Contact: Paul Costello, VCRD Executive Director, 802-223-5763, [email protected]
EDITORS: Note, a complete Summit packet, including participants and bios, is available at http://vtrural.org/sites/default/files/content/ClimateEconomy/CESummitPacket2016.pdf.
RANDOLPH, VT – Strategies for keeping Vermont in the forefront of stimulating the growth of green jobs while reducing carbon emissions were abundant at today’s Summit on Vermont’s Climate Economy at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. Over 400 innovative business, non-profit, and community leaders, the Governor’s Climate Cabinet, local officials and students agreed there is an increasing demand in the global marketplace for low carbon solutions. They spent the day developing new partnerships and actions to assure Vermont remains a leader that can attract and nurture businesses in energy development and conservation, resource recovery, and other related sectors.
The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) organized this event to advance the bold new vision and opportunities recently identified in the Progress for Vermont report it issued for the Vermont Climate Change Economy Council.
In his opening remarks VCRD Executive Director Paul Costello said ”Vermont is in position to be the friendliest place in the country for creating jobs that build from our values while addressing the enormous challenge of climate change.”
Today’s working sessions reflected the wide variety of fields that are part of the climate economy including transportation, education, downtown redevelopment, tourism, and efficiency. During his keynote address, Danny Kennedy of the California Clean Energy Fund pointed to the rapid deployment of creative new companies in California and across the United States and the important role public policy plays in stimulating investment and producing new jobs while reducing carbon impacts.
VCRD’s Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Rick Davis, president/co-founder of the Permanent Fund for Vermont’s Children. Rick’s steadfast commitment to early childhood development continues to have a tremendous impact through the expansion of early childhood learning opportunities in Vermont.
For more information visit VCRD’s home page at vtrural.org or call Margaret at 802 223-6091.
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The Vermont Council on Rural Development is a non-profit organization charged by the federal farm bill to act as a neutral convener at both the local and policy level supporting the progress of Vermont communities. VCRD will promote the platform of action that comes from the deliberations of Summit participants.
Past VCRD policy efforts have supported progress in issues ranging from wood products to downtown revitalization, rural energy development, the digital economy, and Vermont’s working landscape. VCRD produced the most extensive evaluation of Vermont values and priorities in a generation when it led the Council on the Future of Vermont in 2009.