Climate Matters: A conversation with Rep. Amy Sheldon on the Renewable Energy Standard

The Renewable Energy Standard, passed by the state Legislature in 2015, sets targets for the amount of renewable energy used in Vermont, states how much of that energy must be generated in Vermont, defines what kinds of energy count as renewable energy, and puts in place a system of renewable energy credits as a way to account for all of the above.

In May 2022 composer-pianist David Feurzeig embarked on Play Every Town: 252 free concerts in each of Vermont’s 252 towns to confront climate change through the power of community and music. On Friday, Oct. 20, he will perform in Starksboro.

Important news on the local climate front this week came when Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak spoke in favor of proposed legislation that would divest the state’s pension fund from investments in fossil fuel companies.

The average first frost in Addison County typically comes in early October, but the current 10-day forecast for our area suggests our first frost will be delayed.

The Climate Economy Action Center of Addison County is launching a pilot program that will offer free one-on-one support to county residents looking to reduce their home’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. 

A new project spearheaded by the Climate Economy Action Center of Addison County will explore the decarbonization of the county’s larger, nonresidential buildings, such as schools, factories and office buildings.

This summer we’ve had the chance to see all too much rain, and while we’ve not seen a lot of fires directly, their smoke has blurred our skies, their destructive potential displayed on our televisions. What next? Where do we go from here?

As members of the Middlebury Union High School cross country and Nordic ski teams, we spend a lot of our time on school buses traveling to and from competitions all over the state.

There is a direct connection between climate change and the massive rainstorms that have disrupted Vermont life this summer. 

Mostly I agree with Chris Olsen on efforts to battle climate change, but I must explain the CEAC report.

As the climate warms and the rains continue (and the mud gets worse), can we start working toward making Field Days more responsive to climate change?

In the face of a year marked by damaging floods and a devastating spring frost, farmers in Addison County and beyond are exploring ways to protect their crops during future growing seasons.

If you Google “What can I do about climate change,” you will get millions of hits, with plentiful lists and sets of recommendations. The focus most often is on individual rather than collective action. 

I am writing to request clarification to a sentence in the article written by Marin Howell and published on June 22, 2023, under the headline “Efforts to decarbonize local homes faces hurdles.”

When the powers you’ve trusted for so long go sour, it’s hard to believe in anything.