Green Mountain Daily Community,

Over the past two weeks, hundreds of Vermont residents like you have sent messages supporting Governor Shumlin’s bold energy plan. It’s working — we are very close to making Vermont the leader in clean energy. We need to keep the pressure on this week as the legislature takes up the 2012 energy bill!

Go to the below link to take action for renewable energy now!

http://action.sierraclub.org/s…

    Right now, the Vermont House Committee on Natural Resources is moving to put hard numbers in the energy bill. We need to send a strong message today that Vermont should aim for 90% renewable energy by 2025. This is a goal we can reach, and we need Vermont’s legislature to commit to an increase of 25 megawatts of clean energy annually.

    Send a message today. Tell key lawmakers to commit to 90% renewable energy by 2025, with 25 MW of clean energy added annually. Let’s make the Green Mountain State the green energy leader in America.

Go to the below link to take action for renewable energy now!

http://action.sierraclub.org/s…

    These hard number commitments will ensure that we not only make the governor’s Comprehensive Energy Plan a reality, but that we do it 25 years sooner. The bill being worked on in committee now is make or break, and we can’t wait. If we don’t have these numbers, we will fall short of our goal.

Together we can keep sending the message that Vermonters demand a clean energy future. Take action today and let lawmakers know it’s time to step up and go big on renewables!

Thanks,

David Van Deusen

Conservation Organizer

Vermont Sierra Club

February 15th, 2012, Montpelier, VT -The Vermont Sierra Club, with three thousand members across the state, agrees with the great majority of Vermonters: We, as a state and as a people, need to move aggressively in the direction of renewable energy reliance/production. If we are to be successful in our fight against environmental degradation and climate change, we must move in this direction as fast as possible; we support 90% renewables by 2025, with at least 25 new mega watts a year.  Furthermore, our renewable energy future must include well sited and appropriate wind power development.

    While the Vermont Sierra Club recognizes that there are legitimate issues to be debated concerning the merits of any specific wind farm project, we do not feel the “tourists-won’t- come-here-if-they-can-see-windmills” argument is one of them.  Therefore, in the interest of more accurately framing the parameters of the wind energy debate, we have asked some of our neighbors in surrounding states (NH, MA, CT, RI, NY) to express their views on this alleged issue to our Governor via email.  Thus far (starting on February 1st), the overwhelming and unmistakable message has been, “I am a tourist, and I support wind farms in Vermont.”  Well over three thousand people in surrounding states have emailed Governor Peter Shumlin in order to tell him that they and their families would be more likely to vacation in Vermont if we were to become the leader in renewable energy reliance/production, including wind.

“Wind power is a plus for the environment because it helps reduce carbon emissions, it can provide livable wage jobs, and it supports our tourist industry,” said Steve Crowley, Chairman of the Vermont Sierra Club.

    The Vermont Sierra Club has also generated hundreds of emails, from Vermonters, telling the Governor and key legislators that they too support increased renewable energy production, including wind, and want to move in the renewable direction as fast as possible.  

    David Ellenbogen, Chairman of the Political Committee of the Vermont Sierra Club contends, “Vermonters and others who enjoy our state understand that our’s is a working landscape.  The notion that tourists would reconsider visiting Vermont because of the visibility of suitably located turbines is simply unfounded.”

    While the Vermont Sierra Club supports well sited wind development, it has not taken a position, for or against, any of the specific wind projects that are underway or currently being proposed.

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*Below is the template text sent to the Governor from out-of-state:

Subject: I Am A Tourist, and I Support Wind Power!

Body: Governor Shumlin,

I am writing to show support for the bold plan to move Vermont to 90% renewable energy by 2050. I am also writing because I am not a Vermonter. Rather, I am a supporter of clean energy, and a potential Vermont tourist.

If Vermont pursues this ambitious energy plan, including an increase in wind generation, know that my desire to visit will not diminish. Rather, my family and I would be more likely to visit Vermont and support your efforts towards a greener tomorrow.

Vermont has an incredible opportunity to be a leader in renewable energy. It would be fitting for the Green Mountain State to also be known as the Green Energy State. I hope that my own home state may soon follow your lead.

Thank you, Governor Shumlin for being a leader on this issue. Please take this letter into account when deciding the appropriate role for wind power in Vermont.

*Below is the template text sent by Vermonters to the Governor and members of the VT House and Senate Energy Committee:

Subject: I Am A Vermonter, and I Support Renewable Energy Now!

