Baseline Energy Report
Where we are today in the West River Valley
WRV Energy Mix in 2019
Renewables make up almost one-third of energy used in the WRV
Total Energy Demand:
1,361,619 MMBTU or 399,051 MWh.
Total Renewable Energy:
112,455 MWh or 29% of demand
2019 Energy Demand and the Percentage Met by Renewable Energy Production
The biggest gap to fill in our transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy is in the transportation sector.
Driving less and replacing gas-powered vehicles with electric cars and trucks will be crucial to closing the gap.
Due to an anticipated 15% decrease in overall energy consumption between 2019 and 2025, the amount of renewable energy needed to decarbonize (transition from fossil fuels to 100% renewable energy) will remain about the same over the next 5 years even as the population increases.
A few reasons why we know we can do this if we work together
The cost of solar is declining.
Here’s what buying solar looks like in Vermont.
Out-of-pocket cost: $13,812 – $18,687
Net 20-year savings: $19,682 – $26,629
Payback period: 8.4 – 11.4 years
Electricity bill offset: 79 – 107 %
Experts are re-thinking the grid.
The current grid was designed for large, centralized power plants sending electricity in one direction to customers.
The future grid is designed to manage:
distributed generation
multi-directional flows
intermittency of renewables
demand response
resiliency and security
“When the people lead, the leaders will follow.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
The Erie Canal was proposed in 1808 and finished in 1825. It is 363 miles long, 40 feet wide, and 4 feet deep.
It was completed despite lacking the support of President James Madison
