2014 Projects

Total Local Solar Capacity Quadrupled in Two Years!
At the 6th LEAP Energy Fair in April, 2012 CLiF announced the kickoff of the Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year. The goal of this ambitious initiative was to double local solar capacity in those two towns within twelve months. This goal was achieved in 11 months. At the 7th LEAP Energy Fair in April, 2013 LEAP announced the kickoff of the 2nd Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year. The goal was to double local solar yet again, meaning that LEAP was striving to help quadruple local solar capacity within only two years. LEAP members were very active in encouraging local residents, businesses, and leaders to adopt solar by: • Writing periodic articles for the Waterbury Record • Speaking and running ads on WDEV radio • Distributing information on our website, in our brochures, at the Farmer’s Market, Town Meeting, and other events regarding local solar providers and their services. • Hosting an annual LEAP Energy Fair that featured more than a dozen local solar providers and drew more than 600 attendees • Working with the Waterbury Selectboard, Waterbury Trustees, and the Waterbury/Duxbury School District to help them understand the value of solar projects and provide them with support and information to assist them in moving forward on projects. By the time LEAP hosted its 8th LEAP Energy Fair in April 2014 Waterbury and Duxbury had quadrupled total local solar capacity in two years!

8th LEAP Energy Fair 
On Saturday, April 15 from 9 AM to 2 PM the 8th LEAP Energy Fair took place at the Crossett Brook Middle School (CBMS) gym in Duxbury, VT. This event featured 75 exhibitors and attracted a record crowd of almost 700 attendees. It is now one of the largest such events in Vermont. The fair was free and offered attendees the opportunity to tour displays and talk with dozens of experts about solar power, pellet stoves, geothermal, biomass, green building, carpooling, home energy audits, and many other topics. Dozens of people enjoyed informative breakout sessions. The Fair was attended by Congressman Peter Welch and Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders gave the LEAP Green Community Award to seven students on the CBMS E-Waste Recycling Team that gathered more than 8,000 pounds of e-waste at the LEAP Fair and kept those materials out of the waste stream. The Fair was featured in a video by Seven Days ‘Stuck in Vermont’. http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/8th-leap-energy-fair-348/Content?oid=2348862

Walk & Bike to School Day
On May 7 Waterbury in Motion, LEAP’s bike and pedestrian advocacy arm, helped organize a Walk & Bike to School Day. Almost 150 children and adults gathered at Rusty Parker Park at 7 AM for a breakfast provided by Waterbury in Motion, and then bikers and walkers proceeded in groups to Thatcher Brook Primary School and Crossett Brook Middle School. This is one of the regular events Waterbury in Motion holds to help encourage a biking and walking culture in Waterbury and Duxbury.

Hosting Meetings to Help Stimulate Statewide Solar Advances
During 2014 LEAP hosted breakfast discussions and other meetings with leaders of local and statewide businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations. The goal of these meetings was to brainstorm ideas and discuss pathways to increase the adoption of solar in Waterbury and across Vermont, and to identify and clarify possible legislative priorities and innovative approaches that could be supported and advanced.

Events with US Energy Secretary
Dr. Ernest Moniz, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, visited Vermont in March. On March 14 LEAP participated in a brainstorming and idea-sharing discussion at Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) in Burlington. On March 15 a Vermont Sustainable Energy Summit was held at the McCullough Student Center at Middlebury College. LEAP’s Jamie Ervin represented LEAP and all Vermont town energy committees as she spoke on a panel with Secretary Moniz, Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Bernie Sanders, Congressman Peter Welch, Governor Peter Shumlin, Mary Powell (Green Mountain Power CEO), John Byrne (Head of Sustainability for Middlebury College), and Scott Johnstone (CEO of Vermont Energy Investment Corporation). The panel discussed topics such as climate change, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and grassroots organizing for a green energy future.

2nd LEAP Solar Fest – July 22
On July 22 approximately 100 people attended the 2nd LEAP Solar Fest at the Crossett Brook Middle School cafeteria. The free event, hosted by the volunteers of Waterbury LEAP, included live music by Gordon Stone, free pizza, drinks and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and the opportunity for local residents to speak to several local solar installers, to VSECU regarding financing solar, and hear from a number of neighbors who are already using solar power. At the end of the evening one solar installer said she had 12 new leads, and another said he had 8. He commented: “I had more serious conversations this evening in 90 minutes than I’ve had at the past four events I attended this summer combined.”

Providing Support to Other Town Energy Committees
LEAP is contacted periodically by other town energy committees that that are seeking help and guidance on how energy committees are run and how certain energy projects are completed successfully. LEAP is delighted to help because when we began we regularly sought the advice of other, more experienced committees and everyone was generous with their time and ideas. This year LEAP members were asked to share our experience with committees in Hartford, Huntington, and South Burlington.

Solar for Scholars
LEAP launched a “Solar for Scholars” initiative in collaboration with local solar installers. The concept is that for every solar installation constructed in Waterbury and Duxbury by a participating installer over the next year, that company will make a small contribution toward Crossett Brook Middle School’s sustainability program. In particular, these funds will be used to create a new greenhouse and acquire supplies to help students learn about energy involved in food production. Waterbury LEAP will match each contribution, up to $2000. Our goal is to raise $10,000 from September 10, 2013 to September 10, 2014 from LEAP and all participating solar installers so the greenhouse can be built and students can start to raise their own food using the power of the sun.

