By Brett Yates
The Vermont Dept. of Buildings and General Services will deliver $157,899 to Pittsfield to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency at the town office.
Projects may include a heat pump, programmable thermostats, an energy recovery ventilator, a solar array, a tankless water heater, electric vehicle chargers, LED lighting, window replacements, and other air sealing and moisture mitigation measures. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the grant does not require any local cost-sharing.
Town officials had applied for $240,000 from the state in September. Although they may have to pare down their wish list, Selectman A.J. Ruben nevertheless called the reduced award “great news” at a meeting on Nov. 21.
Pittsfield must spend the money by the end of 2026. In the form of “implementation grants,” the Municipal Energy Resilience Program will send nearly $36 million in total to 126 towns across the state.