Vermont Peak Oil Network Newsletter

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November Monthly News and Views -  updated 10/31/06.
This page is updated monthly.  Please send submissions by the third week in each month.  Next update scheduled for Nov. 30th.               


Thank you to this month's contributors:   Nils Behn, Moshe Braner, Carl Carlson, Charlotte Sustainable Living Network, Clean Cities Newsletter, Abe Collins, Hilton Dier, Carl Etnier, Duane Fowler, Drew Hudson, Amy Kirschner, Jasmine Lamb, Bill McKibben, Laura Phillips, Wendy and Bill Phippen, Henry Swayze, Cara Taussig, Renewable Energy Vermont, Robert Riversong, Sustainable Energy Resource Group, and Vermont Commons.                                              
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Download the Oil Depletion Protocol Here:  

                                                
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Special Events
Vermont Aerial Art Action to Highlight Global Warming
First-ever North American Secession Conference  
Vermonters Building Solutions: People Creating Healthy Communities
Vermont Master Gardeners' Course
October's Event Notes
    Amory Lovins at Vermont Law School
    Renewable Energy Vermont Conference
    Boston ASPO Live Blog!
    Community Solution Conference Report

Under the Golden Dome:
Who Signed the VPIRG Clean Energy Pledge (and Who Didn't)?
Vermont invites Citizens to discuss Energy Future
Courting the Legislators
Chair of VT's Committee on Natural Resources and Energy Welcomes your Input
Sound Off on the Issues!
Tracking Legislation in Vermont
Tracking National Legislation

 Quote of the Month:  
All these horrors in our name...

Editorial:
Peak Oil: Got Planning?

Guest Editorial:
Bill McKibben: Join us on November 4th!

Articles:
Culture
Where Are We and Where Do We Go From Here?
Burlington Currency Project Loans Available
Volunteer Opportunities with the Vermont Earth Institute
Sustainable Living Networks in Vermont
Vermont Commons "Autumn of Empire" Fall Edition
Last Dance (poem)
Front Porch Forum
Energy
East Middlebury Home Retrofitted with Geothermal; now posting Realtime Data on Performance
Energy and Climate News in Vermont Media
~The Omniscient One’s 100% Organic Biofuel Recipe~
Mediated Modeling - Vermont's Participatory Energy Planning Process
Weatherization Tips from the Sustainable Energy Resource Group
Low Income Weatherization Qualification Levels
Vermont Solar and Small Wind Incentive Program Funding Update
Energy Efficient Bulbs
Food
Localvore Challenges Raise Awareness, Questions
More info on Local Food Sources
Cimarron Farms Launches "Carbon Farmers of America" program
Music to Eat Local By!
Transportation
VPIRG Action:  Protect Vermont's Rights to Regulate Tailpipe Emissions!
Clean Cities Newsletter Transportation Updates
Post-Peak Transport (humor, sort of!)

As the Crow Flies:  Reports from Around the State
ACoRN
Bennington Sustainability Outpost
Cabot Peak Oil Network
First Branch Sustainability Project (Tunbridge)
Greater East Montpelier Peak Oil Group
Mad River Sustainability Group
Plan C - Chittenden County
Post Oil Solutions
Route 12 Loop Group
Sustainable Energy Resource Group

Gold Stars to...
Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network

Action!
VECAN Activist Toolkit
Support the Oil Depletion Protocol
Idle-Free Vermont Campaign
Idle-Not Flyers for Idling Cars!
Organize a Peak Oil Book Display
Write a Letter to the Editor of Your Local Paper!
Write a Letter to a Representative

Plan Ahead
NOFA-VT Winter Conference

Resources
Click here to get there!
Clean Cities Newsletter
Climate News Digest
What's a Citizen to DO? Newsletter
Welcome to Peak Oil CD
Connect! - On-line Peak Oil Discussion Group for Vermonters.
VPON Archives (February, 2006 - present)
VT Resources - Sustainability, Food, Farm & Garden, Energy, Local Economy, Community Building, and Transportation. 
National Links/Educational Resources - charts, DVDs, posters, and more.

Fair Use Notice
Information about copyrighted material appearing on this site
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 Special Events
Vote to Stop Global Warming!
November 4, 2006 - Aerial Art Action
The Sunday Night Group at Middlebury College is coordinating large political demonstrations on November 4th in many Vermont locations to remind voters to get out and cast ballots for the candidates they think are most likely to actually be able to slow global warming (see Bill McKibben's letter, this issue). The single largest action will be in Burlington where participants will meet the media and politicians.  Hundreds of Chittenden County residents will gather to create aerial art – an image to embody our “vote to stop global warming” message that will be photographed from the air. To register visit www.saveyourvermont.org.
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First-ever North American Secession Conference to be held
                    in Burlington, Vermont on Saturday, November 4.
                    Read more at http://www.vermontrepublic.org
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Vermonters Building Solutions: People Creating Healthy Communities
Saturday, November 11th - Vermont Technical College, Randolph; 8:30 - 5:30
Join hundreds of citizens for a day of inspiration, skills building and networking as we learn how to create healthy communities by strengthening the capacity of concerned citizens working on food, energy, toxics and land use issues. Workshops will include: Avoiding Toxic Products, Assessing Your Community's Health, Applying the Precautionary Principle, Building an Effective Citizens Group, Cultivating Vermont's Homegrown Economy, Creating a Statewide Clean Energy Future, Power to the people: energy action at the town and local level, Meeting Facilitation, Organizing a Successful Media Event, Protecting Vermont's Drinking Water and many more. Click here for a list of workshops, agenda, or information on our keynote speaker:  http://www.toxicsaction.org/BSCpage2.htm
Conference Registration:  http://www.toxicsaction.org/2006buildingsolutionsreg.htm
Hosted by: New England Grassroots Environment Fund, Rural Vermont, Toxics Action Center, Vermont Natural Resources Council, VPIRG and Vermont Technical College
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Vermont Master Gardener Basic Course
Registration for 2007 Vermont Master Gardener Basic Course is now underway. This University of Vermont Extension non-credit course is offered at locations throughout Vermont only once each year and fills quickly. The course will be offered Tuesday evenings, February 6 to May 8, 2007, from 6:15 to 9:15 pm at Vermont Interactive Television sites in Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Johnson, Lyndon, Middlebury, Montpelier, Newport, Randolph Center, Rutland, Springfield, St. Albans, Waterbury, White River Jct. and Williston. Tuition is $265 plus an additional $60 for the training handbook (required) and all class materials. For registration or information visit: www.uvm.edu/mastergardener.  Email master.gardener@uvm.edu or call 802-656-9562.
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See the VPON Calendar page for more events in October and beyond.


October's Event Notes
Amory Lovins speaks at Vermont Law School (10-13-06)
submitted by Henry Swayze

Much of Amory’s lecture was based on this book which can be read on line for free: http://www.oilendgame.com/ReadTheBook.html  A DVD of today’s seminar will be available in a couple of months.   

Change is reachable and durable when the whole system in question is evaluated and acted upon.  This is true of car design,look at what you are trying to achieve as in good efficient transportation and then look at all components of the solution; not just the engine, the aerodynamics, the range, the utility and performance - but also think “if we spend more on the body and rolling friction reduction we can put a smaller power source in and a smaller fuel tank making more space and saving money without sacrificing performance and utility." The Rocky Mountain Institute's Concept car is three times lighter and more slippery than a convention car, but will stand much higher impact speeds with out damage.  This allows them to use a more expensive but simpler fuel cell and still produce a car with a lower per mile cost from purchase to grave. This same whole system thinking should be employed when solving societal problems such as shutting down pollution.  It should be looked at as the costs avoided, the jobs created, the increase in quality of life etc., not just as a pollution control that will cost this many dollars and drive cost of production up.
 
If we invested $12 per barrel in energy eficiency we could cut the use of oil in half.
For $18 per barrel we could replace oil with a sustainable supply of cellulosetic ethanol.

WE COULD BE THE SAUDI ARABIA OF NEGABARRELS!

There is no significant military threat to the USA that can be defended against at our borders.  The only solution for being free of attack is to bring the rest of the world up out of poverty: health, education, opportunity and basic comforts.

Keeping a first priority on not polluting or damaging our environment will lead to a quality life in the future and direct societies energies in a productive and self balancing direction.

Interesting site.  Hans Rosling’s animated charts that explore the worlds population and related issues http://www.gapminder.org/


Renewable Energy Vermont Conference (10-19-06)
submitted by Henry Swayze

In order to be acceptable a solution must pass these three tests:
Does it make sense economically?
Does it add security to you, your region and/or our world?
Is it environmentally correct (nonpolluting and species nondestructive)?
(Michael Dworkin’s testing guidelines.)

