(This article about walking complements the article that appeared on January 12, 2023 about how walking is good for people and the planet.)

There is more to life than increasing its speed.    — Gandhi

There’s a lot to be said for the old-fashioned wisdom that comes in sayings like: “If the Good Lord had wanted you to fly, you would have had wings.” Instead, we were given feet.

Walking is the original way of getting around. It came before the invention of the wheel, the cart, the wagon, the automobile and the airplane. For that reason alone, it is the “natural” form of locomotion—of moving from one place to another. Walking is simply a practical way to go places—to see people you want to visit and do the errands you need to do.

More than that, you can use walking to set daily goals and string them together into something amazing. The famous Chinese teacher and philosopher Confucius once said that, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Although Confucius lived more than 2,500 years ago, his wisdom is timeless.

I (the writer) walk and run at least 3 miles every day. A few years ago I did the math and discovered that, at this rate, the total number of miles I am walking over the span of every 23 years equals more than the distance that it would take to walk around the world along the equator—24,902 miles (40,076 kilometers). One step at a time, and one day at a time, you, too, can walk around the world—accomplishing something that is healthy for yourself and the planet! 

WALK AROUND THE WORLD

What You Will Need:

• Map of your neighborhood
• Highlighting marker
• Ball of string
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Calculator
• Writing Journal
• Pencil
• Map of the World 
• Large bulletin board
• Push pins
• Comfortable pair of walking or running shoes
• Pedometer (optional)

Steps to Take:

1. Set a small walking goal to meet every day. Pick a distance that you’re comfortable with. Keep in mind that walking to school, to the playground, the baseball or soccer field, local store and so on—all count toward your daily distance. Walking the dog counts, too!
2. Get a copy of a map of the area where you live, including trails. If you can’t find it a local outdoor/camping supply store or bookstore, try the Chamber of Commerce or City Hall. You can also search the Find a Trail maps on the Upper Valley Trails Alliance website: https://www.uvtrails.org/, or download the Walk Woodstock map to search for a route among Woodstock’s more than 60 miles of local trails: http://npmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/woodstock-trail-map.pdf
3. Find the scale of distance on the map. For example, “one inch equals 1.5 miles.”
4. Use the highlighter to mark some of the routes that you normally walk, and some routes that you want to add as part of your Walk Around the World.
5. Run a piece of string along each route and cut it to length. Then straighten each measure of string next to the ruler to get the number of inches for each route on the map. Write down this length for each route.
6. Using the map’s distance scale, calculate how far each of the walks measures on the ground. If the map’s scale is 1-inch equals 1.5 miles, then a 2-inch distance on your map, when measured on the ground, would be: 2 inches x 1.5 miles per inch = 3 miles. If the maps scale is 1 centimeter equals 1 kilometer, then a 2-centimeter distance on your map, when measured on the ground, would be: 2 centimeters x 1 kilometer per centimeter = 2 kilometers. Record each of these distances in your walking journal.
7. Break it down into small goals to start. At first, walk one of the shorter routes every day. As you get into better physical condition you can walk farther by adding some longer routes.
8. Each time you take a walk, record the date, location and distance in your Walking Journal. Keep track of the total distance that you have walked over time. Optional: You can also use a pedometer to record your walking distances. This is a small battery-powered device that hangs on your waistband or belt and measures how many steps you take. Based on how long each of your steps is, the pedometer multiplies that length times the number of steps to calculate the distance you’ve walked.
9. Pin the local map next to the map of the world on the bulletin board. Use some string and pins to show the total distance you have walked to date on the map of the world, and how far that distance would reach from your home to the next town, the next county, the next state, across the country and so on.
10. Learn about the states, provinces, countries, people, plants and animals at the locations that your total walking distance (to date) reaches to from your home. Imagine what it would be like to visit some of those places! Start a list of locations you would like to travel in your lifetime.

Over the years—one step at a time—you can walk around the world. Earth from Space. NASA Photo.

Safety First: 

• Always ask your parent’s or guardian’s permission before you go out for a walk, whether alone or with a friend. If your parent or guardian says you are too young to walk alone, or with a friend, then ask if they will go with you. This will get them involved with walking, too.
• When you do get permission, be sure to talk to your parent or guardian and choose safe walking routes.
• Always tell a parent or guardian exactly where you are going, what route you are taking and when you are expected back home. Stick with that plan. If you have a cell phone, bring it with you.
• Start a Walk Around the World group to share the experience, increase the level of safety (in numbers) and make it more fun!
• Tell your parents about the book called Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry by Lenore Skenazy. Once they’ve read the book, you can talk about how to strike a balance between allowing you to do things outside, while still keeping you safe.

The post Walk Around the World appeared first on Sustainable Woodstock.

The IREC position is run through TRORC and serves seven towns. In 2022 those towns were Barnard, Sharon, Strafford, Thetford, Woodstock, Norwich and Bradford. Each town has a member on the steering committee, which guides the IREC’s focus. The work of the IREC is to lessen overall energy use, lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and move to renewable generation of electricity, all while seeking long term cost savings. Woodstock joined the IREC program in 2020, the program’s first year, and thanks to the ongoing support of Woodstock residents and the Selectboard, continued its participation in 2021 and 2022. We hope that the town will continue this support in 2023. 