Body: Governor Shumlin and Lawmakers,

As a Vermonter, please know that I support the broad outlines of the governor’s comprehensive energy plan and its stated goal of achieving at least 90% reliance on renewable energy sources by 2050. This is the kind of leadership we need if we are to combat climate change and end our national addiction to dirty coal and fossil fuels. I want to thank Governor Shumlin for his leadership on this issue.

As a voter, I also want to encourage the governor to support all efforts to transition in this direction as fast as possible. If we can achieve this goal faster I would firmly support such efforts.

Finally, by building our green energy future — including well-sited wind projects — we not only help protect our environment, but also create good green collar jobs for Vermont’s construction workers. You can count on me to stand with the governor as we create livable wage jobs for Vermonters by building a renewable energy future. Let’s keep getting tough things done!

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Our Forests Our Future: Action Alert!  

On February 23rd, we need YOU to come to the Statehouse to tell Governor Peter Shumlin that forest conservation is important to Vermonters, important in the fight against climate change, and is important in helping to maintain our rural way of life!

What: Vermont Housing and Conservation Coalition Meeting With Governor and Lawmakers

When: Thursday, February 23rd, 2012, 9:00am-10:00am

Where: Room 11 of the Statehouse, Montpelier, Vermont

Why: Because you care about our forests, our environment, and our wildlife!

    For more than a year the Vermont Sierra Club, along with our partners in 350 Vermont, the Vermont Workers Center, organized labor, the Abenaki community, and other environmental groups have been engaged in the grassroots Our Forest Our Future campaign. This campaign is seeking to build a comprehensive system of conserved wildlife corridors throughout Vermont, linking our forests to those in surrounding states.   We intend to achieve this historic task by creating a mosaic of new locally owned town and Abenaki forests.

    We assert that such community forests can help protect our environment, reduce the climate change related stressors placed upon wildlife, and aid in carbon sequestration.  In addition, community forests can help local communities provide free or affordable firewood for elderly and low income residents, provide public revenue and jobs through sustainable forestry, and can provide a public place for Vermonters to hunt and fish. This is The Vermont Way!

    But in order to achieve these historic goals, we need to have the tools to do so.  The Vermont Housing and Conservation Fund is one such important tool in this fight.  This fund, in part, helps provide public money to establish community forests, and must be expanded in order to meet the needs of Vermonters and our environment.  

    Governor Peter Shumlin has made support for VHCB funding a central part of his fiscal policy.  His budget recommends $14 MILLION FOR VHCB – a $1.2 million increase for the year. However, there are those within the Republican Party who are not only against this increase, but who are calling for the fund to be entirely eliminated.

    Don’t let this happen!  Let’s not roll back the clock in our efforts to save Vermont’s forests!  Come to the Statehouse on Feb 23rd and let’s send Montpelier an unmistakable message: Vermonters support conservation, Vermonters support community forests, and Vermonters support an increase to the Housing and Conservation Fund!  

    Together, with your direct support and participation we will win! Let’s Put People and the Planet First!

David Van Deusen,

Conservation Organizer,

Vermont Sierra Club

(802)522-5812  

 

What: Rally/Press conference to Launch VT Fossil Fuels Freedom Campaign.

When: Weds, January 25th, 10:00am

Where: Cedar Creek Room of the Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier

       Our Governor, Peter Shumlin, is calling for 75% of our electricity to come from renewables within 20 years, and 90% of our total energy from renewables by 2050.  Implementing this plan  will not only mean a cleaner, more climate friendly environment, but it will also mean green collar jobs for Vermont’s working families.  

    Now let’s put the pressure on and tell Montpelier that we can move even faster and create good green jobs in the process. Let’s tell Montpelier that the faster we move towards a renewable energy future, the better we will stand in our fight against climate change.  Now is the time for Vermont to once again lead the way!

    On Wednesday, January 25th, at 10:00 am in the Cedar Creek Room in the Statehouse, Montpelier, there will be a rally/press conference announcing the launch of the historic “Fossil Fuels Freedom Campaign.”  This campaign was formed by our partners in the 350.org Vermont organization, and seeks to build a future of sustainable, climate friendly, renewable energy reliance in our state and beyond.  The Vermont Sierra Club supports these principles, and we will be there.  We invite you to be there too!  So come to Montpelier on January 25th, and be part of the green energy revolution!