LEAP Receives 2014 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence
On May 14 at the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility spring conference in Burlington, LEAP was one of the recipients of the 2014 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. The award read: “Since 2007 Waterbury LEAP has been a leader in energy conservation and renewable energy projects and educational efforts at the local level. In a recent project, Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Years, has quadrupled solar renewable energy installations in a two-year period.” LEAP board members Jamie Ervin and Duncan McDougall were there to accept the award on LEAP’s behalf.

Crossett Brook Middle School Solar Walk:
In mid-2013 the Waterbury/Duxbury School Board signed a lease agreement to have a 157kW solar array built on a hillside beside the Crossett Brook Middle School. Construction of this array was completed in December 2013 and Governor Peter Shumlin attended the ribbon cutting ceremony on December 12. Crossett Brook Middle School now has more solar capacity than any other school in Vermont! The 14.8 kW solar array on the school roof (a project which LEAP completed in 2010) and the 157 kW solar array on the hillside now generate the equivalent of roughly one-third of the school’s electrical needs. In 2014 students at CBMS sustainability program led an effort, with some assistance from LEAP, Sun Common, and Wood & Wood Signs, to create a Solar Walk to help people understand the CBMS solar arrays and how they work. Signs are spread outside and inside the school, and the explanations and graphic displays are linked to videos and audio descriptions by CBMS students.

Village, Town, and School Solar Projects
In order to achieve the ambitious goal of the 2nd Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year LEAP realized we needed to help bring to fruition some large local projects. Consequently, we conducted a survey of potential locations for solar installations of 50kW or greater. With this information in hand, LEAP members gave a series of presentations to the Waterbury Selectboard, the Waterbury Village Trustees, and the Waterbury/Duxbury School Board regarding the economics of solar installations, and some of the new financial models available to towns and school districts when undertaking such projects. LEAP member Lincoln Pierce also provided Sketchup designs of how particular solar installations might look in some of the potential locations.

625 kW Village Solar Project on Village Land
In November 2014 a 625 kW solar array was built on Sweet Road in Waterbury Center. The Waterbury Village Trustees signed a lease agreement for the construction of this solar array on roughly four acres of village-owned land. LEAP assisted Village Trustees throughout the process as they considered the potential of hosting a solar array on village land.

Walk & Bike to School Day
On October 15 Waterbury in Motion helped organize a Walk & Bike to School Day. 120 children and adults gathered at Rusty Parker Park at 7 AM for a breakfast provided by Waterbury in Motion, and then bikers and walkers proceeded in groups to Thatcher Brook Primary School and Crossett Brook Middle School. This is one of the regular events Waterbury in Motion holds to help encourage a biking and walking culture in Waterbury and Duxbury.

Participation in 2014 VECAN Annual Conference
Each year for the past five years, Waterbury LEAP has been asked by VECAN (Vermont Energy & Climate Action Network) to present information on its approaches and success at the annual VECAN conference, the only statewide meeting of all energy committees and other renewable energy advocates. On December 6 LEAP’s Duncan McDougall will be a panelist at the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN) annual conference in Fairlee, VT. Duncan will give a presentation on the topic “Programs to Increase On-site Residential Solar”.

Semifinalist for $5 Million Georgetown University Energy Prize
Waterbury and Duxbury were selected to advance to the Semifinalist round of the Georgetown University Energy Prize. The application was submitted by LEAP.  We were among the 50 communities across the US who were selected. Each community had assembled a diverse team, developed a strong plan outline, and had secured signed commitments from local officials, utilities, and community representatives. This multi-year, $5 million prize strives to tap the imagination, creativity, and spirit of competition between communities across the country to develop sustainable energy-saving innovations. Through this competition, communities are challenged to work together with their local governments and utilities in order to develop and begin implementing plans for innovative, replicable, scalable and continual reductions in the per capita energy consumed from local natural gas and electric utilities. Participating communities are asked to develop a long-term energy efficiency plan and to demonstrate initial effectiveness and sustainability over a two-year period. Communities will be judged in part on their ability to: • Spur innovative approaches for communities to decrease their per-capita energy usage • Highlight best practices for communities working with utilities, businesses, and their local governments to create and implement inventive plans for sustained energy efficiency • Educate the public and engage students in energy efficiency issues including methods, benefits, and the environmental costs of the full fuel cycle • Increase the visibility of Georgetown University and competition sponsors who are working to facilitate new and creative approaches to energy efficiency

2013 Projects

Energy Section of the Waterbury Town PlanIn early 2013 the Waterbury Planning Commission approached Waterbury LEAP and asked that its members prepare a first draft of the Energy Section of the Waterbury Town Plan. After researching many other town plans from across Vermont and other states, and considering the plan goals that would be most appropriate and effective for Waterbury, LEAP members prepared the first draft. Much of this original material was included in the final draft that will go before the town voters for their approval. Once approved, this document will serve as the blueprint for the town’s energy goals and activities for the next five years.

