Dandelion Energy and Vermont Gas Break New Ground with First-in-Nation Geothermal Partnership

Nation's top geothermal provider partners with gas utility to make renewable thermal energy an affordable, mainstream solution for developers.

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Dandelion Energy and Vermont Gas (VGS) today announced a collaboration to bring high-efficiency, renewable geothermal heating and cooling to the Riggs Meadow affordable housing development in Hinesburg, VT. The model is the first of its kind in the nation for a natural gas utility, introducing an innovative approach to clean energy deployment where gas utility investment unlocks geothermal systems for residential customers.

"This partnership with utilities like VGS helps us expand geothermal access and continues to help us make this a standard, mainstream solution for developers and builders," said Dan Yates, CEO of Dandelion Energy. "Utility-owned ground loops are a practical, immediate solution to decarbonize housing. We are proud to support and validate this model that aligns utility infrastructure investment with equitable, clean energy access."

"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 VGS. "We are thrilled to partner with Dandelion Energy to demonstrate ways geothermal can be scaled to meet community needs. As Vermont looks to rapidly build housing to meet demand, our teams are eager to incorporate geothermal into our product portfolio to give more choices to homebuilders and customers."

Riggs Meadow, located in Hinesburg, VT, will feature 44 townhomes and apartments designed for low- and moderate-income renters and owners. Affordable housing developers Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth worked with VGS to explore geothermal heating and cooling options, and a partnership with Dandelion Energy was formed. VGS is investing in the upfront cost of installing geothermal ground loops, significantly reducing the barrier to deploying this efficient technology for the developer and for future residents. Dandelion will serve as the end-to-end geothermal partner, including system design and drilling.

Updating the Community-Scale Geothermal Business Model

As policymakers, developers, and utilities seek cost-effective heating and cooling options, investment in individual geothermal ground loops offers a pathway for gas utilities to innovate and expand their portfolio as thermal services providers. This partnership shows what that looks like in practice, helping to deliver Vermont's first community-scale geothermal project.

Dandelion's geothermal heating and cooling system captures stable, year-round underground temperatures to provide highly efficient, all-electric comfort, from a renewable source. This new model overcomes historic cost barriers, bringing all the benefits of geothermal to low- and moderate-income Vermont residents.

Closing the Clean Energy Gap

This collaboration continues Dandelion's track record of making geothermal heating accessible to all and serves as a national blueprint. With utility investment in individual ground loops, affordable housing developers can bring the benefits of geothermal to their projects, including:

• Clean Heating and Cooling: Geothermal will enable residents to access clean, all-electric heating and cooling that is well-suited for all seasons, even the coldest winter days in Vermont.
• Long-Term Price Stability: Geothermal provides price-stable energy, a boon for buyers and a value-add for builders, and is especially critical for residents in affordable housing, where protecting occupants from volatile energy costs is a top priority.
• Efficient and Optimized: Geothermal is among the most efficient electrified heating options, with low, steady demand that supports a stable grid.

The drilling of geothermal boreholes will commence early next year, with residents occupying the homes in late 2027.

About Dandelion Energy 
Dandelion Energy is a leading provider of residential geothermal heating and cooling solutions with a mission to make geothermal energy accessible and affordable for all homeowners. Since 2017, Dandelion has installed thousands of residential geothermal heat pumps and over 1 million linear feet of ground loops throughout the United States. The nation's leading homebuilders partner with Dandelion to bring the benefits of geothermal to their home buyers. For more information, please visit www.dandelionenergy.com.

About Vermont Gas 
Vermont Gas Services (VGS) is northwest Vermont's integrated energy services company. VGS serves safe, affordable, and reliable thermal energy to more than 56,000 families and businesses in Franklin, Chittenden, and Addison counties. In addition to natural gas service, customers can access award-winning energy efficiency programs, equipment service and maintenance, and a growing portfolio of electric heating and cooling options. Learn more at www.vgsvt.com.

Press Inquiries:

Kathy Berardi
JMG Public Relations
[email protected]
678-644-4122

Dylan Giambatista
Vermont Gas (VGS)
[email protected]
802-391-6475

SOURCE Dandelion Energy