David Van Deusen,

Conservation Organizer,

Vermont Sierra Club

(802)229-6399

The following letter was sent from the Vermont Sierra Club to Governor Shumlin on January 12th, 2012

Governor Peter Shumlin,

    The Vermont Sierra Club understands that there are some in the General Assembly who are advocating that we eliminate funding for the VT Housing and Conservation Fund for the year, and instead put that money into our Irene recovery efforts.  While the three thousand members of the Vermont Sierra Club clearly recognize the challenges facing our state in the aftermath of Irene, we are unequivocally opposed to this specific proposal. At best it is is short sighted, at worst it is politically motivated.

    As you have said, Irene was an indication of what we can expect as our climate changes, and as our weather becomes more extreme.  Therefore, we should not cut our limited funding for conservation efforts as conservation of our forests helps with carbon sequestration (therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and can help make our game populations more resilient to the negative impacts of climate change (see the Two Countries/One Forest Report).  

    Conserved forests, if in the form of local “community forests” also help with rural economic development, as they can be sustainably logged for local public revenue, can be a source of recreational tourism (snow mobilizing, mountain biking, hiking, etc.), and can provide free or cheap fire wood to low income and elderly Vermonters.  In addition, to cut funding to our statewide affordable housing efforts (which this fund also supports) during these difficult economic times, is simply the wrong road to go down.

    For all of these reasons, we strongly disagree with the suggestion that this fund should be cut.  In fact we contend that the state should expand our conservation resources by creating a new Vermont Community Forest Fund of 3.5 million dollars in order to build a stronger, more resilient environment and to further economic development in our rural towns and counties.  If we are to truly combat climate change and poverty, we must step forward and not back.

Sincerely,

David Van Deusen,

Conservation Organizer,

Vermont Sierra Club

149 State Street

Montpelier, Vermont 05602

(802)229-6399

Cc: VT Senate Pro Tem John Campbell, VT House Speaker Shap Smith, Senator Ginny Lyons, Senator Vice Illuzzi, Senator Anthony Pollina, Senator Jane Kitchel, Rep David Dean, Rep Martha Heath, Rep Tony Klein, Rep Helen Head, Rep Robert Lewis, Rep Jim McCullough, Rep Bill Botzow, Rep Chris Pearson    

An Op-Ed By Brigid Sullivan, Executive Committee Member of the Vermont Sierra Club

October 27th, 2011, Vermont – Our forests and the outdoor traditions that depend on them are under threat. Pollution, climate change, and irresponsible vacation home development are creating new challenges that, left unchecked, will result in the degradation of our game populations, trees, and more. What the latest science tells us is that in order to combat these challenges, we must take action immediately by creating viable wildlife migration corridors linking our core habitat areas in the Green Mountains to the Northeast Kingdom. The science also says that we must expand these corridors to our borders in order to link Vermont’s forests with those in surrounding states and provinces. In short, our woods are part of the larger eco-system known as the Great Northeastern Forest, and must be treated as a treasure for future generations.  

    The Vermont Sierra Club, in close partnership with the Northeast Kingdom’s Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe, is responding to this challenge through the building of the Our Forests Our Future campaign. This campaign has the goal of creating these wildlife corridors through a mosaic of newly established community forests.  By community forests we are referring to town owned forests and Abenaki owned forests that serve as public assets. In other words, we maintain that Vermont lands should stay in Vermont hands. By our way of thinking, this is the Vermont way!

   We also favor the creation of these new conservation oriented community forests because, in addition to helping with climate friendly carbon sequestration, such public lands will also bring economic and social benefits to the communities in which they are situated. They can:

*Provide educational opportunities for local school children

*Generate public or tribal revenue through sustainable logging

*Help support sustainable logging jobs  

*Be a source of free or affordable firewood for local elderly and low income people

*Be a place for public hunting and fishing

*Be a place for public recreation

     The fact is, Vermonters support the local approach to conservation, and so do we. This is not conjecture. Thus far the Our Forests Our Future campaign is endorsed by the Nulhegan and Elnu Abenaki Tribes, the Vermont AFL-CIO, the Green Mountain Central Labor Council, the Workers Center, the Capital City Grange, the Global Justice Ecology Project, the Conservation Law Foundation, and 350 Vermont.  Together these partners represent 8% of Vermont’s total workforce. The goals of this campaign were also supported by the recent Moving Planet rally in Montpelier. There, over 1500 Vermonters reaffirmed their support for conservation and community forests while Nulhegan Abenaki leader, Luke Willard, spoke to these ideas and values from the podium.