Weatherization Open HouseOn April 4 LEAP partnered with home and business owners Andy and Jerry McMahan of Ripanco Kennels in Duxbury for a weatherization open house event. The McMahan’s opened their home to show the efficiency improvements that they had made over the previous year. Representatives from Building Energy described what an energy audit involves and described the work that they performed to improve energy efficiency in the McMahan’s home and business. Waterbury LEAP presented information on the most frequently identified home improvements in an energy audit, their costs, and options for financing.

1st Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year! Goal Achieved in 11 Months!
At the 6th LEAP Energy Fair in April, 2012 LEAP announced the kickoff of the Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year. The goal of this ambitious initiative was to double local solar capacity in those two towns within twelve months. LEAP members were very active in encouraging local residents to adopt solar by:
• Writing periodic articles for the Waterbury Record
• Speaking and running ads on WDEV radio
• Holding the 1st LEAP Solar Fest, an event that featured live music, free pizza and ice cream, five solar installers, and drew 110 people
• Hosting a Business Solar Workshop where local business owners met solar installers and a tax expert, and heard from other owners who have already experienced the benefits of going solar
• Distributing information on our website, in our brochures, at the Farmer’s Market, Town Meeting, and other events regarding local solar providers and their services.

The ambitious goal of the 1st Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year was accomplished in only 11 months, by March, 2013.

Governor Peter Shumlin Celebrates 1st Solar Year
On March 11 Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin and Chris Reccia, Commissioner of the Public Service Department, celebrated the successful completion of the 1st Waterbury Duxbury Solar Year. A special press conference was held at the home of Reverend Peter Plagge and his wife Erin Mooney in Waterbury, one of dozens of families who had adopted solar power for their homes over the past year.

7th LEAP Energy Fair
On Saturday, April 13 from 9 AM to 2 PM the 7th LEAP Energy Fair took place at the Crossett Brook Middle School (CBMS) gym in Duxbury, VT. This event featured 72 exhibitors and attracted more than 500 attendees. It is one of the largest such events in Vermont. The fair was free and offered attendees the opportunity to tour displays and talk with dozens of experts about solar power, pellet stoves, geothermal, biomass, green building, carpooling, home energy audits, and many other topics. Dozens of people enjoyed informative breakout sessions, and the LEAP Energy Fair was attended by Governor Peter Shumlin who gave the LEAP Green Community Award to the Harwood Energy Squad for their efforts to reduce Harwood Union High School’s electric usage by 10% in one year.

2nd Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year
On April 13 at the 7th LEAP Energy Fair we announced the kickoff of the 2nd Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year. The goal of this initiative is to double total solar capacity in those two towns for the second time in two years. If we achieve this ambitious goal, we will have quadrupled local installed solar capacity in only two years. (See below to read about some of the efforts involved in this campaign.)

Vermont Energy Generation Siting Policy Commission
Waterbury LEAP met several times with the coordinator of the Vermont Energy Generation Siting Policy Commission, describing the successes and challenges of siting renewable energy in Waterbury and Duxbury. LEAP members also participated in a Vermont state hearing on the issue of renewable energy siting.

Walk & Bike to School Day
On May 1 Waterbury in Motion helped organize a Walk & Bike to School Day. More than 100 children and adults gathered at Rusty Parker Park at 7 AM for a breakfast provided by Waterbury in Motion, and then bikers and walkers proceeded in groups to Thatcher Brook Primary School and Crossett Brook Middle School. This is one of the regular events Waterbury in Motion holds to help encourage a biking and walking culture in Waterbury and Duxbury.

Hosting Meetings to Help Stimulate Statewide Solar Advances
During 2012 LEAP hosted breakfast discussions and other meetings with leaders of local and statewide businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations. The goal of these meetings was to brainstorm ideas and discuss pathways to increase the adoption of solar in Waterbury and across Vermont, and to identify and clarify possible legislative priorities and innovative approaches that could be supported and advanced.

Clean Energy Finance Summit
On June 17 the Offices of Senator Sanders and Governor Shumlin, and the Energy Action Network hosted a Clean Energy Finance Summit. The Summit was an invitational, working session conference, designed to advance specific energy finance tools toward implementation through development of strategies for action and alignment of key stakeholders. LEAP was asked to give a presentation about its local solar work and its recommendations for changes to statewide solar policies.

Sharing lessons with other Town Energy Committees
In mid-2013, Waterbury LEAP participated in a statewide discussion on renewable energy as part of an event sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders. Waterbury LEAP hosted a display, showcasing many of the 100+ solar installations in Waterbury and Duxbury. In November, Waterbury LEAP met with the Montpelier Energy Action Team to discuss lessons learned in conducting a solar year, and in supporting the solar efforts of municipalities and schools.

The following are three projects that have been initiated or completed since those initial meetings with various town leaders took place:

157 kW Crossett Brook Middle School Project Completed
In mid-2013 the Waterbury/Duxbury School Board signed a lease agreement to have a 157kW solar array built on a hillside beside the Crossett Brook Middle School. Construction of this array was completed in December 2013 and Governor Peter Shumlin attended the ribbon cutting ceremony on December 12.
Crossett Brook Middle School now has more solar capacity than any other school in Vermont! The 14.8 kW solar array on the school roof (a project which LEAP completed in 2010) and the 157 kW solar array on the hillside now generate the equivalent of roughly one-third of the school’s electrical needs.

