What: RALLY IN SUPPORT OF DISTRICT HEAT

When: Wednesday, August 29that 12:30 pm

Where: Montpelier City Hall

Who:

·         Angela Timpone, Montpelier City Council Member (District 3)

·         Anne Watson, Newly Appointed Montpelier City Council Member (District 2)

·         Becky Wigg, Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee

·         Justin McCabe, Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee

·         John Snell, Partner, The Snell Group

·         Ben Walsh, VPIRG Clean Energy Advocate

·         Johanna Miller, Vermont Natural Resources Council

Visuals:

Dozens of Montpelier residents with signs.

In addition, according to a press release this afternoon:

Mayor John Hollar has called a special meeting of the Montpelier City Council for 6:30 PM on Wednesday, August 29 in the City Council Chambers at Montpelier City Hall to consider revisions to the agreement between the City of Montpelier and the State of Vermont regarding the District Heat project.

The Council will be asked to approve the project with changes that are intended to address concerns raised by City Council Members.  Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding has agreed to these terms on behalf of the State of Vermont.

Under the revised agreement, the city will commit to building the first phase of the distribution system to, at a minimum, the corner of State and Elm streets.  It is the expectation of the city and state that funding will allow for the completion of all other phases of the project.  The final determination of project size will be made after construction bids are received in November.

The revised agreement provides that certain charges to the state will be phased in based on actual usage by city customers.  That will replace an earlier agreement which provided for the payment of a fixed annual charge by the city regardless of the amount of city heat usage.  The state will have the ability to use any capacity that is not purchased by the city, after a reasonable period of time.

The city and state will work cooperatively towards the creation of a financially independent entity that would own or operate the distribution system.

This plan, if approved by the Council, will allow the State to proceed with ordering two 600 horsepower boilers in time to meet construction deadlines.   The City will be able to proceed with its bid process and make final financial decisions based on actual pricing rather than cost estimates.

District heat supporters are encouraged to turn out at the special City Council meeting to show our support for this visionary and innovative plan.