In 2020 Woodstock passed a Climate Emergency and Action Resolution, with a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. This declaration meant that we as a town were taking this issue seriously and willing to put time, money and energy into solving it; that is the heart of much of the IREC work. As IREC, Geoff completed a municipal GHG emission inventory to understand where the town’s emissions were coming from and track progress towards the town’s net-zero by 2030 goal. Geoff and TRORC also began work to lower GHG emissions in our municipal buildings, developing a proposal to reduce emissions by 12.5% annually by installing new technologies such as heat pumps in municipal buildings and weatherizing. The voters approved the financing for these projects at Town Meeting this past March, and the Select Board will be reviewing the final work scope and pricing proposal at the December 20 meeting. If the proposal is successful, the majority of town buildings would no longer use fossil fuel as a primary heat source.  

Geoff also collaborated with Fire Chief David Green, Efficiency Vermont, and Sustainable Woodstock on the renovations occurring at the Public Safety Facility. The recent work done there is minimizing fossil fuel use at the building through the use of innovative heat pump and thermal storage technology. Efficiency Vermont and Green Mountain Power provided an incentive of over $50,000 to help cover the costs of the energy-efficient, fossil fuel-free equipment. As a result, the town is avoiding over 80% of the emissions that the propane system in the original renovation design would have produced. 

In addition to lowering buildings emissions, The IREC position has also taken action to reduce transportation emissions, which is a high priority in Vermont and the biggest generator of carbon emissions. Geoff facilitated a successful $1.6 million application to the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program with Butler Bus Service and the Windsor Central Supervisory Union. As a result, two all-electric school buses, paid for entirely by the grant, will soon be transporting Woodstock High School students to and from school. The grant will also cover almost all of the cost for new charging infrastructure at the high school to support both the new buses as well as to provide charging for the public.

Lastly, the IREC position has advocated for solar. In collaboration with Sustainable Woodstock, the IREC position worked with Norwich Technologies to secure additional solar net-metering credits to supply the Town of Woodstock, which has an annual savings of around $4,800. This agreement lowers the town’s utility costs, which could support future investments to lower emissions, and supports solar generation in Vermont. Before leaving his role, Geoff and Sustainable Woodstock also began working on siting new community solar arrays in town. This work will continue with the new IREC, provided Woodstock approves funding for the position in 2023.

Woodstock voters have shown again and again that climate action is a priority to our town. The 2020 Woodstock Climate Emergency and Action Resolution is proof of this, as is the recent vote this past March to reduce GHG emissions in our municipal buildings by 12.5% annually through weatherizing and installing new technologies such as heat pumps. With your support, we hope to continue this important climate work with the invaluable help of the IREC position.

Bluebird Vision 2020 Electric Bus. This untouched photo is used under the Creative Commons License 4.0. UniversityRailroad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

The post Intermunicipal Regional Energy Coordinator’s (IREC) Accomplishments in Woodstock appeared first on Sustainable Woodstock.

Sustainable Woodstock’s focus on community resilience in response to global climate change is catalyzed by the pressing need to ensure that residents of Woodstock, the surrounding towns and the Upper Valley region are able to find sustenance, health and safety—the necessities that individuals and communities need to achieve their full potential. To these ends, Sustainable Woodstock has increased our capacity as a leading local and regional grassroots organization that reaches across social, economic and cultural barriers to promote Sustainable Opportunities for All. We have increased the events and initiatives that provide support and security in regards to food and energy needs for those from all backgrounds and income levels. The links between Earth stewardship, social justice and racial equality are more clear and present than ever before.

