Resources
Understand the issues
Just Transition is a global organizing framework that calls for an end to harmful, polluting fuels and a transition to clean, affordable energy and healthy communities for all.
A truly just transition must lift up marginalized and frontline populations and give every community the resources it needs to thrive.
Just Transition
Climate Solutions for Vermont
Thermal Energy Networks
Thermal energy networks (TENs) are utility-scale infrastructure projects that connect multiple buildings into a shared system that uses the constant temperature of the earth underground to provide efficient heating and cooling for a whole neighborhood or town center.
Weatherization
Insulating and air-sealing our homes saves money on energy bills, makes homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and reduces air pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions. It’s a simple solution with big benefits to people and planet.
Solidarity
Climate solutions will be effective only if they address the inequalities that funnel profits to the already wealthy while making life difficult for low-income families, people of color, women, queer and trans folks, and people with disabilities.
False Solutions & Solvable Problems
Biofuels
Often promoted as an alternative to fossil fuels, biofuels actually have the same or worse greenhouse-gas emissions as fossil fuels over their life cycle (production through consumption), and negatively impact our health, forests, and food systems.
Renewable energy credits
Renewable energy credits (RECS) allow governments and businesses to claim sustainability while continuing to use fossil fuels. VT utilities buy RECs from large hydroelectric producers that no other NE state considers renewable.
Large Hydro
A significant portion of Vermont’s electricity comes from hydroelectric generating stations in eastern Canada. Building these mega dams floods large areas of land, destroying habitats, releasing large quantities of methane, and erasing Indigenous land.
Peaker Plants
Peaker plants are small, inefficient, high-pollution electric generating stations that run for only a few hours a year yet receive millions of dollars in subsidies that could instead be invested in clean energy solutions.
Policy Explainers & How-Tos
Ratepayer Protection
Already in place in other states, a ratepayer protection program would lower energy bills for low-income households.
How Meet with Your Legislator
Legislator meetings help us create ongoing relationships with our representatives and offer them information about climate issues.
How to Write a LTE
Letters to the editor raise awareness about energy issues and climate justice solutions and let political leaders know that their constituents care about these topics.