Hinesburg, VT – Vermont Gas (VGS), the Champlain Housing Trust (CHT), and Evernorth are partnering to bring high efficiency, renewable geothermal energy to the occupants of a new permanently affordable housing development slated for construction in Hinesburg.
Riggs Meadows is a forthcoming residential development in downtown Hinesburg that includes 44 townhomes and apartments for low- and moderate-income renters and owners. Geothermal systems will be installed to heat and cool four multi-family buildings constituting 36 of the residences on site. Riggs Meadow is the first phase of a planned development on 46 acres donated to CHT by Jan Blomstrann which will include another 30-plus homes, a childcare center, and conserved land with public access to trails.
The project marks a milestone for Vermont Gas and co-developers CHT and Evernorth, who have partnered to explore which type of renewable heating and cooling is best suited to provide reliable and affordable energy year-round.
“Geothermal is one of the best solutions we have to make cost-effective, renewable heating and cooling options accessible to more Vermonters,” said Neale Lunderville, President & CEO of Vermont Gas. “VGS is excited to leverage our six decades of experience to support new, innovative services that support community needs. Geothermal is a strong fit for Vermont, and once installed, these systems’ low operating costs make them an attractive option for renters, homeowners, and businesses.”
Geothermal systems are the most efficient option available to Vermonters to heat and cool buildings. They operate by connecting to an underground loop. Thermal energy captured by the loop is converted to a comfortable indoor temperature using in-home ground source heat pumps (GSHP). Contrary to the aboveground temperature swings Vermont experiences during different seasons, temperatures below grade remain stable year-round, making geothermal a good match for Vermont buildings. At Riggs Meadows, the apartments will utilize dedicated single-loop configurations for each building. The geothermal systems will allow residents to access clean, all-electric, heating and cooling.
“With the use of geothermal for heating and cooling our buildings, this partnership with CHT, Vermont Gas and Evernorth addresses the climate crisis and the housing crisis in a way that achieves equitable results for our residents,” said Kathy Beyer, Senior Vice President – Real Estate Development at Evernorth.
Evernorth and CHT have collaborated on dozens of developments over the years, and this is the latest in combining both affordable apartments with homeownership opportunity. The homeownership townhouses will be built by Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity and remain affordable forever through CHT’s shared equity program. The new neighborhood will add sorely needed affordable options to Chittenden County’s housing stock, and through the partnership with Vermont Gas will provide additional financial stability for residents’ monthly budgets.
The Riggs Meadow geothermal project comes at a time when an increasing number of U.S. gas utilities are exploring ways to provide customers with decarbonized heating and cooling through community-scale geothermal systems. Vermont Gas has played a leading role in this space and over several years has worked with national utility peers to launch a geothermal collaborative to explore their viability. Vermont Gas has also partnered with national and local geothermal experts to apply for, and obtain, grant funding to explore the use of these thermal solutions in Vermont communities. Riggs Meadow is proceeding following a multi-year collaboration between Vermont Gas, CHT, Evernorth, GTI Energy, Frontier Energy, LN Consulting, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Construction is anticipated to commence in 2026 with residents occupying the homes in 2027. Once in operation, the partners will monitor the systems’ performance and user satisfaction. The organizations are enthusiastic about the role geothermal systems will play in supporting Vermont’s affordable housing goals.