Total Energy News – July 2026

This is mostly a Vermont energy newsletter with events and networking notes, but a few items touch on things homeowners might care about.

Vermont's Department of Health has a webpage on climate and heat safety, with maps of cooling sites, tips on staying safe in hot weather, and safety information on swimming and algae (cyanobacteria) in lakes. The state is also tracking a real trend: Burlington has seen a 155% increase in "extreme heat days" (87 degrees or higher, accounting for Vermont's humidity) since 1960. That data will appear in a broader September report on Vermont energy affordability and emissions. For homeowners, more hot days can mean more reliance on cooling, which ties into insulation and heat pump decisions, though no new rebate or program was announced here.

On the funding side, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a program among East Coast states, is generating money states can use to cut emissions or lower energy bills, though specific amounts for individual states were not given. Separately, Washington state has agreed to link its carbon market with California and Quebec, which is expected to help stabilize prices for businesses and consumers there.

Also noted: Vermont has opened applications for Volkswagen settlement funding, $5,909,575 total, to help fleets replace diesel vehicles and equipment with zero-emission options. This applies to public and private fleets, not individual household vehicles, with monthly application deadlines through the state's Department of Environmental Conservation.