Session Format

5:30 Doors open (1:30 Montpelier)

5:45 Welcome and Presentation (1:45 Monpelier)
The evening will begin with a brief presentation on Vermont’s electric transmission planning process and the 2009 Vermont Long-Range Transmission Plan — Public Review Draft, which identifies where anticipated electricity load growth or other factors may require transmission upgrades, new generation or increased energy efficiency to maintain reliability in Vermont’s electrical transmission system.

6:00 Informational Kiosks (2:00 Montpelier)
The kiosk format is designed to offer you an opportunity for one-on-one questions and discussion. The kiosk displays provide in-depth information about transmission planning and the preliminary results of the reliability analysis. Knowledgeable staff will be assigned to each kiosk for information and dialogue. Participants are encouraged to submit in writing any comments they want included in the public record with a response in the final report. Comment cards and computer terminals are available for written comments.

 6:45 Roundtable Discussions (2:15 Montpelier)
You are invited to participate in roundtable discussions to share information you have about activities and plans in your community or in Vermont that you think may influence electric demand and/or peak electrical loads as this information is important to the analysis.  It is also an opportunity to share your concerns about the Plan, the potential solutions to identified deficiencies, and the public process.  Trained facilitators will use prepared questions to guide the discussions.  The discussion will be recorded for inclusion in the documentation of the public input. 

7:25 Closing (3:25 Montpelier)
The evening will close with a brief description of actions that will be taken to address all comments received and keep you informed about additional opportunities for public participation in the transmission planning process.

8:00 Kiosks Close (4:00 Montpelier)

Information Kiosks

Download session information materials

VT Electric Transmission Basics
What are the various components of Vermont’s electric power system? How does power get from where it is generated to our homes and businesses? What is VELCO?

Transmission and the Environment
When a transmission project is needed, what steps are taken to minimize its impact on people and the environment?

Alternative Solutions: Non-Transmission Alternatives (NTA)
What is a “non-transmission alternative”? What tools do planners use to determine whether or not an alternative can postpone a transmission solution? What roles do energy efficiency and local generation play?  

The Transmission Planning Process
What process is used for transmission reliability planning in Vermont? What are the regional and federal regulations, state requirements, opportunities for public engagement and steps in the planning and permitting process?

Reliability Issues and Solutions
What reliability issues were identified in the 2009 analysis?  What are the proposed transmission solutions and the potential for utilizing non-transmission alternatives? What is the method for forecasting load?

Energy Hot Topics
What other related energy policy and planning issues are Vermonters talking about, such as Smart Grid, economic transmission and Vermont’s Energy Future discussions?