Gaye Simington (Speaker of the house): “What will you tell your great grandchildren about the lack of availability of plastic for replacement heart valves due to having use up the oil in order to have lettuce on the table in 2006?”

Chuck Kutscher (keynote speaker): “Solve peak oil and you solve climate change.  Solve climate change and you will solve peak oil.”
    To limit sealevel rise to a not insignificant 1 meter and species extinctions to 20% this century we must:
    Limit additional warming to 1 degree C (.5 degree C will happen as a result of gasses we have already emitted);
    So must stabilize CO2 @ 475 parts per million;
    Cut methane by half, keep CO2 emissions roughly constant through 2050 and then reduce.
(ed note: for "solve peak oil and you solve climate change" to really pan out, you've got to rule out some of the current options being considered, such as increased use of coal. However, I can't find any argument with that second part of the equation!)

Over the last 650 million years our CO2 has ranged between 180 and 300 parts per million.  We are now at 475 parts per million. CO2 has increased 23% during our adult life spans. All this can be leveled off and reversed through advancing on many fronts with the two most important ones being efficiency and renewables.

Workshop on Wind:
Wind can be the cheapest way to generate electricity.
Vermont has good wind resources.  The ridges with suitable wind strung together would encircle the state twice.  14 miles of that ridgeline would generate 20% of Vermont’s electricity.  Areas of Europe generate 50 and 60% of their electricity with wind and make it work with the grid. Bird kills and bat kills are getting a lot of play. Two and three year studies are being required for each wind site.  They are finding 6 bird kills per year and 30-40 bat kills per year per modern turbine. There is no research to indicate whether this is even an issue for bird populations and no studies as to species killed or driven to extinction from mountain top removal for coal to supply the national grid. The decision to include wind in a community must be made by the community with good information and a comfort level built up over time with the project operators.  Three towns in Clinton, NY working with Noble Environmental Power developed a wind project that will bring $350 million to the farming communities.  I bet a lot of other local enterprises will be generated with that money. Several politicians spoke of campaigning door to door and found that only one or two people per hundred contacted were adverse to seeing wind in their back yards. Wind in Vermont has all but been shut down by the regulatory process in deference to the governor.
We must be vocal and support wind if it is ever going to happen.

Bio fuels:
Cow power is coming on strong but is not currently economical without heavy subsidies.
European (Bavaria +) farms are way ahead of us in digester design and installation.
Canola for oil is yielding 837# per acre and is being tested for the economics of on-farm use with the hopes of being used commercially as well.
Algae production of biofuels is 13 times more productive than canola oil, and there is a group in Montpelier testing it.
Cellulosic methane can produce electricity for about 10 cents a KW. You need a good use for the surplus heat.  New technologies are being developed.
http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html will take you to many interesting resources.


Live Blogging from ASPO Conference: A Midnight Ride for Peak Oil (Oct. 26 - 29)
Submitted by Hilton Dier
Hilton was kind enough to blog live from ASPO's Boston conference: A Midnight Ride for Peak Oil.  Covering events through the weekend, Hilton reported on several presentations, including non-OPEC oil depletion, natural gas reserves ("Using natural gas to exploit oil sands is like turning gold into lead" - David Hughes, Geological Survey Cananda), Matt Simmons and Stuary Staniford, tar sands, wind, biofuels, LNG, "it's the economy, stupid!", innovations (or lack thereof) in the transportation industry, and much more. Nice to have a Vermonter blogging live from the event! You can read more at: http://www.minor-heresies.com/


Proposing Plan C: Report on the Third U.S. Conference on Peak Oil and Community Solutions (Sept. 22 - 24)
by Megan Quinn
Plan C:  Curtailment, Cooperation, and Community. More than 300 activists, educators and others from 33 states attended the three-day conference at Antioch College to hear from nationally-known experts on ways to meet food, housing, transportation and other needs in an energy-starved world through lifestyle changes – not promised technologies.  At the conference, participants learned energy-saving tips, other practical strategies and new perspectives and visions of a post-Peak Oil world. Read Megan's report at Community Solution Website:  http://www.communitysolution.org/06pconf1.html
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If you attend a peak oil, energy-related or sustainability event, and would like to share your report with the VPON greater community, please send us a plain text document (no embedded links, please!), and we'll put your notes up on the Monthly News and Views page. Great way to keep others who weren't able to attend informed.


Under the Golden Dome
It's not just your future; it's your grandchildren's. Prosperity is more than jobs today; it's a sustainable future for tomorrow.
Vote to protect what matters.
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More than 100 Candidates Sign VPIRG Clean Energy Pledge
Montpelier, VT Sept. 10 —More than 100 candidates for federal, state and local offices in Vermont have signed onto VPIRG's plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil and emphasize renewable sources of electricity. We asked all 329 political candidates across the state to sign our pledge and 113 have so far, while 27 additional candidates provided position papers or other documents, many of which support similar goals.

"With so many Vermonters speaking out and demanding action from our elected officials, it's no wonder most candidates say they support renewable energy," said VPIRG Energy Advocate James Moore. "But Vermonters want more than just talk about this issue, they want leadership. The 138 candidates that have responded so far have taken that next step by supporting concrete policy goals that will move Vermont towards a clean energy future."

Click here to see who signed, who didn't and why http://www.vpirg.com/elections/EnergyPledge.php
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Vermont invites Citizens to Talk about Energy Future
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- The state Department of Public Service is planning a series of hearings, polls and Internet-based conversation during the next several months as it seeks help in mapping Vermont's energy future. The department will hire a contractor to organize the effort, which was requested by the Legislature as part of energy-related legislation passed last year.

"We hope we will be able to present an informed public with our energy picture and what our energy options are going forward," said Commissioner of Public Service David O'Brien. The aim will be to hear from "a diverse cross-section of Vermonters in terms of what their thoughts, desires and ultimately priorities are."  Full text here.
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(Ed note:  No clear discussion of the need to prepare for an oil-depleted future; article focuses on electrical needs as will be affected by expiration of Vt. Yankee and/or Hydro Quebec contracts. Time to be heard on this issue!)


Courting the Legislators
According to my representative (Martha Heath, D-Essex, Westford), the best time to put a bug in your legislator's ear is the period between the end of the elections and the beginning of the new legislative session. Many legislators are willing to meet with constituents over lunch, or to arrange a meeting between you and members of your/their community to discuss important issues. Heath's advice: keep it brief and to the point! Vermont's Legislative Directory:  http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/legdir2.htm
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Bob Dostis, Chair of the VT Legislature's Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, welcomes your concerns and ideas about Vermont's energy future. He is very interested in what is happening at the community level, and believes we will see funding for clean, renewable energy in Vermont in the years just ahead. Contact Bob and ask him to do lunch. Consider making a contribution to the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger when you see him; Bob is the Executive Director of the organization: Dostis, Robert , 1087 Shaw Mansion Road , Waterbury Center, VT 05677 PHONE:  244-8734; and, Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger , 4 Laurel Hill Drive , South Burlington, VT 05403   PHONE: 865-0255    E-Mail: rdostis@leg.state.vt.us - and - rdostis@adelphia.net
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Want to sound off on the issues? The Parker campaign has set up a new "letter to the editor" system! It will let you send letters to the editors of papers all around the state quickly and easily - just click here to write a letter today.  http://www.scudderparker.com/lte/

Keep Track of what's happening with legislation in Montpelier:  http://www.leg.state.vt.us/database/database2.cfm  

And, on the National front, you can follow the trail of activity at:  http://www.govtrack.us/  - GovTrack is a noncommercial project unaffiliated with the U.S. Government or any other group. You're welcome to reuse any material on their site. "Transparency in government is key for a healthy democracy. Transparency is achieved through spreading information about government, and making that information accessible to everyday citizens."
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Quote of the Month
"Where are the voices of protest? All these horrors in our name. We're back in the dark ages. For that debacle, we're all guilty, if only by our silence."
- veteran reporter Helen Thomas, speaking in Burlington October 29th.
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Editorial
Peak Oil:  Got Planning?
by Annie Dunn Watson.
If you're not at the table, you're on the menu.
- Caroline Arnold (more)

As Greg Pahl, member of the Addison County Relocalization Network (ACoRN) and long time biofuels user, advocate, and educator said to me recently, "Once you get Peak Oil, the only thing left to do is to get down to work."

And he's right, of course.  For Greg, other members of ACoRN and residents of the Addison County area, this is looking a lot like Community Supported Energy projects (see September VPON Monthly, Guest_Editorial).  In Chittenden County, under the direction of Scott Johnstone, it's responsible and integrative transportation planning. In each of our communities, wherever there are citizens and decision-makers engaged in addressing the dual challenges of global heating and an energy constrained future, outside-the-box thinking is not only allowed, it's required.