32.4 kW Solar Project on the Waterbury Fire Station
The Waterbury Select Board signed a lease agreement for the construction of a 32.4 kW solar array on the roof of the Waterbury Fire Station. That project began operation in December 2013.

500 kW Village Solar Project Planned
In late 2013 the Waterbury Village Trustees signed a lease agreement for the construction of a 500kW solar array on roughly four acres of village-owned land on Sweet Road in Waterbury Center. Construction on this array is scheduled to begin by spring of 2014.

LEAP Receives Jim Grundy Award from Renewable Energy Vermont (REV)
On October 29 Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) held its 2013 annual conference in Burlington. During the conference REV executive director Gabrielle Stebbins awarded Duncan McDougall and Waterbury LEAP the Jim Grundy Renewable Energy Award which is given annually “for the integrity, generosity of spirit, and ingenuity in the advancement of renewables.” LEAP board members Duncan McDougall and Jamie Ervin were there to accept the award on LEAP’s behalf.

Button Up Weatherization Event
On November 21 LEAP hosted a free Button Up home weatherization workshop in Waterbury. David Giuliani of Energy Smart Vermont spoke about ways most homes lose energy, steps you can take to tighten up your house, what’s involved in an energy audit, and loans and incentives to help you get the work done. LEAP provided pizza, snacks and drinks. Most attendees stayed long after the event was over to talk with David about their particular weatherization questions. After the meeting took place some other people contacted LEAP to get further info about audits and weatherization.

Ice Center Lighting Project and Power Purchase Agreement
In 2012, LEAP received a grant to assist local non-profits with increasing their lighting efficiency. In late 2012 Waterbury LEAP supported the replacement of outdoor lighting at the Ice Center of Waterbury, VT, a non-profit organization, with more efficient lighting. Waterbury LEAP also initiated discussions with the director of the Ice Center, resulting in a signed power purchase agreement for 350kw with a local solar investor, to be executed early in 2014.

Participation in 2013 VECAN Annual Conference
Each year for the past four years, Waterbury LEAP has been asked by VECAN (Vermont Energy & Climate Action Network) to present information on its approaches and success at the annual VECAN conference, the only statewide meeting of all energy committees and other renewable energy advocates. On December 7 LEAP’s Duncan McDougall was a panelist at the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN) annual conference in Fairlee, VT. Duncan gave a presentation on the topic “Community Solar Success Stories and Strategies: The Local-Led Perspective”.

Ribbon Cutting for 157 kW Crossett Brook Middle School Solar Array
On December 12 a special ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Crossett Brook Middle School to celebrate the new array and the fact that CBMS now has more solar capacity than any school in Vermont. The speakers at the event included Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, CBMS Principal Tom Drake, Waterbury LEAP Director Jamie Ervin, Green Mountain Power CEO Mary Powell, Green Lantern Managing Partner Luke Shullenberger, and SunCommon Co-President James Moore.

Projects 2012

Weatherization Open House in Waterbury
On January 21 LEAP co-sponsored a half-day weatherization open house event that allowed local residents to tour a local home that had received an energy audit and had undertaken various weatherization upgrades that reduced air leakage by 49% and significantly reduced fuel bills as well. Dozens of visitors learned first-hand many ways they could tighten their own homes and save money. LEAP co-sponsored this event with Efficiency Vermont and Sisler Builders, the local company that completed the audit and the weatherization upgrade. The event included a video presentation, interactive displays, a Q&A session, refreshments and activities for kids, and a raffle of energy-efficient products and services that included a free home energy audit. Each attendee received a $150 coupon that could be redeemed upon completion of a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR home improvement project.

Waterbury Flood Recovery Efforts
On August 28, 2011 Waterbury suffered $10 Million in damages from flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene. Almost 250 buildings experienced measurable damage, and many became uninhabitable. Throughout the flood recovery process LEAP helped provide residents and business owners with information about weatherization, energy efficient building practices, and energy efficient appliances. FEMA guided Waterbury through a Long-Term Community Recovery process, and LEAP members are very involved in developing a vision and plan for Waterbury regarding energy, efficiency and transportation issues.

6th LEAP Energy Fair
On Saturday, April 14 from 9 AM to 2 PM the 6th LEAP Energy Fair took place at the Crossett Brook Middle School (CBMS) gym in Duxbury, VT. This year’s event attracted more than 70 exhibitors and more than 500 attendees making it one of the largest such events in Vermont. The fair was free and offered attendees the opportunity to tour displays and talk with dozens of experts about solar power, wind power, pellet stoves, geothermal, biomass, green building, carpooling, home energy audits, and many other topics. Many people enjoyed informative breakout sessions, and the LEAP Energy Fair was attended by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders who gave the LEAP Green Community Award to CBMS student Alexa Widschwenter for her work to encourage fellow students to use reusable bags instead of ziplock bags. This project helped eliminate thousands of bags from the waste stream.

Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year
At the 6th LEAP Energy Fair we announced the kickoff of the Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year. The goal of this ambitious initiative is to double the number of solar sites in those two towns between the 6th LEAP Energy Fair and the 7th LEAP Energy Fair. LEAP members have been helping to encourage our neighbors to adopt solar by writing articles for the Waterbury Record, providing information on our website regarding 9 local solar providers and their services, distributing material at the Waterbury Farmer’s Market and in local stores, and holding the 1st LEAP Solar Fest and a Business Solar Workshop (see below).

1st LEAP Solar Fest
This event was held on Tuesday, July 24 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM at Crossett Brook Middle School cafeteria as part of the Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year (see above). The event included live music by Matt Schrag, free pizza and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and exhibits by many local solar installers. More than 110 attendees gathered information about solar power, heard from some of their neighbors who had already gone solar, and saw photos of more than 50 local solar installations.

Lighting Upgrade Project at the Ice Center
With financial support from LEAP (thanks to a grant from VECAN), the Ice Center in Waterbury replaced eight exterior parking lot pole lights which will increase light output for safety and decrease energy use. They moved from a 400-watt metal halide light bulbs to a 110-watt LED light bulbs. The Ice Center is a year-round facility open until 11:00 pm most nights, especially in the winter. The parking lot lights in the past have been too dim and very high in energy usage. This change will allow the Ice Center to have longer-lasting, more energy-efficient bulbs.

4th and 5th Waterbury Bike, Walk & Breakfasts
In 2012 Waterbury in Motion (a LEAP bike/pedestrian advocacy program) hosted our 4th and 5th Waterbury Bike, Walk & Breakfast events (June 3 & October 7) for a total of almost 200 participants. Adults, children, and dogs met at Rusty Parker Park at 8:00 AM. One group headed off on an easy 5-mile, family-friendly bike ride, and another group took a leisurely 2-mile walk (including baby-strollers). At 9 :00 AM everyone returned to the Rusty Parker Park gazebo for a delicious free breakfast provided by Waterbury in Motion.

Waterbury in Motion Trail Project
Thanks to a grant from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Waterbury in Motion completed its first trail project. Waterbury in Motion volunteers, with help from Cross Vermont Trails, improved and and extended the trail that runs behind the Waterbury State Complex. The trail was graded, drainage was improved, more than 120 trees were planted, and benches and signs were added. Almost 50 volunteers worked on the project during several volunteer work days in 2011 and 2012. Many thanks to Greg Western from Cross Vermont Trails for his help on this project.

Carpooling/Carsharing
LEAP member Brian Woods served on a review committee that reviewed bids from around the country and helped VTrans select a new web-based platform for the Go Vermont carpooling site (www.connectingcommuters.org). VTrans expects to have the new platform up and running before the end of 2012. The next step will be the development of a Waterbury-centric rideshare site that would be hosted on this new platform. LEAP continues to explore how we may help encourage increased carpooling and carsharing in Waterbury and surrounding communities.

Energy Inventory
LEAP continues identifying verifiable measures to allow us to track our town’s progress across a number of criteria and to create a town-wide energy inventory. The matrix LEAP developed thanks to Jamie Ervin will be refined and then provided to town energy committees across the state.

TED Monitors
CLiF continues to work with local Crossett Brook Middle School and Harwood Union High School students to circulate TED energy monitors among local businesses and schools to allow people become more aware of their energy consumption and help them make their buildings more energy efficient.

Waterbury Municipal Solar Project
Led by members Jamie Ervin, and Alan and Lincoln Pierce, LEAP has been encouraging the town of Waterbury to consider developing on town land a solar orchard that would be large enough to generate enough electricity to meet the current needs of all the town’s municipal buildings. LEAP members have worked with solar experts and installers to get all the necessary data and information to the Waterbury Selectboard and the municipal staff so they can make an informed decision. This effort is part of the Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year.

Waterbury Community Energy Project
LEAP members Luke Shullenberger, Katherine Vose, and James Jennings have been putting together a proposal for a public/private entity that might develop a community district heating system that would use renewable energy to heat the Waterbury State Complex as well as a variety of buildings in Waterbury. District heating has the potential to lower energy bills and ensure long-term price stability. The fuel for the energy plant would come from the heating plant at the state complex and local sources. This exciting project is still under consideration, and further information is being gathered. Many local companies and organizations have already expressed interest in the possibility of participating in the project.

Harwood Whole School Challenge
Harwood Union High School is one of ten Vermont schools participating in the 2012-2013 Whole School Challenge. During this one school year Harwood students and teachers will strive to reduce their overall energy use by 10%. LEAP volunteers are assisting the Harwood community in a variety of ways with this exciting initiative. The Whole School Challenge is sponsored by Efficiency Vermont, the Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP), and the Vermont Superintendents Association’s School Energy Management Program (SEMP).

Business Solar Workshop
On October 24 local business owners will gather at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in Waterbury to lean more about the financial advantages of going solar. Solar installers, and local businesses that have already experienced the benefits of going solar will be represented. Jeff Forward of Forward Thinking Consultants will talk about what’s involved for a business to go solar. This LEAP event is part of the Waterbury/Duxbury Solar Year activities.

