The Climate Economy Programs are designed to help communities build and implement priority actions that increase economic vitality and affordability in a time of climate change.
Randolph participated in VCRD’s Climate Economy Model Community Program (CEMCP) in 2018. CEMCP is community-driven process with local leaders, VCRD, Green Mountain Power, and Efficiency Vermont to cultivate economic development, innovation, and affordability in the face of climate change. Over 300 Randolph residents participated in the “R3 – Randolph Region Re-Energized” process with support from…
Curriculum – Strengthening Leadership and Building Connections Strong leaders understand and unleash the power of connection. Participants build new connections within the cohort and with potential partners and learn to strengthen connections in their communities and with stakeholders. Four in-person sessions will build the bulk of the cohort time together, with additional monthly zoom time…
Task Force Co-Chairs: Diana Batzel and Nick Siefert Task Force Description: This task force will work with partners to assist home owners, renters, businesses and community institutions in reducing energy use, using renewable energy, and fuel switching. Task Force Update: Energy Improvements At Twinfield School: Twinfield School is a treasured community institution and has already…
Task Force Co-Chairs: Richard Baker (Marshfield) and Jamie Spector (Plainfield) Task Force description: Downtown Marshfield and downtown Plainfield are key hubs of economic, social, and cultural activity. The health and vitality of both communities depends in part on the vibrancy of these two places. Route 2 also plays a critical role in defining both communities,…
Over 120 Marshfield and Plainfield residents came together through the Model Communities program to consider the future of their two towns and how they can collectively rally to maintain the vibrancy of both places while also tackling climate change. From this process, the residents created Revitalizing All Marshfield and Plainfield,” or RAMP, consisting of four…
Since 2017, VCRD has convened the Climate Economy Action Team (CEAT), a group of business and non-profit leaders dedicated to advancing distributed clean energy generation, energy efficiency, and climate solutions entrepreneurship. We are working together to help start new Vermont businesses, expand innovation and the profitability of existing businesses, and reduce Vermont’s carbon impact while…
Middlebury was the second community to participate in VCRD's Climate Economy Model Community Program (CEMCP). CEMCP is community-driven process with local leaders, VCRD, Green Mountain Power, and Efficiency Vermont to cultivate economic development, innovation, and affordability in the face of climate change. Read the Greater Middlebury Report and Action Plan. Through the process, community members…
The Vermont Council on Rural Development is a nonprofit that has been instrumental in helping communities articulate community goals and find ways to marshall community resources to achieve them.
By Paul Costello, and printed in multiple media outlets, including The Bennington Banner: https://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/paul-costello-what-is-the-climate-change-story-we-tell-our-children,577259 I’ve been wrestling with a sentence that typifies the mission of our times, and have come to this: “We need to end the fundamental threat that climate change presents to our ability to provide for our children.” We can accomplish this…
As seen in the Caledonian Record, April 30, 2019: https://www.caledonianrecord.com/opinion/columns/david-snedeker-invest-in-weatherization/article_5124474b-a682-535d-a43f-7be3213af1f4.html One of the smartest investments Vermont can make as a state is in the weatherization of our homes and businesses. Our old housing and building stock means that too much of Vermonters’ hard earned money ends up going up the chimney or out the door.…