The recent annual meeting of Chittenden County's Municipal Planning Organization (CCMPO) was, therefore, a real delight for the peak oil aware. Organized as a kick off event for CCMPO's Futures Initiative, and featuring Dennis Meadows as keynote, the evening not only celebrated the organization and its collaborating agencies' successes (village-determined transportation strategies, bike paths, corridor planning, walk and bike to school projects), it also brought serious issues to the table for Chittenden County's regional planners: oil depletion, air quality, safe housing, integrative planning, walkable communities, local jobs, telecommuting options, and the development of a sustainable economy (addressing environmental and social needs - particularly in rural areas - as well as local economic prosperity). CCMPO's Executive Director Scott Johnstone advocated for holistic planning as the most effective means for addressing these issues, planning that crosses traditional boundaries between organizations, as well as within each organization's charter. For example, he suggested transportation planning must be designed with social and ecological costs in mind, and analyzed from the perspective of means, rather than focusing solely on transportation as goal. This type of analysis will help planners identify the actual interests transportation aims to meet, aims that may well be better met through responsible land use planning and regional economic development. When everyone's on board, (i.e., not just the transportation agency, but all planning organizations), such integrated planning becomes possible. This holistic approach raises new questions:  it isn't enough to think about roads, housing developments, or business sectors, or even individual communities in and of themselves; it's important to ask why and how people are using each of them, and to design our communities and regional services to meet those needs in a variety of ways, while also addressing pressing environmental and energy issues. If we believe, as Jim Kunstler is fond of saying, that the easy motoring lifestyle of the past 50 years is about to end, if we grasp peak oil and global climate change and truly understand their significance, then transportation, land use, and all such planning will need to write these factors into the equation every time folks step up to the drawing board.

As Johnstone seems to grasp, long range planning must be framed with the emerging issues of the future in mind, based on expectations that are relevant for that future rather than relying upon the "status quo" perspective of today.  This doesn't mean we put today's concerns aside; but it does require putting oil depletion and global heating on the table. In fact, Johnstone claimed it was essential we do so now. As he put it, when you know what's coming, you've got to make it part of the plan:  "It would be hopeless only if we didn't start having this conversation soon... early adapting is our best hope for prosperity."

This visionary approach is being explored in other parts of the country as well. Portland, Oregon is fast becoming a model of a city whose transportation planning demonstrates a commitment to design that includes environmental concerns and oil depletion scenarios while also addressing citizen needs. Transportation that includes a mix of light rail and biking, for example, has moved beyond the drawing board and onto the streets, and is being well received; it has reduced transportation by automobile as a result. Baby steps, but it's a start.

Vermont's challenges are different, of course. Due to the state's rural nature and its lack of transportation and job options, Vermonters drive more on average than residents of most other states - about 17,000 miles per year, making the transportation sector the biggest Vermont contributor of Green House Gas emissions (see: http://www.anr.state.vt.us/air/MobileSources/docs/vermont.htm), not to mention a real consumer of petroleum products. Due to a lack of regionalized employment opportunities, we're spending a lot of time in cars. Viable employment often requires transportation and commuting; is this the only way to solve this problem? Indeed, the need for coordinated planning among agencies becomes markedly apparent. 

As Johnstone said, planning needs to be integrative and future-oriented to be truly successful in addressing the current and emerging issues of our times, and that is an invitation for creative thinkers, citizens and planners of all types to role up their sleeves and get to work. Regional and town planners throughout Vermont must rise to the occasion, and along with the rest of us, learn to think outside the box and beyond the limits of habitual agendas. Plans for development should consider how zoning will impact the quality of the community as a whole. How is the land allotted? Does this make sense given the long-term needs of the community at large? Are sites within walking distance to public transportation, jobs, or is carpooling a possibility? Is there agriculturally productive land involved? What is being planned for it's protection as an essential resource for present and future Vermonters? Initiatives that focus on renewing existing town centers, building truly local economies, retrofitting existing housing stock for energy efficiency, and a host of other creative and affordable solutions cry out to be developed.

According to the Vermont Forum on Sprawl's Annual Vermonter Poll:  "1 out 3 Vermonters are willing to trade a larger home in a rural setting for an in-town location closer to services and these numbers are increasing - a trend that will likely continue as people spend more time in their cars and oil prices increase." I trust this information will play some role in shaping CCMPO's agenda.

We are not used to thinking in this manner; it's not the status quo. We've not owned up to the fact that we are earth's stewards, as well as the stewards of those who will follow us. But if we truly embrace the idea of relocalization, we will need to funnel money, effort, creativity, and incentives into our town and village centers, to allow them to develop so as to meet the economic, social, housing, education, food and energy needs of those who choose to live within their embrace. Further, we must think reasonably and fairly about how we "develop" the rest of Vermont. We'll all have to do a bit of soul searching. All our initiatives, whether individual or collective, must include at least one scenario designed to meet our needs within an energy constrained future, because, whether due to peak oil or global heating, an energy constrained future is at the head of the table after all.
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From the CCMPO website: The Futures Initiative will provide a forum to discuss and understand emerging regional issues, relevant to transportation, which may require us to plan and act differently. The goal is to create an open and honest discussion of the issues and ideas in a safe forum.

And, additional statistics from VT ANR site: "Motor vehicles are the largest source of toxic and carcinogenic air pollutants in Vermont. ... Motor vehicles are the largest source (about 65%) of ozone-forming pollutants in Vermont." They have a list of publications here: http://www.anr.state.vt.us/air/htm/AirPublications.htm


Guest Editorial  
November 4th Vermont Aerial Art Action to Slow Global Warming
an invitation from Bill McKibben
We need to remind voters of their part in this effort--remind them to get out and cast ballots for the candidates they think are most likely to actually be able to slow global warming.
Dear friends--
A few weeks ago we came together in the largest political demonstration in Vermont in many years--our fifty mile walk to Burlington for action on global warming. And what do you know--it worked: many of the candidates stepped up and signed our pledge to fight for real climate action. Now we need to remind voters of their part in this effort--remind them to get out and cast ballots for the candidates they think are most likely to actually be able to slow global warming. And so we're coming together for something we think will be just as much fun and just as important as our trek: a one-day all-across-Vermont effort to show just how much is at stake.

Instead of asking people to assemble in a single place, we're asking you to disperse to beautiful spots around the state. Some of us will be on mountaintops--Camels Hump, Mansfield, Killington. Others will be in cornfields, or out on Lake Champlain, or any other spot that you think captures what's at stake as we confront this most pressing issue. Our single largest action will be in Burlington where we will meet the media and politicians.  Hundreds of Chittenden County residents will gather to create aerial art – an image to embody our “vote to stop global warming” message that will be photographed from the air.  We'll all have the same sign: "Vote to Stop Global Warming!" And we'll all try--depending on our technological abilities--to send live pictures through cellphones and computers, and participate in a live press conference held in Burlington. We hope people will go in small groups--our website (www.saveyourvermont.org) is the place to register for where you want to go, to set up your iconic image trek, to sign up for the aerial art, and to help us figure out how we'll connect.

We're not exactly sure how it will all work out--expect a certain number of crossed wires. But we have high hopes it's going to be a beautiful demonstration of all we hold dear about this state, and all we fear will suffer unless our representatives take strong action on global warming. We hope the media will cover our efforts well--that the pictures and images and sounds will spread out across Vermont in time to spark people to get to the polls.

When we gathered in Burlington in early September, it was the largest demonstration yet in this country about global warming. This one will definitely be the most spread-out demonstration anyone's yet devised. We won't be able to see each other all at once, but we'll be feeling the pleasure of knowing that all across Vermont we're in solidarity with each other. Please join in, and bring your creativity and your energy to bear on this problem.

