy: Can someone send key notes from today, including relevant websites to which we can refer and which we can pass along to others? Thanks! 01:25:56 Steve Crowley: Thanks to Amanda, Chris, and Senator Ram-Hinsdale, great discussion, and much appreciation for your (ongoing) work with the Council. 01:26:47 Ann Lawless: Thanks all! Very good session. 01:26:54 Johanna Miller: Hi Mark! We will definitely follow up to share a recording of this workshop and some/as many resources as possible that were referenced today. Stay tuned and look for that in your inbox. 01:27:00 Jeff Forward: Great session. Thank you so much for organizing it 01:27:02 Kevin Thorley: Thanks everyone, this was really great 01:27:09 Carly Alpert: Thank you! 01:27:26 Mark Kennedy: Thanks to all of you! 01:27:31 Alexis Leacock: Thank you, so informative! 01:27:35 Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale: My email: Kesha.Ram@Gmail.com 01:27:39 Sebbi Wu (he/him), VPIRG: Thanks everyone!!!! So appreciate your time, attention, and the expertise of our presenters! 01:28:01 Johanna Miller: Thanks to all for joining today! Onward, in partnership and gratitude. So much important work to do! 01:28:03 Kelsey Gibb: Thank you! 01:28:12 Sarah Bruce: Thanks to all!! Excellent meeting. 01:28:20 Sally Burrell: Yes, Let’s Do it! Thanks! 01:28:22 Allie Webster (she/her): Thank you!