Projects 2011

Waterbury in Motion Working with Vermont Deputy Secretary of Transportation Sue Minter, LEAP continues to coordinate a group of dozens of local volunteers who wish to create a safe, accessible, active bike and pedestrian system in Waterbury and connecting Waterbury to neighboring towns. This group is now known as Waterbury in Motion (WIM) and is creating a master plan for this multi-year effort. In February WIM conducted an online survey of bike/pedestrian preferences and patterns of local residents and employees that received more than 350 responses, and on April 27 it held a Waterbury Bike/Ped Planning Session at more than 50 locals provided detailed input and ideas, and prioritized different options. WIM plans other local events in 2011 including another Waterbury Bike, Walk & Breakfast, and will undertake its first hands-on bike/ped project shortly.

5th LEAP Energy Fair On Saturday, April 9 from 9 AM to 1 PM the 5th LEAP Energy Fair took place at the Crossett Brook Middle School gym in Duxbury, VT. This year’s event was by far the largest and most successful ever with 65 exhibitors and more than 500 attendees, both representing a 50% increase over 2010! The fair was free and offered attendees the opportunity to tour displays and talk with dozens of experts about solar power, wind power, pellet stoves, geothermal, biomass, green building, carpooling, home energy audits, and many other topics. LEAP was delighted to have the Waterbury Farmer’s Market join the event for the first time. Many people enjoyed informative breakout sessions, and the LEAP Energy Fair was attended by many Vermont politicians including Governor Peter Shumlin and Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders was very pleased to give the LEAP Green Community Award to the Prodigy Red Team from Crossett Brook Middle School for their school lighting retrofit project (see below).

School and Ice Center Lighting Retrofit Projects In 2010 a team of students at Crossett Brook Middle School conducted a research project and proposed specific steps the school could take to replace older, less efficient lighting with more energy-efficient technology. Students from CBMS Prodigy Red Team presented their recommendations to the Waterbury-Duxbury School Board and the plan was unanimously accepted. At the same time, with support from LEAP, the Ice Center in Waterbury conducted a lighting review and came up with a plan to conduct a similar retrofit. LEAP then wrote an application to the Vermont Climate Energy Action Network (VECAN) and was awarded a grant of $3,000 to support these two initiatives. LEAP decided to match that grant with an additional $1,500. These projects will receive other forms support, and the lighting retrofits have already begun. When they are complete they will save Waterbury roughly $10,000 in energy costs annually!

Student Projects

LEAP worked with teachers at Crossett Brook Middle School and Thatcher Brook Primary School to help their students learn about renewable energy and the solar arrays that LEAP helped place on the two schools in 2010. Both schools also held Solar Days for all their students.

2nd and 3rd Bike, Walk & Breakfast

In 2011 Waterbury in Motion and LEAP hosted our 2nd and 3rd Bike, Walk & Breakfast events (June 5 & September 25) for a total of almost 200 participants. Adults, children, and dogs met at Rusty Parker Park at 8:00 AM. One group headed off on an easy 5-mile, family-friendly bike ride, and another group took a leisurely 2-mile walk (including baby-strollers). At 9 :00 AM everyone returned to the Rusty Parker Park gazebo for a delicious free breakfast provided by Waterbury in Motion.

Waterbury in Motion Trail Project

Thanks to a grant from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Waterbury in Motion began working on its first trail project. WiM volunteers, with help from Cross Vermont Trails, are improving and extending the trail that runs behind the Waterbury State Complex. The upgrade included three volunteer work days in 2011 and it will be completed by summer, 2012.

Energy Inventory

LEAP continued identifying verifiable measures to allow us to track our town’s progress across a number of criteria and to create a town-wide energy inventory. The matrix LEAP developed thanks to Jamie Ervin will be refined and then provided to town energy committees across the state.

TED Monitors

CLiF worked with local Crossett Brook Middle School students to obtain a grant to acquire some TED energy monitors, and then helped circulate the monitors among local businesses and schools to allow people become more aware of their energy consumption and help them make their buildings more energy efficient.

Projects 2010

14.8 kW Solar Array Completed on Crossett Brook Middle School: In late July, 2010 construction was completed on a 14.8 kW solar array on Crossett Brook Middle School (CBMS). The array streams data live on the web, and a video monitor in the school’s entrance shows exactly how much energy is being created at any given time. Data streamed to the web is also being used for a variety of student solar projects. Go to http://live.deckmonitoring.com/?id=crossett_brook_middle_school to view the live solar data from the CBMS array.

2.7 kW Solar Array to be Built on Thatcher Brook Elementary School: LEAP raised $18,000 to fund construction of a 2.7 kW solar array on Thatcher Brook Elementary School (TBPS). The array will stream data live on the web, and a video monitor in the school’s entrance will show exactly how much energy is being created at any given time. Data streamed to the web is also being used for a variety of student solar projects.

Town Energy Inventory: LEAP has begun gathering data needed to develop a town-wide energy inventory, and we are developing a list of verifiable measures to allow us to track our progress across a number of criteria, to conduct town contests with other Vermont communities, and to determine in 2020 whether LEAP has indeed become the greenest community In Vermont.