Many thanks,

Bill McKibben, the Middlebury College Sunday Night Group, and Project Hot Seat
www.saveyourvermont.org
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 Articles
 Culture
Where are We and Where do We Go from Here?
by Henry Swayze
Keeping things in perspective:
•    “Life is process”  Pleasure is in the doing of life not in the meeting of goals.  Goals just help to define the tracks to take action on. (From Buddhist philosophy.)
•    “Make decisions based on what you would wish to your grand children seven generations hence.”  (Five nation Indian tribes and recently here from Joanna Macy.)
•    Focus on not polluting and everything will fall into place for the future… energy, economics and quality of life. (Paraphrase of Amory Lovins)

Establishing a Perspective:
•    Climate Change and Global Warming:  If we continue with business as usual, polluting our atmosphere with greenhouse gasses, the earth will tip into runaway warming rendering much of our useful land masses unsuitable for agriculture and habitation.  The minimum action to prevent run away warming is to stop increasing our input of greenhouse gasses by 2010 and to establish a sharp decline phase by 2050.  This action plan will "only" limit extinctions to 20%.  Not a pretty picture but far better than runaway warming. (from the work of James Hanson of NASA and perhaps the worlds most respected climatologist.)
•    New technologies can have an enormous impact on our greenhouse emissions and our future economy but most technological fixes will take 20 or more years to ramp up.  Industry must be looking at the benefits to their bottom line by adopting these technologies.  Research dollars would insure the process.  In the meantime we must adopt available measures of conservation, efficiency and renewables. (Amory Lovins) 
•    Curbing demand for fossil fuel now would reduce the warming trend.  A most desirable side benefit will be the kind of drop in fuel price we have seen over the last month.  An expert being interviewed on NPR when gas prices were above $3/gal said that just a 5% reduction in demand would cause prices to “crash” for now.  A second important side effect is that if we develop local renewable energy production it will build our local economy and give us some insulation from the world economy.

Methods: 
•    The government could legislate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions… adopting a 40MPG café standard which matches the average usage in China now, incentivise renewables in a big way and the same for energy eficiency,  instigate a carbon tax so that naughty behavior is felt in the pocket book (I think it was Al Gore who advocated completely elimating the income tax and replacing it with a carbon tax),  ration X pounds of carbon per person and then let the affluent purchase from the thrifty (Great Britain is considering this) and on a more practical level, generate a regulatory environment that welcomes renewables, funds research that is not limited to just a few tracks but unleashes our creativity and comes up with a multitude of solutions.  I am fearful that the politicians will never lead but only follow us and then perhaps reluctantly.  We must ask them the hard questions that will hold them accountable and take the lead ourselves.  Michel Dworkin of the VLS quoted Willie Sutton’s answer to the question “Why do you rob banks”… “That is where the money is.”  We should keep that in mind when it comes to where to put our efforts.
•    Individuals can become more aware of their actions through: VPON, community action committees, meetings, lectures, media, local campaigns, promotions, setting goals and tracking them. 
•    Towns can build into their town plan “smart growth” that encourages clustering of activities so that need for transportation is reduced and at the same time community interaction is increased.  They can identify the resources of the town that would support living sustainably and then protect and encourage those resources.  They can establish an energy - global warming committee.

Our First Branch (of the White River) Sustainability Project (living better with out fossil fuel) is inching towards the goal of being fossil fuel neutral by 2020.  Three action projects are under way at this time:
1.    Tunbridge, Chelsea, South Royalton, Vershire and Thetford have joined together to bring broad band internet to all areas of our communities.  3 grants have been applied for, 1,000 self identified customers have come forward and detailed mapping has been done on a trial basis to determine the technologies necessary.  The committees view broad band as a way of supporting business and education as well as entertainment.  It will be a tool for home business development and telecommuting thus reducing fossil fuel usage for commuting.  The local business will enhance community wide cash flow.
2.    We have helped evaluate and instigate micro hydro and wind site evaluation.  One home brewed hydro site is nearing completion.  Many will have to wait for group net metering rules to be published.
3.    We have developed a solar hot water project with the target of 50 household installations by spring.  40 interested parties are on the map and more joining daily.  We are exploring funding systems for the individuals, introducing them to contractors, are in hopes of getting grants, offering prizes and incentives, and are arranging joint purchases to reduce costs.  We would like to see this initiative spread to other areas.

Future steps include:
•    Energy eficiency evaluation and improvements for existing houses.
•    Development of community scale wind and or hydro.
•    Development for wood fired residential heat both cord wood and  pellet wood and grass.  (If practiced sustainably these are carbon neutral with the crops sequestering the carbon produced by burning.)
•    Exploration of the production of biofuels including cellulosic fuels that would augment gas for transportation.
•    Ramping up the consumption and production of local food.

In the meantime today: the radiant heat from the wood is stove is relaxing and timeless. Wisps of fog dance off the hill sides dotted with the last bursts of yellow leaves. 80 some year old Emily Howe bestowed upon us samples of crispin apples from her five crates of apples covered by a blanket in her summer kitchen. Our daughter Nelia is about to give birth to our first grandchild and our other daughter Hannah reports that her second week of marriage is delightfully mellow, warm and supportive.
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Henry & Cornelia Swayze are founding members of the First Branch Sustainability Project and reside in Tunbridge, Vermont. You can contact them at: swayze (at) PNGUSA (dot) net


Burlington Currency Project Interest Free Loans
from Amy Marie Kirschner
Just a quick news drop from BCP - We are now offering interest free loans in our local currency, Burlington Bread, for businesses and individuals looking to diversify and increase our local economy.

Info and app on our website, www.burlingtoncurrency.org..under "Bread Loans"
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Volunteer Opportunities with the Vermont Earth Institute
information submitted by Laura Phillips, Central Vermont Coordinator
Vermont Earth Institute supports Vermonters to reduce consumption and adopt environmentally sustainable practices in their homes, workplaces and communities. VEI offers a host of community discussion courses, a great way to get neighbors, co-workers and friends reading, thinking, and talking about sustainability - and supporting one another in making the necessary lifestyle and community changes to transition to a more sustainable way of life.

VEI relies on volunteers to help it meet its mission of spreading sustainable living education and practices throughout Vermont. There are many different ways you can volunteer. You can commit as much or little time as you have.  Here are some of the areas where volunteers are particularly needed now:

**START OR FACILITATE A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION COURSE
The courses are: Voluntary Simplicity, Choices for Sustainable Living, Deep Ecology, Discovering a Sense of Place, Globalization and its Critics, and Healthy Children-Healthy Planet.  They’re free, largely self-facilitated, run for 8 sessions and are for groups of 8-12 people. Cost of course material is nominal - $18 for a very fine anthology of works by authors and theorists on the topics being discussed.

Starting a course: Your role is to encourage your friends and neighbors or workplace colleagues to participate. VEI staff will provide you with information and fliers.

Facilitating a course: VEI provides training for mentors to facilitate the first and last course sessions.  Mentors usually have taken a course, but if you haven't, VEI provides coaching and clear, written instructions - it’s easy!

**HOST AN ECO-PARTY
These Tupperware parties for the earth bring a group of friends and neighbors together to consider strategies to reduce household energy use, toxics, and waste. A VEI staff or volunteer facilitates the discussion and provides fact sheets. We have invitations for you to use.

**HELP ORGANIZE THE VERMONT SUSTAINABLE LIVING NETWORK IN YOUR REGION!
These groups are an outgrowth of VEI, started by people who took the discussion courses and wanted to continue to meet and work towards making changes toward sustainablitility in their own lives. Groups are meeting throughout Vermont: Brattleboro, Charlotte, Central Vermont, Randolph, Rutland, and the Upper Valley (see below). Members support one another in their efforts to live more sustainably and take action on the community level to make their towns and cities more sustainable. The groups need your participation in order to continue to thrive.

**COMMITTEES & VEI’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
VEI welcomes candidates for their board of directors who have the time and talent to promote and strengthen the organization. Committees: program, development, nominating, and communication. Committee members needn’t be board members.

Thanks for reading and considering giving some of your time to working towards a sustainable future! VEI's Vermont coordinators look forward to hearing from you.

Brattleboro:  Marcia:  254-2522 - justmart (at) sover (dot) net   
Burlington:  Cara:  425-4366 - cltaussig (at) earthlink (dot) net   
Central VT:  Laura: 225-1322 - laura.philipps (at) gmail (dot) com   
Rutland:  Mike: 438-6170 - skyobrien (at) adelphia (dot) net    
Upper Valley & Statewide:  Barbara: 333-3664 (or 603-643-0328 Nov.-May) - vei (at) valley (dot) net
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For more news of VEI's events, see vtearthinstitute.org/upcomingevents.html


Sustainable Living Networks in Vermont
**Charlotte - 3rd Tuesday of the month, Charlotte Senior Center, 7:00pm
    For more information contact: Roberta Nubile (802) 425-5150; E-Mail:  RNRN (at) gmavt.net; Website: www.charlottesln.com
**Brattleboro - 2nd Monday of the month, Melrose Terrace community room, 6:00pm POTLUCK DINNER
    For more information contact: Marcia Bourne (802) 254-2522; E-Mail: justmart (at) sover.net
**Central VT - 2nd Wednesday of the month, Unitarian Church, Montpelier; 6:30pm
    For more information contact: Laura Philipps (802) 225-1322; E-Mail: laura.philipps (at) gmail.com
**Randolph - 2nd Wednesday of the month, Kimball Public Library, 6:30pm POTLUCK DINNER
    For more information contact: Susan Mills (802) 728-903;3 E-Mail: susan.vt (at) juno.com
**Rutland - For more information contact: Mike O’Brien (H) (802) 438-6170; E-Mail: skyobrien (at) yahoo.com
**Upper Valley - Every other month.  King Arthur Flour kitchen, 6:00pm POTLUCK DINNER
    For more information contact: Barbara Duncan (802) 333-3664; E-Mail: vei (at) valley.net
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To get regular notices of SLN activities in your area, put your name on the local e-mail list by contacting the local representative.


