The Vermont Low Income Trust for Electricity (VLITE) funds projects that advance the state’s energy goals with a particular focus on the energy needs of low-income Vermonters.
Since 2013 VLITE has funded projects that bring about energy transformation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. VLITE funding has:
- Helped put efficient wood stoves in low-income homes replacing outdated inefficient ones.
- Removed dangerous and ineffective vermiculite insulation from older homes thus allowing fullscale weatherization projects to move forward through the State Office of Economic Opportunity Weatherization Assistance Program.
- Partnered with the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to assist low and moderate income families to buy high quality zero energy modular homes,
- With Green Mountain Power, put battery storage in the homes of vulnerable Vermonters.
- Through the Neighborworks HEAT Squad, provided incentives for low and moderate-income Vermonters to get their homes weatherized.
- Supported construction and weatherization workforce training through Youthbuild and ReSOURCE.
- Helped launch an initiative through Capstone Community Action to address transportation barriers in rural Vermont.
VLITE funds energy education and information initiatives too.
- The Vermont Energy Education Program provides in-school and at-home curricula and materials for hands-on energy education for K-12 students and professional development for teachers.
- Energy Action Network’s Dashboard tool is used by state officials, regional planning commissions, towns and town energy committees, and distribution and efficiency utilities as well as the general public.