    The historic struggle to preserve Vermont’s forests and outdoor traditions through the establishment of new community forests will not be achieved overnight, but it has to start now. In order to achieve our common aims we must call on our Congressional Delegation to better fund and then capture resources from the federal Community Forest and Forest Legacy Programs. We must call on our Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to better focus their existing resources upon such projects. And we must call upon our state legislators and our Governor, Peter Shumlin, to support the establishment of a modest yet progressive fund for the sole purpose of building new community forests that meet the above goals. This is an environmental necessity, and should be an economic priority. We invite you, as a fellow Vermonter, to agree.

October 17th, 2011

People of Vermont, Governor Peter Shumlin, and Other Interested Parties,

    Vermont’s leading voices for working families and the environment are united and speak with one voice when it comes to renewable in-state energy production. We agree that renewable energy production is necessary if we are to become energy independent, environmentally responsible, and carbon neutral. We also comprehend the building of these new energy facilities as a source of construction jobs for working people. However, the question becomes, will these jobs go to out-of-state corporations, will they go to irresponsible in-state companies, or will they provide livable wages, good benefits, and family sustainable employment for a generation of Vermonters?

    It is our common assertion that the environmental and economic issues related to new energy development cannot be separated. Creating green energy without also supporting a strong local economy, or aggressively seeking  job creation without addressing basic environmental issues undermines the future upon which our Green Mountain State is predicated. As Vermonters, as the leaders of organized labor, as environmentalists, we do not and cannot accept a disjunction between these two foundational beliefs. In brief, we need green energy, and we need good green jobs!

    As the State of Vermont moves forward with its comprehensive energy plan we have an opportunity to not only guarantee Vermont’s place of honor as a leader in the global struggle against climate change, but also as a leader in local green job creation. It will be by virtue of this multiplier effect, by virtue of breaking down the false dichotomy between environmental concerns and economic concerns that we will firmly establish the cultural shift necessary to achieve sustainability, self reliance, and to further the common good in Vermont and beyond. Once again, history calls for Vermont to lead the way. Will we heed this historic call as we so often have in our proud past? That is the question before us today.  

    Therefore, we, the undersigned leaders of Vermont’s labor and environmental movements, with a combined membership in the tens-of-thousands, call on the Public Service Board to make local job creation, livable wages, and good benefits a basic, binding, and non-negotiable prerequisite prior to issuing a Certificate of Public Good for renewable energy projects. We further call on our Governor, Peter Shumlin, to continue to be a strong voice in support of hiring local, ideally union, for these green energy projects.

    We look forward to working in partnership with socially responsible renewable energy developers, the Public Service Board, our Governor, and the State of Vermont towards a green energy and green economic future. However, let it be known that we will publically resist any and all new energy projects that do not address the needs of the People of Vermont, articulated as good jobs and a green environment.  

Freedom and Unity,

Ben Johnson, President of the Vermont AFL-CIO

Jeff Potvin, President of the Vermont Building and Construction Trades Council

Michael Morelli, Business Agent for the Vermont Iron Workers Local 7

James Haslam, Director of the Vermont Workers’ Center

Zak Griefen, Chairman of the Vermont Sierra Club

Steve Crowley, Energy Committee Chair of the Vermont Sierra Club

David Stember, Organizer for 350Vermont

ACTION ALERT: Occupy Vermont, Put People First!

    The Vermont Sierra Club stands with the common people of Vermont, the nation, and the world. We are supporting the historic Occupy Wall Street rallies and are calling on our members and our supporters to join with the Vermont Workers’ Center, the Vermont AFL-CIO,350VT, and others to demand economic equality, freedom, and environmental justice here in Vermont and beyond. On October 9th and on October 15th, there will be rallies around the state. We ask that you come to these demonstrations and tell the world that, “Corporate Greed is Bad for Workers and Wildlife!”

It’s Time For All of Us To Take a Stand!