NOW ONLINE: the FALL 2006 "Autumn of Empire" Issue - Vermont Commons Newspaper
sent to us by Rob Williams at Vermont Commons
TOP STORY: Joel Bleifuss and Steven F. Freeman on Election Fraud and Possible Responses
    Read Joel and Steve here: http://vtcommons.org/node/590
1. MAD SHEEP author Linda Faillace on the Orwellian nature of the National Animal Identification System
    Read Linda here: http://vtcommons.org/node/595
2. "Secede to Succeed" Convention 2005 Speech by Jane Dwinell
    Read Jane here: http://vtcommons.org/node/594
3. An interview with global Peak Oil expert Richard Heinberg
    Read Richard here: http://vtcommons.org/node/596
4. Amy Kirschner on "Burlington Bread's" quiet currency revolution
    Read Amy here: http://vtcommons.org/node/59A
5. A critique of the U.S. Federal Reserve by Adrian Kuzminski
    Read Adrian here: http://vtcommons.org/node/591
6. Jim Hogue on 9/11 Facts and Theories
    Read Jim here: http://vtcommons.org/node/587
7. Bill McKibben on Walking for Action Locally on Climate Change (WALC)
    Read Bill here: http://vtcommons.org/node/588
8. Jacki Brook's "IRS Story"
    Read Jacki here: http://vtcommons.org/node/589
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Last Dance
by Wendy and Bill Phippen

And where else can our wild maples grow,
but on a Mad River hillside, soggy in April,
from earth as sweet as the life in their veins?
Like the birch and alder hugging Mill Brook,
they save the last dance for those who can
bear the weight of ever-warmer winters
and stilltaste the fragrance
of a woodlot
in spring.

Can we possibly imagine, ready ourselves
for a future without snow-deep hollows,
mud-sweet Aprils and trillium Mays?
Will that magical nectar ever run as thinck
and rich and welcome as when the music
bounding from that whitewater stretch
beyond the sugar house
was clean and crisp
and clear?

Can we?... Will we?... think to remember
our maples - and the tangerine promise
they keep with each Green Mountain fall -
before their sugarbush dancing - like tangy,
vernal woodsmoke rising through a crown
of branches - drifts away and their
celebrated, legendary sweetness
boils down to pure
memory?...

Or will we let those skyline views all of us
cherish, that some would set in ecological
stone, succumb - ironically - to a new world
of warmer winter winds and surging seas
effected by our failure as a community -
despite noble mission and all good intent -
to capture those eternal winds,
rushing by, and their
innate utility?
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(ed note: this beautiful poem fell into my possession when I made the successful bid on the Phippens' art pallette, part of the Vermont Arts Council's Palettes of Vermont community art project.)


Front Porch Forum
brought to our attention by Cara Taussig
One of the real challenges in moving from a "hyper-individualistic" society to a more community-oriented one is finding your neighbors and striking up a conversation.  In time, as we move away from commuting, soccer practice and our otherwise busy lives, we may actually take a walk down the road and/or around the neighborhood and see who's out there. In the meantime, given how so many of us spend time on line, we can take advantage of that tool and find our neighbors, share information about our neighborhood or community, and otherwise start the process of reconnecting (if only virtually for the moment).  Front Porch Forum  is an email forum based on a successful model in the Five Sisters neighborhood in Burlington, VT. Folks who've used the forum state that it's helped them do everything from finding the right plumber or roofer to creating a neighborhood watch network. Your neighborhood's forum is only open to the people who live there. It's free and requires no work from you. Simply join and receive occasional email newsletters written by your neighbors. Contribute messages as you like. It's all about helping neighbors connect.  Front Page Forum has a search feature that will help you find your neighborhood's forum.  No forum in your neighborhood yet?  Front Page Forum's website will tell you how to get one started.
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Energy
East Middlebury Home Retrofitted with Geothermal; now Posting Realtime Data on Performance
from Duane Fowler
The Fowler's East Middlebury home has been retrofitted with Geothermal, and they invite us to learn along with them about the system's efficiency and performance:  "We have a direct exchange (DX) geothermal HVAC system ready to go for the winter; we have added a heat recovery ventilator for fresh air. Our house in East Middlebury, VT is a 1100 sq.ft cape retrofitted with the geothermal system to replace the old oil furnace. The compressor is about 1 sq yd in size and feeds a forced-air air handler. The earth loops are copper tubing looped down 3- drilled 100 ft X 6" shafts. The system went online last Feb, but we had excellent operation during the last of that winter. This winter will allow us to study finetuning of the thermostat, setbacks, and the effect of using some of the excess capacity to preheat our propane-fired hot water.  We have a data acquisition system attached to the system to monitor the HVAC loop temps, air/domestic HW temps, outside temps, KWh power consumptions. The data system is posting realtime data at 1 minute intervals to allow us, and everyone to see how the system and air temperatures and KWH power usage is doing. Our system is posting data currently at http://www.ourcoolhouse.com/WEL/WEL0018/."  (WWW.ourcoolhouse.com sells the WEL - Web Energy Logger - the Fowlers are using.)

Cost of installation?  "We spent roughly $12,000 for the loops, Air Handler, and Compressor, $6,000 for the drilling and grouting of the 3-100'x 6" boreholes, $2,500 for the HVAC tech to install/braze the compressor-air handler-loop copper linesets, and turn on and tune the system."
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Energy and Climate News in Vermont Media
Courtesy, Renewable Energy Vermont  (visit their website!)

http://tinyurl.com/gjw3p
"New Biomass Facility" - September 30
Middlebury College Director of Environmental Affairs Nan Jenks-Jay announced that the college will proceed with its plan to construct a wood-chip biomassplant. The facility is expected to cut the college's greenhouse gas emissions by almost 12,500 metric tons annually.

http://tinyurl.com/hrbsc
"Governor Candidates Spar on Energy, Wilderness"
Times Argus, October 3
Louis Porter of the Vermont Press Bureau summarizes the first public debate between the candidates James Douglas and Scudder Parker to be centered on the environment. The Vermont Natural Resources Council hosted the match.
 
http://tinyurl.com/zzxut
"Where They Stand"
Burlington Free Press, October 7
 As part of an ongoing series, the Free Press posed two questions to Douglas and Parker: What do you consider the ideal breakdown of energy sources for Vermont after the contracts with Vermont Yankee and Hydro Quebec expire? How much should come from wind power generated on Vermont ridgelines? In this article, the candidates respond.
 
http://www.reformer.com/headlines/ci_4456654
"Local Businesses Join to Reduce Global Warming" Brattleboro Reformer, October 7
Twenty-two Brattleboro businesses have accepted the "10% Challenge," bringing the total number of Vermont businesses to have taken the challenge since 2002 to about 100. Paul Cameron of Brattleboro Climate Protection compares the work of these companies to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions to taking 540 cars off the road for a year.

And, from Clean Cities VT Newsletter:
(You can subscribe to Clean Cities newsletter by sending an email to:  cleancities@snellingcenter.org - be sure to place "subscribe" in the subject line.)

Biodiesel in Swanton, VT - Biocardel Inc. has tentatively agreed to build a biodiesel plant in Swanton, VT. The plant will import soybean oil from Quebec to produce 4 million gallons of B100 per year. Officials hope to increase to 8 million gallons after 3 years. Factors promoting the decision to locate in Vermont included tax credits authorized by the Vermont Economic Progress Council, a low interest loan approved by the Vermont Economic Development Authority, and market development by the Vermont Biodiesel Project. (Source: The County Courier). Biodiesel is made through "transesterification," a chemical process in which glycerin is separated from fat or vegetable oil, creating two products: alkyl esters, the generic chemical name for biodiesel, and glycerin, a byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other products. For more information: www.vtbiodieselproject.org
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~The Omniscient One’s 100% Organic Biofuel Recipe~
 submitted by Carl Carlson, on behalf of The Omniscient One
Ingredients:
 
50-100 Million years of accumulated biomass
1-2 Global cataclysms
            -Meteor impact
            -Pole shift or reversal
            -Omni-species pandemic
            -Thermonuclear war
            -Other (be creative!)
1-4 Ice ages
 
Directions-
 
Accumulate 50-100 million years of biomass. Drive biomass 1-5 miles underground with tectonic activities coupled with a global cataclysm(s). Cover with ice age(s). Apply tectonic pressure and heat. Set timer for 100-200 million years. Extract when naturally occurring petroleum deposits occur.
 
