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Addison County announces MERP awards to 10 towns, deadlines for signed agreements
Summary
Regional staff announced Municipal Energy Retrofit Program (MERP) awards to ten towns in Addison County with grant amounts by town; towns must sign grant agreements by Dec. 16 for BGS to obligate funds.
Adam (staff) reported that the Buildings and General Services MERP awards allocated energy retrofits to ten Addison County municipalities, with amounts announced at the Nov. 13 meeting and applications required to be signed by municipal legislative bodies by Dec. 16 for funds to be obligated.
Examples Adam read to the commission included Orwell (~$420,000 for firehouse, clerk’s office, town garage and sewer plant), Ripton (~$414,000 for fire station and community house), Whiting (~$484,000 for town office and town hall), Vergennes (~$361,000 for the Bixby Library), and Bristol (~$326,000 for Holly Hall). Adam said amounts were rounded to the nearest thousand and noted some awards appeared smaller than requested; staff will work with BGS to clarify scope and assist towns with signing agreements. He said the MERP grants require no local match and the regional office can help towns with implementation steps.
Adam also flagged a municipal bond-bank low-interest loan program ($36 million statewide) for energy retrofits as an option for towns that did not receive grants. Commissioners asked about staff capacity to assist towns before the Dec. 16 deadline; Adam said staff will provide help as available and engage the new energy planner when onboard.
Commissioners were advised to have their selectboards or legislative bodies sign grant agreements and return them promptly so Buildings and General Services can obligate funds.
