I’d like to provide a brief clarification in response to Mr. Persampieri’s opinion from March 6 (about Burlington’s district heat plan).
Energy Futures Group has helped the state with several analyses of pathways for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our reports include the Vermont Pathways Analysis Report 2.0, Feb. 11, 2022, and a follow-up report on Marginal Abatement Cost Curves in September 2022.
The Pathways 2.0 Report and the Marginal Abatement Cost Report do not conclude that district heat is expected to increase greenhouse gas emissions.
District heat is identified in the Pathways report as one of the measures that can contribute to reduced emissions. In two appendix tables of the Marginal Abatement Cost Report, there are values indicating district heat could lead to increased emissions, but this was an anomaly of the marginal abatement analysis methodology and calculations and does not represent the team’s overall analysis nor accurately present the anticipated impact of potential district heating in Burlington or elsewhere in the state.
We will edit the tables in Appendices B and C, and regret any confusion they may have caused. We appreciate your posting this response.
David G. Hill
Managing Consultant
Energy Futures Group Inc.
Hinesburg