Yield- Approximately 4-8 billion 50 year portions of 100% organic crude oil biofuel.
 
Prep time: 50-100 Million years
Total time: 150-200 Million years
 
Roughly speaking: If it takes 100 million years to accumulate enough biomass for 50 years of consumption and we want to transition from organic crude oil to commercial (non-organic) biofuel, we only need to generate and process 2 million years worth of biomass per year to accomplish the goal. If it’s 50 million years to accumulate the requisite biomass then hey, we only need to produce and process 1 million years of biomass per year. Getting anywhere near a 1:1 biomass per year ratio could be a challenge though.

Happy cooking!
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Mediated Modeling - Vermont's Participatory Energy Planning Process
The Participatory Energy Planning - Mediated Modeling project consisted of a series of workshops about electrical energy in Vermont. Using a method called Mediated Modeling, participants at the workshops:
    Created a Shared Understanding of the electrical energy realities in Vermont.
    Collaborated to Build a Computer Model that simulates the interrelationships that affect issues like cost, reliability and environmental impact.
    Reached for Consensus on Recommendations for Vermont's energy future.

Ten workshops were scheduled through October 2006. Although participation was by invitation only, the meetings were open to the public, and the materials distributed to the participants and created at the workshops were accessable on these web pages in the dropdown menus for each workshop on the right-hand side of each web page.

You can see the model as it developed at each workshop. Navigate to the instructions for viewing and running the model by clicking on the dated model within the drop-down menu for each workshop on the right-hand side of each web page.

The public is invited to view the postings of the workshop participants on the Participatory Energy Planning - Mediated Modeling Message Board.
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Weatherization Tips from the Sustainable Energy Resource Group
Cold weather is here again and it is time to tighten up your home.  About three quarters of energy used in New England homes is for heating and the greatest heat loss, by far, is from infiltration or air leakage. Here are several tips for free or low-cost measures to help you button up your home and save energy and money this winter. If you need help with these tasks you can hire certified professional weatherization specialists to conduct an audit and air seal your house.  For a list of contractors, see the Efficiency Vermont website: http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/pages/Residential.

NOTE:  Homes do require a certain amount of fresh air to keep occupants healthy.  Mold build up and back drafting of flue gases can occur in extremely tight houses without adequate ventilation, which can cause illness or death. Fresh air is best supplied in a controlled manner through powered and programmed fresh air vents.  For more information contact a professional home performance specialist.

o Most infiltration takes place as warm air rises and flows out openings high in the house, pulling cold air in through leaks low in the house. These leaks are easiest to find on cold days and are usually very cost effective to repair. Feel for cool drafts coming in low areas - where the sill meets the foundation, around low  doors, windows and protrusions for pipes and wires. Hold something that smokes, like incense, and look for smoke being sucked out along potential openings - attic hatches, upper floor windows and electric outlets, etc. Seal all high and low openings with weather stripping, spray foam or caulk.

o  Install all storm windows and doors - close and latch them tightly.

o  Caulk closed all leaky windows and exterior doors that you never open.

o  Cover leaky windows that you do want to open in the spring with an interior plastic "storm" product, like Tyz-All, available at Energy Federation Inc. (800-876-0660, www.efi.org).  Tyz-All can be removed in the spring and reused next winter.  It will usually pay for itself in one year.

o  Weather-strip ALL exterior doors, including attic hatch, bulkhead door and doors to cold cellars and crawl spaces. Check and replace weather stripping when worn.

o  If your exterior doors jiggle when closed, move the striker/latch plate closer to the door-stop so the door closes snuggly against the stop or add new weather stripping that snugs up against the door.

o  Make sure all fan-driven exterior vents (dryer, stove, bathroom, etc.) have an exterior flap that closes, and clear vent flaps of lint and other debris so they close tightly when the fan is off.

o  Close chimney and fireplace dampers when not in use.

o  Close interior doors and turn off the heat to any rooms that are unused during the winter.

o  Feel the pipes coming off your hot water tank.  If you can feel any warmth from the pipes, insulate them with foam pipe insulation available at your local hardware store.

o  Setting your thermostat back at night and while you are gone during the day will save you about 1% on you heating use for each degree set back.  Using a programmable thermostat to do this will allow you to bring the heat back up to a comfortable temperature before you get up in the morning or return home.
_____________________________________________________________
Visit the Sustainable Energy Resource Group at:  http://www.serg-info.org/


Low Income Weatherization Qualification Levels
sent to us by Bob Walker of SERG
The Low Income Weatherization Program provides free energy audits and weatherization services to income-qualifying residents.  Rough income guidelines for this year are:

# Household             Maximum Combined Household Income
    Occupants                 VT                        NH
          1                     $22,609                   $17,705
          2                     $29,565                   $23,736
          3                     $36,522                   $29,767
          4                     $43,479                   $35,798
          5                     $50,435                   $41,829

Some of your income may not count toward these thresholds, so to see if you qualify, please check with the following agencies:
    1) New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning - Low income weatherization and fuel assistance programs, Andy Gray - 603-271-6359, www.nh.gov/oep
    2) Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity - Low income weatherization and fuel assistance programs, Jules Junker, 802-241-2452, julesj@wpgate1.ahs.state.vt.us, or  www.ahs.state.vt.us/oeo/weather.htm.
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Vermont Solar and Small Wind Incentive Program Funding Update
submitted by Bob Walker of SERG
This program, created in 2003, provides financial incentives to help businesses and homeowners buy small-scale solar and wind energy systems.  A new round of funding became available in September 2006.  For more information on the renewables incentive program, including application forms, go to the Renewable Energy Resource Center website at www.RERC-vt.org or Renewable Energy Vermont's website at http://www.revermont.org/incentives.htm
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Energy Efficient Bulbs
...are for sale at Charlotte Town Hall during office hours. Compact fluorescent light bulbs will also be sold at the Charlotte Central School book fair Thursday November 2 and Friday November 3 between 3:30 and 5pm.  This bulb selling initiative is part of the town wide "bulb blitz" organized by the Energy Task Force (specifically for Charlotters to promote reduction of electric energy use.  Sold in lots of 6 for $4.74 - Efficiency Vermont rebate included and no sales tax since it's a town project). The goal is to install 6000 light bulbs in Charlotte town offices, households and businesses in 2006! The Charlotte Energy Task Force would LOVE a few more people to help with this and other projects.  Contact Jennifer Chiodo at 999-1069.  Thanks!

Other places the bulbs are available:
    Spear Corner Store (on Novmber 4 between 9:30 and 11:30)
    Charlotte Town Hall (during office hours)
    Pizza on Earth (during pizza times of Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:00 - 7:00 pm)
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(ed note: now here's a project other towns might want to put into action!)

 
Food
Localvore Challenges Raise Awareness, Questions
If you've been following (or even participating in) the Localvores' adventures this summer, you've heard tales of joy and woe: discovery of the joy of eating local was high on everybody's list. Recipes were swapped, potlucks held, and some lasting changes in diet and buying habits made. On the downside, it was pretty upsetting to learn that your local co op was going to run out of local grains before your challenge month got underway! And if you were supplementing your local eating purchases with a garden, you were humbled by the impact a rainy June can have on farmers and eaters alike.

Eating local raises some important questions: as demand increases, will local farms be able to expand their offerings? Will more young people be encouraged (through legislation and appropriate financial support from citizens and lawmakers alike) to enter agricultural professions? Are we willing to insure that agricultural land will be kept in production, by perhaps paying farmers real wages so that they can develop a savings rather than betting on selling the farm to developers for security in their older years?  We may have to rethink not only our purchases and initiatives within the state, but also across state boundaries, perhaps learning to plan more regionally when we consider the agricultural landscape of our "100 miles."

