Energy Committee
Energy Committee
The Goshen Energy Committee has been working hard on the foundational steps needed in order to submit our MERP Grant application for up to $500,000 in funding. This is a 100 grant, meaning there are no matching funds required by our town. On November 12th, Goshen was notified that we have been awarded $$334,057.33 for renovations to the Town Hall. While we included scope for work on the Town Office in our application, those monies were cut. All funds will be used on the Goshen Town Hall energy upgrades.
Regular weekly meetings for planning scope, bid packages, and project timelines will begin on Tuesday, November 19th at 8 AM at the Town Hall.
More details on the MERP Grant below.
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MERP Grant Project
The Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) provides staff support, application and technical assistance, and funding to increase energy resilience, reduce energy use and operating costs, and curb greenhouse gas emissions by promoting weatherization, thermal improvements, fuel switching, renewable energy, battery storage, electric vehicle charging, and enhanced comfort in municipal buildings.
Act 172 (2022) gave MERP $45 million to support dependable and sustainable connections to critical municipal services for all Vermonters. Municipally owned buildings in cities, towns, incorporated villages, fire districts, and all other governmental incorporated units (except school districts) are eligible.
MERP targets communities in need of energy resilience investments, often having excessive energy burden (the portion of income spent on heating, electricity, and transportation).
MERP provides the following funding opportunities:
- Up to $4,000 Community Capacity Building Mini Grants
- Free building Energy Resilience Assessments.
- Up to $500,000 Implementation Grants for weatherization, thermal efficiency, and supplementing/replacing fossil fuel heating systems with more efficient renewable or electric versions (coming soon).
BGS is partering with Vermont’s Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs), Vermont League of Cities and Towns, Efficiency Vermont, and Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network to develop and implement MERP. RPCs will also assist with grant and assessment applications and provide programming and technical assistance.
Bob West, Energy Coordinator
(802) 247-9793
energycoordinator@goshenvt.org
Town Energy Coordinator (appointed).
Responsible for developing the town energy plan and conducting the town energy audit. 24 V.S.A. § 1131
