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BURLINGTON — Mayor Miro Weinberger announced Tuesday that the city would be launching a “green stimulus package” to encourage environmentally friendly behavior when the economy reopens after the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re not going to stop working on the climate emergency even while we’re battling Covid-19,” Weinberger said during his regular afternoon update. “In fact, whenever possible, we’re going to pursue strategies that advance our progress in both of these crises.”
The Burlington Electric Department is leading the initiative. Darren Springer, BED’s general manager, said the programs would be paid for using unspent energy efficiency funds for this year, and said the overall amount will be in the “several hundred thousand” of dollars.
BED will be seeking regulatory approval for a slew of temporary or limited-time programs set to start during the economic recovery.
As part of the program, the department will increase funding for weatherization programs for low- and middle-income rental housing, boost cold-climate heat pump incentives and expand electric vehicle incentives.
The program also includes a new program that will pay cash to homeowners and renters to replace older appliances with newer energy efficient refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers.
BED will also offer zero-interest loans for small businesses and nonprofits for energy efficiency projects and increase incentives for replacing heating and cooling systems.
Springer said that the program would help all of Burlington once the public health situation in the city allows the economy to reopen.
“The green stimulus package … could provide a boost and particularly help our low- and moderate-income customers, help renters and homeowners, help small businesses and nonprofits be able to save energy, save money and help reduce carbon emissions,” he said.
Tuesday’s press briefing also featured an update from the Burlington Police Department after the city announced Friday it could ticket those violating Gov. Phil Scott’s “stay home” order.
The department did not ticket anyone for violating the stay home order over the weekend, Deputy Police Chief Jon Murad said.
“The cooperation we’ve been seeing from our neighbors is stellar, it’s terrific,” Murad said. “Everyone is really understanding that we need to pull together, we need to pull together in order to make this work.”