Ah, but let's look at the summer's gains. Folks who took the Localvore challenge this summer all over Vermont discovered that Vermont and the Champlain Valley offer many local and delicious foods. The good folks at Eat Local Vermont put together a resource chart (see below), based on their observations and experiences, detailing some of Vermont's local food producers and retailers. They welcome your additions to their list.  You can contact them at:  http://www.eatlocalvt.org/contactus.htm to add to the resources. And, a link to this Eat Local Food Source Chart can also be found on our Vermont Resources page, under Food, Farm and Garden.
Local Food Grower/Farmer    Retailer

Dried Beans (yellow eye)        		 CP Hazen Bean Company in North Hero, VT Direct from Farmer   
Dried Beans (6 types) 
                         		 Butterworks  City Market, Hunger Mountain Co-Op,                                        
Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op
Yogurt (plain, maple flavored)         Butterworks (cow milk), Willow Hill (sheep milk),Star Hill Dairy (water buffalo) City Market, Hunger Mountain Co-Op, VTGreengrocer, Healthy Living, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op,
Milk, Cream                Strafford Creamery, Monument Farms, Booth Brothers,                     City Market, Healthy Living, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op,
local supermarket and convenience store, many others
Eggs                 Lucky Ladies, River Berry Farm, Gwen's Eggs,
Many others		 Farmer's Markets, City Market, VT Greengrocer, Healthy Living, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, many others
Whole Wheat Flour
Wheat Berries                       		 Gleason Grains,  Butterworks
 City Market, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-Op
Rye Flour and Berries            Butterworks  Bulk order from farm
Cornmeal                               Butterworks  City Market, Hunger Mountain Co-Op, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op,
Oats (steel cut, not rolled)      Ken in Shoreham, Intervale Bean & Grain, Bulk from farmer
Rolled Oats                         
Quebec  Bulk from farmer 
Shitake and Oyster Mushrooms                       Ahh Mushrooms Healthy Living, City Market,
Popcorn                                Brigante's  (655-0187)  Shelburne Supermarket
Ice Cream - smooth maple flavor                Stafford Organic Creamery City Market,Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op,
Maple Syrup                               
 Numerous Friend, farmers market, City Market, Healthy Living, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, many others
Honey                           Bee Haven Farm, Champlain Valley Apiaries,
many others   		 City Market, Healthy Living, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, many others
Chicken, Turkey               Misty Knoll Farms, Stonewood Farm, many others    Direct from farmer at farm, Healthy Living, City Market, Milk House Market in Cambridge, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op,
Beef                  Boucher Farms, Boyden Farms, La Platte, Maple Wind Farm, others Burlington or Richmond Farmers Market, City Market, Healthy Living, Milk House Market, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op,
Pork                    Boucher Farms, Maple Wind Farms, Boyden Farm  Healthy Living, Burlington Farmer�s Market, Milk House Market, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op,
Lamb                            Willow Hill Farm, others  Burlington Farmers Market, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op,
Tempeh                 Rhapsody Tempeh, Made in Montpelier w/
Westport (Champlain Valley) NY Soybeans   		 City Market, Healthy Living, Hunger Mountain Coop, Plainfield Co op, VTGreengrocer, and the Rhapsody store in Montpelier   
Tons of local veggies: tomatoes,
potatoes, squash, onions, more!                            		 Numerous City Market, Healthy Living, Price Chopper, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, Local Farmers Markets, many more
Fruit: strawberries,
blueberries, raspberries,
apples, cranberries        		 Numerous   Direct from the farmers, City Market, Middlebury Food Co-op,             Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, and many others
Butter                    Cabot, VT Butter and Cheese Company, others  City Market, Healthy Living, Price Chopper,                                 Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, many others
Cheeses                         
 Cabot, Champlain Valley Creamery, Doe's Leap, Willow Hill, and many more City Market, Fresh Market, Farmer�s Market,                                         Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, many others
Hard Cider, Local Wine                          Many!  http://www.oxfordwineroom.com/vineyardsVT.asp City Market, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op,                         others
Bread made with local grains        Turkenbrod Mill and Bakery (Vershire, VT)  
Red Hen Bakery (via special request)    		Turkenbrod - City Market
Red Hen - hopefully bulk order
Apple Cider Vinegar            Gingerbrook Farm (Washington, Vermont)      Upper Valley Co-Op, Hunger Mountain Co-Op
Apple Cider Jelly                     Gormleys (N. Chittenden) Hunger Mountain Co-Op, City Market
Sauerkraut and kimchi                         Flack Family Farm City Market, others
Tea                              
Love and Tea (2 flavors, Vermont Mint and Women's Tonic)  Hunger Mountain Co-Op, Plainfield Co-Op,                                 Montpelier Farmer's Market, and others   
 
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More Info on Local Food Sources
 LOCALVORES!  Local food means freshness, health, and support for the local economy!  Regional groups of folks committed to eating locally are springing up all over Vermont and the Upper Valley.  Here are some Localvore web sites, where they will be posting details on future events, listing resources for finding locally-grown foods, and collecting recipes for cooking with local and seasonal foods.
    Champlain Valley – www.eatlocalvt.org
    Mad River Valley – www.vermontlocalvore.org  (recipes!)
    Upper Valley Localvores – http://www.vitalcommunities.org/Agriculture/localvore/localvorehome.htm
    Northern New England Localvores Discussion List - http://lists.valley.net/lists/info/localvore-discussion
    
Additional information on finding local food in Vermont and the Upper Valley:
    State of Vermont Buy Local program – http://www.vermontagriculture.com/buyvermont2.htm
    Northeast Organic Farmers Association – http://www.nofavt.org/
    Vital Communities: www.vitalcommunities.org/Agriculture/agsearch.cfm

Remember to support organizations that support farmers, and work to keep agricultural land in use.
    NOFA -VT: - Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont. NOFA-VT is a non-profit association of farmers, gardeners, and consumers working to promote an economically viable and ecologically sound Vermont food system for the benefit of current and future generations. Information on organic farming, farmers markets, CSAs (community supported agriculture), or local organic products in Vermont.

    Rural Vermont - Rural Vermont supports a rural economic policy for Vermont that recognizes the importance of agriculture and natural resource based industries, support for small rural businesses, along with good jobs, fair wages, and decent healthcare, housing, and transportation for all rural citizens.

    Vermont Land Trust - VT Land Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving working land for the future of Vermont.
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Carbon Farmers of America, LLC
from Abe Collins of Cimarron Farms, St. Albans

Carbon Farmers of America:  Growing New Topsoil.  Reversing Global Warming.  Fast.  

Carbon Farmers of America, LLC, will hold a news conference at Cimarron Farm, 2935 Lower Newton Road, St. Albans VT at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2006. The news conference is being held to announce the commencement of operations of the newly formed company, Carbon Farmers of America, LLC, and to detail:
•    How the farmer members of Carbon Farmers of America will rapidly create new topsoil, thereby reducing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and reversing global warming.
•    How Carbon Farmers of America will market “Carbon Futures” to concerned citizens and businesses.
•    How rapid topsoil formation also leads to: prosperous and aesthetic rural communities, nutrient dense foods and a healthy citizenry, clean water, reduction of the incidence of flooding and drought and a multitude of other benefits to society.

The news conference is timed to coincide with the International Day of Action on Climate Change, and is coordinated with other events in Vermont aimed at reversing global warming. The news conference will be held in the large greenhouse barn on Cimarron Farm. Attending will be the founding farmers of Carbon Farmers of America, as well as customers of our farms who understand the gravity of climate change and the importance of our efforts to reverse global warming. The announcement will be followed by a question and answer period and a brief tour of the farm, where we will examine new topsoil being formed, weather permitting. Refreshments will be provided by Mimmo’s Restaurant.       
For more information, contact:
        Abe Collins, Co-Founder
        Carbon Farmers of America, LLC
        2935 Lower Newton Road
        Swanton, VT 05488
        (802) 527-2913
        famfarm (at) sover.net
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Music to Eat Local by!
brought to our attention by Jasmine Lamb - thanks, Jazzi!
Sophie Wood of Thetford, VT has created a music video, to inspire local and organic eating. You will find (and hear!) it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QDKKnfMOew
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Transportation
Protect Vermont's Rights to Regulate Tailpipe Emissions Standards!
from Drew Hudson, VPIRG
In August of 2005, Vermont took a brave step by becoming the second state in the nation to adopt California's tailpipe emissions standards for global warming pollution. If implemented, the law will reduce global warming pollution from cars by 18%. Since more than half of Vermont's global warming pollution comes from cars, it's an essential step toward stopping global warming.

But auto-industry lawyers are suing Vermont to stop the law from ever going into effect. They claim Vermont doesn't have the right to protect itself from global warming, and that the Bush administration knows how to protect our environment best. Unfortunately, the auto industry has also convinced two men who own three local car dealerships to support their case: Green Mountain Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge-Jeep, Green Mountain Ford-Mercury and Joe Tornabene GMC. We need your help to stop them!