Initiated Effort to Develop a Waterbury Bike/Pedestrian System: LEAP has partnered with State Rep. Sue Minter to initiate and coordinate a town-wide effort to develop a safe, accessible, and successful Waterbury bike/pedestrian system in coming years. Members from more than 16 local organizations are participating in meetings and conference calls and we have formed six project teams whose members have begun making progress in various areas. Please contact LEAP if you would like to be involved!

Waterbury Selected as a VPIRG Solar Community: Waterbury was selected by VPIRG as one of only two communities in Vermont. From September to December 2010, VPIRG will canvas the area and give various public presentations in an effort to double or triple the current number of solar installations in Waterbury, Moretown, and Duxbury by the end of the year. VPIRG has negotiated discounts with experienced solar installers, bundled government incentives and arranged private financing to offer the best deal available to Vermonters who want to get their electricity from the sun. Through community organizing, VPIRG will help citizens in Solar Waterbury learn about solar power, help residents decide if solar is right for them, arrange for a free site visit, and walk consumers through the entire process. LEAP is supporting VPIRG in spreading the word about this initiative. To learn more about Solar Waterbury visit http://www.vpirgenergy.org/

Held 1st Waterbury Bike, Walk & Breakfast Day: On Sunday September 26, 2010 LEAP hosted an event for 55 local residents who met at Rusty Parker Park at 8:00 a.m. Some 35 people biked a 5-mile loop around Waterbury along River Road. Others walked a two-mile loop along the Cross Vermont Trail by the State Complex. Everyone returned to Rusty Parker Park at 9:00 a.m. for a free breakfast provided by LEAP, and for networking and socializing. This was the first of many events LEAP will host to help gather local support for the development of a safe and accessible bike/pedestrian system in town.

Began Collaborating with Local Teachers: Gave presentations to all 100+ teachers at Crossett Brook Middle School and Thatcher Brook Primary School about LEAP and the two new solar arrays. Many teachers are now involved in solar and renewable energy projects. Hundreds of children in the two schools will discuss and/or conduct projects regarding solar power and renewable energy this year. On September 24, 2010 all CBMS students were involved in a school-wide Solar Fest which highlighted many student solar projects. LEAP is hoping to plan a similar day at TBPS in October or November with the help of Vermont Energy Education Program and Rich Rivers, a local Waterbury solar installer and LEAP Board member.

4th Annual LEAP Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Rally: The event was held on Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm at the Crossett Brook Middle School gym in Duxbury, VT. The fair featured almost 50 exhibits. Some 325 attendees met energy efficiency, renewable energy, and localvore experts and were able to get their questions answered. They learned how to save energy, reduce their fuel bills, and shrink emissions. The event also helped celebrate Crossett Brook Middle School’s $50,000 ‘Solar on Schools’ grant from Senator Bernie Sanders who also attended the event. Guests also learned about energy efficiency and renewable energy projects by local students. (LEAP expects more than 400 attendees at our 5th LEAP Energy Rally scheduled for April 9, 2011.)

LEAP Website and Social Media: Our Social Media Guru, Nathan Winters, has designed and built LEAP’s beautiful new website, and he is also helping LEAP spread the word about our work through Twitter, Facebook, an E-Newsletter, and other social media efforts. If your organization needs web or social media assistance you should contact Nathan at nathan.andrew.winters@gmail.com

Upgrading Street Lights to LED: LEAP helped Waterbury submit a final application for $49,500 from EECBG (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants) to help Waterbury upgrade its street lighting to much more energy efficient LED technology. The grant was accepted and lights are being upgraded.

EECBG Energy Efficiency Grants: LEAP helped Waterbury submit a final application for $49,500 from EECBG (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants) to help Waterbury upgrade its street lighting to much more energy efficient technology.

Crossett Brook Middle School Solar Project: CBMS was awarded one of ten $50,000 Solar in School grants from the Vermont Department of Education, and received an additional $27,000 in state incentives. LEAP and CBMS have sent out a Request for Bid to solar vendors and we expect that by August we will have constructed a 14.8 kW solar array on Crossett Brook Middle School. The school will also have a video monitor in its front hall showing live data streamed from the array, and many classes will have included renewable energy in their curriculum.

Spoke at REV (Renewable Energy Vermont) Conference: Duncan McDougall (LEAP Chair) was invited to be a panelist at the 2010 REV Conference in Burlington and he spoke about the work of Waterbury LEAP and other town energy committees in Vermont. (See Duncan’s 10 Steps to Start and Maintain an Active Town Energy Committee)

1% for the Planet: Waterbury LEAP was approved as an environmental non-profit that can receive funds from corporate members of 1% for the Planet. See http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/en

Projects 2009

EECBG Energy Efficiency Grants: Assisted Waterbury in submitting two EECBG (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants) applications that would fund almost $100,000 in local energy efficiency projects.

Crossett Brook Middle School Solar Project: Submitted a $50,000 Solar in School grant application to the Vermont Department of Education to support the construction of a 14.8 kW solar array on Crossett Brook Middle School.

