Opinion Dynamics is pleased to announce that we have been selected by the Vermont Public Utility Commission to support the development of the Vermont Clean Heat Standard. As the technical consultant to the Commission, Opinion Dynamics will be responsible for developing clean heat measure characterizations and aiding the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and the Vermont Public Utility Commission in designing and implementing the standard.

The Affordable Heat Act, passed in 2023, aims to reduce Vermont’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from heating fuel while simultaneously providing all Vermonters equitable access to clean heating technologies and the benefits of clean heat measures. Developing a heating fuel performance standard is a keystone of this act. Opinion Dynamics will be contributing expertise garnered from more than a decade of partnering with clients in the development of technical resource manuals (TRMs) across the US to support the initiative. 

“It is our privilege to play a part in developing one of the nation’s first operational Clean Heat Standards,” said Erin Kempster, Director of Decarbonization at Opinion Dynamics. "We applaud the efforts of the Vermont stakeholders who brought the state to this point and recognize that this Standard represents an example of what promises to be many similar efforts across the nation. With eight US Climate Alliance members pledging to explore such development in September 2023, we look forward to future collaboration.”

An industry leader in electrification and decarbonization analysis, Opinion Dynamics has helped clients across the country develop zero-carbon solutions that benefit customers, reduce GHG emissions, and provide beneficial grid impacts. This opportunity is a testament to our exceptional level of project management and industry-leading experience developing fuel-agnostic TRMs, working closely with, and on behalf of, our clients in collaboration with key stakeholders, including regulatory advisory groups and technical expertise. We have assembled an impressive team of diverse and highly qualified research and evaluation professionals and are excited to bring this diverse skillset and team to this unprecedented effort.