Please send an email to the owners of these three dealerships asking them to reconsider their involvement in the lawsuit. We CAN cut global warming pollution from cars, but we need to act soon: If we don't make serious changes to our cars, homes and businesses in the next 10 years, Vermont's climate could feel more like Georgia's before long.

Here's a sample email you can cut and paste from, or use to start your own letter.

To: Ron Carpenter capptron@adelphia.net; Joe Tornabene joetgmc@adelphia.net     

Subject: Please Don't Run Over Vermont's Rights

Dear Mr. Carpenter and Tornabene,

I was disappointed to learn that your dealership is suing to stop Vermont from adopting a law to reduce global warming emissions from cars. I urge to you pull out of the lawsuit and become a leader in helping Vermont reduce our global warming emissions.

New research projects that if Vermont does not take action in the next 10 years, we could end up with a climate like that of Georgia or Tennessee. Global warming is already impacting Vermont, and if left unchecked, could result in disastrous consequences:

* Annual average temperature could increase between 6-12 degrees Fahrenheit, ending winter as we know it and destroying our $1.4 billion/year ski industry;
* Hotter, more humid springs means longer mud seasons and terrible growing seasons like the one we just had.
* Global warming could shorten our sugaring season and kill our maple trees, threatening a $13 million/year industry in Vermonters.

We must all act today to avoid the most devastating consequences of global warming. I hope you will reconsider your involvement in the lawsuit to block global warming emission reductions from cars and withdraw from the suit.

Sincerely
(your name here)
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you can visit VPIRG at http://www.vpirg.com/


And, from Clean Cities VT Newsletter:
(You can subscribe to Clean Cities newsletter by sending an email to:  cleancities@snellingcenter.org - be sure to place "subscribe" in the subject line.)

VTrans has started to develop their Long Range Transportation Plan.
      · Agency of Natural Resources has a a Green House Gas Action Plan underway [more here: <http://www.climatechange.us/>].
      · In Chittenden County the transportation planning organization is launching  a "Futures Initiative" [more here: <http://www.ccmpo.org/newsroom/releases/20060926.html>].
      · The new University Transportation Center at UVM has opened with $16 million in funding and a mission to promote sustainable transportation systems and advanced technologies for northern rural climates. The UTC recently requested proposals for signature projects and received 35 by the deadline of September 31. Several of the proposals were directly related to Clean Cities activities, such as a proposal to promote the use of bio-diesel in the touring bus industry and another to test and demonstrate state of the art electric cars in Vermont (more here: <http://www.uvm.edu/%7Etransctr/>). Decisions about what is funded will not be made for several months.

EVermont is working on converting a Toyota Prius right here in Vermont into a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Energy Vehicle). (Source: EVermont)

Passenger Diesel Vehicles in Vermont?  The EPA reports that a cleaner diesel will now be in wide use as of this past Sunday, also reporting that the fuel is the most significant step forward in clean fuels since the removal of lead from gasoline over 25 years ago. The phase-in mandated by the EPA called for ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) in on-road vehicles to account for 80% of highway diesel sold on and after Sunday October 15, 2006. ULSD reduces the sulfur content of highway diesel fuel by 97%, from 500ppm to 15ppm. Refineries have been transitioning since June, and the fuel is available around the country, including Vermont. Diesel vehicles (light and heavy duty) will be required to use ULSD starting in 2007. The implementation costs of this fuel are estimated to be $4.3 billion a year, but public health benefits are projected to come to over $70 billion a year. Car companies have criticized ULSD for its lower lubricity compared to the diesel currently sold, but industry experts say that fuel additives such as biodiesel can easily restore lubricity. Vermont is one of 5 states that do not permit sales of passenger diesel vehicles due to its high emissions profile (despite the higher fuel efficiency of diesel engines), but there is some potential that the new fuel could affect the strictness of this law, so stay tuned. [Sources: Times Argus, EPA, Forbes. More info.]
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Getting Around Post-Peak
(dedicated to Local Motion and Bike Recycle Vermont)
brought to our attention by Moshe Braner
Many have asked us here at Vermont Peak Oil Network what one might expect to see in the realm of  post peak oil transportation.  While it is true that not all the oil in the ground will become inaccessible immediately, it is certain that the single occupancy vehicle (as we know it) will be much more expensive --- in a culture so driven by cars, how will we replace it?  How will we carry our groceriers, building supplies, furniture, even our children? In some parts of the world, this has been solved (to an extent few of us can imagine) by the bicycle and its close cousins:  http://aistigave.hit.bg/Logistics/
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As the Crow Flies:  Reports from Around the State

ACoRN - Addison County Relocalization Network
"ACORN is a cooperative response to an energy-constrained future. Our mission is to revitalize our local economy to help our communities provide sustainable sources of food, water, energy, employment and other essential resources, and to promote conservation and a healthy environment."   (Mission Statement, Ratified January 2006)

Visit ACoRN on line at  http://www.acornvt.org/  to find out about scheduled meetings, current projects, and Addison County resources, and read about the Acorn Biofuels Cooperative in the October edition of Monthly News and Views.  ACoRN has also posted a directory of Addison County's farmers.


Bennington Sustainability Outpost: http://www.benningtonoutpost.org
For more information:  info@benningtonoutpost.org


CPON:  Cabot Peak Oil Network
CPON continues to develop interfaces between farmers in Cabot.  Organic dairy farmers are aware of peak oil.  Grass-fed dairy, beef and poultry are, from beginning to end, "sustainability."  This raises the question of what we feed chickens when "all you have is what you have."  Lee is working with the town through the Democracy Committee, using his conflict management skills.  He recommends Non Violent Communication training, a skill he feels we will need to facilitate good relationships in hard times.  For more information about CPON, contact Lee:  leeb (at) pivot.net 


First Branch Sustainability Project (Tunbridge)
Meeting 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month.  Mission statement:  "Work together to maximize quality of life as we reduce dependency on oil."
Contact Henry at:  swayze (at) pngusa (dot) net

Our First Branch (of the White River) Sustainability Project (living better with out fossil fuel) is inching towards the goal of being fossil fuel neutral by 2020.  Three action projects are under way at this time:
1.    Tunbridge, Chelsea, South Royalton, Vershire and Thetford have joined together to bring broad band internet to all areas of our communities.  3 grants have been applied for, 1,000 self identified customers have come forward and detailed mapping has been done on a trial basis to determine the technologies necessary.  The committees view broad band as a way of supporting business and education as well as entertainment.  It will be a tool for home business development and telecommuting thus reducing fossil fuel usage for commuting.  The local business will enhance community wide cash flow.
2.    We have helped evaluate and instigate micro hydro and wind site evaluation.  One home brewed hydro site is nearing completion.  Many will have to wait for group net metering rules to be published.
3.    We have developed a solar hot water project with the target of 50 household installations by spring.  40 interested parties are on the map and more joining daily.  We are exploring funding systems for the individuals, introducing them to contractors, are in hopes of getting grants, offering prizes and incentives, and are arranging joint purchases to reduce costs.  We would like to see this initiative spread to other areas (see more on this project, below).

Future steps include:
•    Energy eficiency evaluation and improvements for existing houses.
•    Development of community scale wind and or hydro.
•    Development for wood fired residential heat both cord wood and  pellet wood and grass.  (If practiced sustainably these are carbon neutral with the crops sequestering the carbon produced by burning.)
•    Exploration of the production of biofuels including cellulosic fuels that would augment gas for transportation.
•    Ramping up the consumption and production of local food.

In the meantime today: the radiant heat from the wood is stove is relaxing and timeless. Wisps of fog dance off the hill sides dotted with the last bursts of yellow leaves. 80 some year old Emily Howe bestowed upon us samples of crispin apples from her five crates of apples covered by a blanket in her summer kitchen. Our daughter Nelia is about to give birth to our first grandchild and our other daughter Hannah reports that her second week of marriage is delightfully mellow warm and supportive.

Henry & Cornelia Swayze 10/24/2006
Tunbridge Vermont
swayze at PNGUSA dot net

The Solar Hot Water Challenge: Promoting the Installation of Solar Hot Water Heaters on as many homes as possible!
Relying on Technology that is
•    Effective
•    Affordable
•    Practical

Let us know if you are interested in exploring the idea of heating your hot water with the sun.

Sponsored by the First Branch Sustainability Project
Contact Phillip Mulligan at phillip (at) sover.net,
or telephone (802) 685-7784 for more information


Greater East Montpelier Peak Oil Group
Monthly meetings on the second Tuesdays.  Film screenings and discussions frequently offered in the community. Call Carl Etnier 223 2564 or  carl (at) etnier.net  for more information and travel directio