Speak Up for Vermont's Working Landscape

Several months ago, the Vermont Council on Rural Development brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including VNRC, to develop a comprehensive strategy to support local agriculture and forestry, farm and forest entrepreneurs, and the conservation of Vermont’s working landscape far into the future.
The result is the Working Lands Enterprise Investment bill (click here for the bill as introduced) now under consideration in the Legislature.

Help East Montpelier Plan Energy Goals Over Next 20+ Years

The Energy Committee and the Planning Commission would like your help in addressing these and other questions about our energy future on Saturday, January 21. We’ll meet 1:00 - 4:30 pm in the East Montpelier Elementary School gym for hopeful brainstorming and celebratory planning. The results will help feed into the revised town plan and provide guidance for the town over the next decades.

Hear About Alternatives to the "Circ"

Governor Shumlin delivered welcome news in May when he announced that the full build-out of the Chittenden County Circumferential Highway, or "Circ," would not occur. The original project was a conventional, expensive bypass that promoted sprawl and driving – with minimal long-term benefits for the congestion problem.
This Wednesday evening, December 14, you can learn more about the alternatives to the Circ at a meeting in Colchester.

Biomass: A Critical Time for You to Weigh In

As Vermont looks increasingly at alternative energy supplies for both electricity generation and heating use, the use of wood biomass from our forests has been receiving increasing attention. The Biomass Energy Development Working (BioE) Group – created by the legislature several years ago to look at ways to promote the efficient and sustainable development of woody biomass energy while safeguarding the health of our forests – has just released its draft report for public comment. Now is an important time for Vermonters to weigh in.

Thanks on ATVs; Energy Conference on Tap

First, thanks are in order to the Shumlin Administration for restoring responsible public land management policy in Vermont by reversing a Douglas-administration rule that had opened state lands to ATV use. We need your help to be sure the Administration hears that Vermonters appreciate this leadership!

Weigh In on Lake Champlain Clean Up

Vermont state officials need to hear your opinion as to why reducing nutrient pollution is important, how we should go about doing so and what the challenges will be. Next week is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to provide input on the cleanup plan, techincally known as the Total Maxiumum Daily Load (TMDL). See the times and locations below for the meeting that is best for you.

Register for the Environmental Action Conference

Register now to join VNRC, our partner organizations, and over 250 activists ready to learn and take strategic action on Vermont’s most pressing environmental issues. The full-day conference is chock-full of skill and knowledge-based workshops, networking opportunities and inspiring speakers including Gov. Shumlin who will present awards for citizen leadership, too!

In Permitting, Help Us Improve Citizen Access

The state is currently reviewing the rules that govern how and when citizens get a seat at the table in environmental permitting proceedings. If you care about good government like we do, we’d like your help.

Tell Gov Shumlin to Let Vermont's Rivers Heal

In the days after Irene struck Vermont, the state responded to the emergency by allowing contractors with excavators into rivers in order to conduct critical repairs to roads other infrastructure. Now, four weeks after Irene, many municipalities have taken advantage of the situation, and excavators remain in many of our rivers, chewing away at river banks and river bottoms in a misguided effort to clean out the rivers.

Weigh In on the Comprehensive Energy Plan

Last week, the Vermont Department of Public Service released the draft Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP) for the state and is now looking for input on it from Vermonters like you.

If you care about Vermont’s energy future, please, weigh in on this plan!