Renewable Energy Curriculum in Local Schools: LEAP members held several meetings with local school teachers, principals, and the School Board to help support and encourage the discussion and study of renewable energy alternatives in various classes in Thatcher Brook Primary School, Crossett Brook Middle School, and Harwood Union High School.

LED Holiday Lights: LEAP partnered with Revitalizing Waterbury to replace the old holiday lights used throughout Waterbury with much more energy efficient LED lights that last many times longer than conventional lights and use a fraction of the energy.

LEAP Becomes a Non-Profit: LEAP applied for and received from the IRS the designation as an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This designation will help LEAP when applying for future grants, and will allow it to receive tax-deductible donations to support its work.

Spoke at VECAN Conference: Keith Thompson (LEAP Treasurer) and Duncan McDougall (LEAP Chair) were panelists at the VECAN Community-Based Energy & Climate Action Conference. Keith spoke about how LEAP was started and what keeps it going. Duncan spoke about LEAP’s proposed solar power projects on local schools.

Button Up Seminar: Held a free ‘Button Up’ Home Energy Savings Workshop. 30 people attended – one of the best turnouts in Vermont in 2009 for a Button Up event.
Thatcher Brook Middle School Solar Project: Received a $6,000 grant from Green Mountain Power to help support the construction of a 2.7 kWh solar array on Thatcher Brook Primary School. LEAP is continuing to raise the remaining funds necessary to start the project.

350.org Event: Duncan McDougall (LEAP Chair) was a panelist at the 350.org event with Senator Bernie Sanders in Waterbury.

Local Presentations: Gave presentations about LEAP’s work to the Waterbury Selectboard, Waterbury Tourism Council, and the Waterbury-Duxbury School Board.

3rd Annual LEAP Rally: Hosted 3rd Annual LEAP Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Rally at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. 225 people attended. The event involved 24 exhibits, guest speakers, and a parade through town.
1st LEAP Film Festival: Hosted the 1st LEAP Film festival that screened four films at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters with subjects relating to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and emissions.

Support at Town Meeting: Received unanimous support from local residents at 2009 Waterbury Town Meeting for an appropriation of $2,500 to help support LEAP’s work.

Fundraiser with Revitalizing Waterbury: Held a joint fundraiser (‘Spring for Waterbury’) with Revitalizing Waterbury that raised approximately $5,000, half of which went to LEAP to support a Waterbury Energy Coordinator

Grant to Replace Two Municipal Furnaces: Received a $12,000 Vermont Community Climate Change grant to replace old burners in the Waterbury Town Library and the Waterbury wastewater treatment facility with much more energy efficient models.

Projects 2008

Spoke at VECAN Conference: Duncan McDougall (LEAP Chair) was a panelist at the VECAN Conference “Community-Based Approaches to Energy & Climate Change”. He spoke about organizing and running a town energy committee

Arranged Free Energy Audits for Local Businesses: Partnered with Efficiency Vermont to provide free energy audits to almost a dozen local businesses.

Button Up Seminar: Held a free Button Up Home Energy Savings Workshop. 72 people attended – one of the best turnouts in Vermont in 2008 for a Button Up event.

Energy Efficiency Contest at School: LEAP organized and coordinated an energy efficiency contest among some classes of students at Crossett Brook Middle School to encourage the students and their families to make changes that would allow them to reduce energy usage and lower fuel bills.

Helped Draft Waterbury Town Plan: After being contacted by the Waterbury Planning Commission, LEAP members provided considerable input and ideas to help draft the Energy and Transportation sections of the Waterbury Town Plan.

New Logo and Banners: Thanks to a grant from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund, LEAP hired a designer to create a logo and we produced two banners to use a public events.

Arranged Free Energy Audits for All Municipal Buildings: Partnered with Efficiency Vermont to provide free energy audits to all Waterbury municipal buildings. Town officials have since carried out many of the changes and investments recommended by the audit report.

2nd Annual LEAP Rally: Hosted 2nd Annual LEAP Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Rally at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in Waterbury. 185 people attended. The event involved 16 exhibits, guest speakers, and a parade through town.

Projects 2007

Distributed Compact Fluorescent Bulbs: At various locations and events LEAP volunteers distributed more than 2,100 compact fluorescent bulbs to local residents at 99 cents each (the cost at which LEAP purchased the bulbs through an arrangement with Efficiency Vermont and local retailers). Over time the bulbs will save our community almost $100,000 in energy costs!

Column in Local Paper: Started a periodic column (“Get Energized”) in the Waterbury Record

Energy Efficiency Tips: Distributed many hundreds of cards with energy efficiency tips at Waterbury Independence Day parade and farmer’s market. The cards offered ideas for ways to reduce energy usage and save on energy bills.

Organizational Meetings: Held meetings to form the LEAP organization, determine LEAP’s mission, and select upcoming projects.

1st Annual LEAP Rally: Hosted 1st Annual LEAP Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Rally at the Waterbury Senior Center. The event, help in conjunction with the national Step-It-Up Day, was standing-room-only and drew 125+ people. The rally involved 10 exhibits, guest speakers, and a colorful parade through town.