Occupy Vermont Solidarity Rallies:

*Burlington

Sunday, October 9, 12:30 pm, Burlington City Hall Park

Saturday, October 15, 2 pm, Burlington City Hall Park

contact: avery@workerscenter.org

*Brattleboro

Saturday, October 15th, 2pm, Wells Fountain Park

contact: kate@workerscenter.org

*Montpelier

Saturday, October 15th, 3:30pm, City Hall Steps

contact: sarah@workerscenter.org

*Rutland

Saturday, October 15th, Time and Location TBA

contact: kate@workerscenter.org

*New York City

Contact Heather Pipino (of the VT Workers’ Center) if you are interested in traveling to NYC at (802) 595-1671

*For updated information on these rallies go to:  http://www.workerscenter.org/c…

    We have seen the government bailout Wall Street and the big corporate interests time and again, while our social services, our environmental regulations, our conservation funds are gutted to the bone. We say it is time for real change! It’s time for The People to be heard and to Put People First!

    Therefore, the Vermont Sierra Club stands in solidarity with the tens of thousands of union members, students, and environmentalists who are currently taking a stand against corporate greed at the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations in NYC and across the world.  We are the 99%!

    Here in Vermont we join with the Vermont Workers Center, the Vermont AFL-CIO, and 350VT in calling for solidarity demonstrations around the state in the coming week. Together we are strong, and together we will win both environmental and economic justice for all!

“We must end the destruction of the natural environment – the environment upon which our lives depend.”   -Vermont Workers’ Center, from their Occupy Wall Street Statement  

(Town forests is something that gets talked about, but tribal forests? Here’s an interesting conversation that hasn’t hit the radar screen yet – what do you think? – promoted by odum)

See Luke Willard, Nulhegan Abenaki leader, call for the creation of Tribal and Town Forests across Vermont!

Luke Willard, former Chief of the Northeast Kingdom’s Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe, and current Vermont Commissioner on Native American Affairs, spoke in front of a large crowd at the VT Moving Plant rally. Mr. Willard, speaking on behalf of the Nulhegan Abenaki, the VT Sierra Club, and the Our Forests Our Future campaign demanded comprehensive conservation through the creation of new town and tribal forests. Watch this historic speech now!

    *On September 24th, 2011, over 1500 Vermonters rallied in the State Capital of Montpelier (population: 7800) to demand action on Climate change, and to support community forests, green (union) jobs, energy efficient homes and buildings, 100% renewable energy, local/healthy food, and green transportation. This was quite possibly the largest environmental demonstration in the history of the Green Mountain State. In addition to the Abenaki, the speakers included Mike Morelli of the Iron Workers Local 7 (in support of green jobs), Governor Peter Shumlin, and US Senator Bernie Sanders. The event was organized by 350Vermont, and was endorsed by the Vermont Sierra Club.  

Take action, by clinking on the below link, to bring green jobs to Vermont!

https://secure2.convio.net/sie…

The Vermont Sierra Club, 350VT, and the Vermont Iron Workers Local 7 are working together to fight climate change and pollution through building a renewable energy future. Increasing our green energy portfolio will also build a green economy.  

But this green economy must mean a good economy with middle-class jobs for working Vermonters. Now we need you to take action to make sure that green jobs go to Vermonters.

Too often, developers use non-union workers from out of state to construct the renewable energy projects that were supposed to serve Vermonters.  This is not good enough. With unemployment high, and our economy still in crisis, we need to build green and sustainable jobs for Vermonters.  Keeping these jobs and our money in Vermont would be a huge boost to our state and our local communities.  

Whenever a wind farm is built, whenever a large solar complex is erected, whenever a biomass installation is constructed, we need to know that these construction and continuing maintenance jobs are in fact Vermont jobs; the kind that pay liveable wages and provide good benefits.

Renewable energy projects are the future. Will that future be one of economic prosperity or poverty for Vermont’s working families? We, environmentalists and union members, choose economic prosperity — and you can too by taking action today.

Take action, by clinking on the below link, to bring green jobs to Vermont!

https://secure2.convio.net/sie…

Please join us in working with the Governor and Public Service Board to mandate that Certificates of Public Good should only be issued for renewable energy projects when the developer agrees to hire local, and pay family sustainable wages with benefits.  Anything less perpetuates poverty, unemployment, and scarcity among our friends, families, neighbors, and fellow Vermonters.

Thank you for everything you do for Vermont’s environment and working families.

David Van Deusen

Sierra Club — Vermont

Michael Morelli

VT Iron Workers Local 7

David Stember

350VT

Take action, by clinking on the below link, to bring green jobs to Vermont!

https://secure2.convio.net/sie…