The Vineyard Energy Project (VEP) is a non-profit corporation, founded in 2003, on the island of Martha's Vineyard.  The VEP was established to provide education and advocacy for renewable energy and energy efficiency on the island. Our mission is to:

• Provide energy education assistance to the Martha's Vineyard school system.
• Encourage communication, dialogue and cooperation between all energy-focused organizations on the island.  We believe that any long term solution to our energy crisis must be cooperative and island-wide.
• Support and advocate for energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts on the island.
• Develop a large scale community owned renewable energy cooperative.

The VEP has a long track record of promoting energy solutions.  Previously, we have:

• Installed 14 solar demonstration sites across the island, including the Steamship Authority Terminal in Vineyard Haven and the vistor's buildings at the Aquinnah Cliffs;
• Sponsored the development of a 10 Year Energy Action Plan in 2004 to provide better understanding of the Vineyard's energy options (This document provided the foundation for the current Island Energy Plan.);
• Held lectures and community gatherings that provided information about the energy challenge--Climate Change, Peak Oil, and available renewable energy technologies;
• Provided workshops for the construction community on energy related topics including a series on increasingly aggressive approaches to energy efficient construction;
• Drafted an Energy Efficiency overlay to be considered for use to improve the energy performance of residential construction;
• Completed building energy analysis to compare the costs of energy efficient construction costs vs. long-term operating costs;
• Offered training to tradesmen-electricians, plumbers and builders- on installing and maintaining renewable energy systems;
• Taught an energy curriculum to science classes in all of the island's six grade schools and the regional high school;
• Provided energy information through our website, personal consultations and site visits and newspaper articles;
• Made energy presentations to all the island's Selectmen, County Commissioners and the Martha's Vineyard Commission, our regional Planning entity;
• Offered ongoing energy information and policy assistance to the MV Commission;
• Provided energy information to other island organizations including many of the island's land conservation groups, the Farm Institute, the Ice Arena and local businesses;
• Lead a collaborative effort in 2007 and 2008 with Island Grown Initiative and the Vineyard Conservation Society, titled "Living Local", to showcase what options the island currently offers for local energy and food production solutions.

Vineyard Energy Project won the 2005 National Best Progress Award from the US Department of Energy's Million Solar Roofs Program.