2022 Highlights

• Sustainable Woodstock—The Whole Environment: Working with the community to foster Woodstock’s unique legacy of stewardship, sustainability and resilience—yesterday, today and tomorrow. 
• Climate Change Leadership: Producing and partnering on numerous public programs, student and community actions, films, articles, solar energy projects, energy conservation and transportation initiatives and programs, including a Regional Climate Action Plan to curb carbon emissions and mitigate global warming.
• Energy & Transportation Action Group: Collaborating with the Town and Village of Woodstock and the Intermunicipal Regional Energy Coordinator (IREC/Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission) to design and retrofit buildings to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions at considerable savings to Woodstock residents over time.
  • Equal Energy Opportunities for All: Raising $100,000 to implement energy-efficiency improvements & upgraded systems for income-sensitive households—from weatherization to heat pumps.
  • Renewable Energy for All: Promoting the means to make renewable energy affordable for everyone. Partnering with Norwich Solar Technologies, Twin Pines Housing, SEVCA and IREC to plan a solar array to serve low- to moderate-income households. 
  • Window Dressers: Implementing a 2-year project for income-sensitive households in Woodstock and the surrounding towns, making some 450 interior storm window inserts to reduce cold drafts, save energy, lower heating costs and reduce carbon emissions: https://windowdressers.org/
  • eBike Trials: Provided 67 free public eBike trials (to date) to promote low-impact transportation, in partnership with Vital Communities, Local Motion, Norman Williams Public Library and St. James Church.
• Community Gardens & Food Security: Helping to meet the crucial need for sustenance as the root of sustainability for individuals and families. SW expanded our Billings Farm and King Farm community gardens and planted additional food security plots. Our GROW YOUR OWN GARDEN project created 225 beginner gardening kits that were distributed free to income-sensitive households—feeding some 600 people. This year we also funded raised beds at Woodstock’s Riverside Mobile Home Park.
• Natural Resources Projects & Funding: On behalf of the Town and Village of Woodstock, Sustainable Woodstock applied for $280,000 in state funding to implement natural resource projects related to water quality. Procured a project design grant from VT Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) and Watershed United Vermont to mitigate erosion along Barnard Brook (in partnership with the Woodstock Resort Corporation & Billings Farm). Initiated a process—in partnership with the Connecticut River Conservancy, Woodstock Resort and ANR—to remove the three remaining dams restricting fish passage along Kedron Brook.
• Advocacy: SW advocates on the local, regional and statewide level for sustainability and community benefits, ranging from climate change mitigation and community resiliency to quiet alternatives to leaf blowers.
• Upper Valley Partners & Leadership: No town is an island. Sustainable Woodstock has worked on regional sustainability initiatives, educational programs and events in partnership with more than 60 organizations and municipal bodies throughout Woodstock, the Ottauquechee Watershed and the Upper Valley. As a result of SW’s success, residents in Lebanon, Brownsville and Plymouth asked for help with forming organizations to address sustainability and resiliency in their own communities.
• Celebrating the 4th year of partnering with Pentangle Arts on monthly screenings of our Upper Valley Climate Change & Sustainability Film Series—with attendance of over 4,500 people (to date) from  the Upper Valley and beyond, including online viewers from Europe to New Zealand! Inspiring viewers to act on critical environmental and social issues, with generous support from underwriters Mascoma Bank & Vermont Community Foundation, and sponsors Mark D. Knott DDS, Ellaway Property Services, Unicorn and Yankee Bookshop.
• Bridgewater Community Center: SW is in the 4th year of helping to transform the Bridgewater Area Community Center into a resilient, sustainable hub, including the Bridgewater Community Childcare, which opened its doors to children and families in June 2022! During this time, we have spearheaded a successful $100,000 grant from the State of Vermont and National Park Service to restore and weatherize historic windows and install new storm windows throughout, and co-authored a successful $75,000 grant from the Canaday Family Charitable Trust to install energy-efficient systems.
• Completed 7 years of monthly Green Drinks discussions, reaching a growing audience with presentations and discussions on sustainability initiatives in Woodstock, the Upper Valley and beyond—a dynamic venue for networking, public education and collaboration between sustainability and resilience organizations. 
• Weekly Columns: 12+ years of writing weekly columns for the Vermont Standard. (A special thanks to the Vermont Standard staff!)
• Community Recycling: At SW’s Annual Recycling Day, on October 15, 2022, participants recycled nearly 11,000 pounds of used electronics, and 5,000 pounds of documents. Forest Carbon Action Group: Marking 4 years of leadership educating foresters and landowners about managing forest carbon to mitigate climate change. Published a 24×36 full-color Family Forest Carbon Poster with Northam Forest Carbon. 

Sustainable Woodstock is honored and grateful for the energy, enthusiasm and hard work of our dedicated volunteers—and for the incredible generosity of our supporters—all of whom make it possible to accomplish so much on behalf of our communities and the environment. Thank you!

Photo caption & credit: A sampling of harvests from Sustainable Woodstock’s Community Garden at Billings Farm that were donated to the Woodstock Community Food Shelf. (Photo: Amy Wheeler/Sustainable Woodstock)

The post 2022 Sustainable Woodstock Highlights appeared first on Sustainable Woodstock.

There are more than 100 million bicycles in the U.S., and some 52 million bicycle riders. City buses in Seattle, San Diego and Washington State have bike racks on the outside for people who commute to work by combining bicycling with mass transit. In Portland, Oregon—a city with 300 miles of bicycle lanes—bikes are used eight times as often as in the rest of the United States. Montreal has 300 bicycle stations throughout the city with 3,000 bicycles that anyone can use. Each station has Wi-Fi available and is powered by the Sun. Even in car-loving New York City, bicycle use has multiplied by 80% in the past decade. E-bikes are rapidly gaining in popularity in both urban and rural areas.

Other bicycle-friendly cities in the U.S. include Columbia, Missouri; Boulder, Colorado; Tucson, Arizona; Louisville, Kentucky; Carmel, Indiana and Davis, California, which was one of the first communities to embrace bicycles. Canadian cities that are working to encourage cycling include Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia; Ottawa and Toronto, Ontario; and Montreal and Quebec City, Quebec. Some of the highest levels of cycling in Canada are found in British Columbia, in the chilly Yukon and Northwest Territories and in the cities of Kingston, Ontario and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

In addition to being driven for commuting and recreation, bicycles have many other practical uses. Mail is delivered by bicycle in Australia and northern Europe. Police patrol from the seat of a bicycle in London, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and Victoria, British Columbia. Bicycles appear less threatening and help officers to get to know people in the neighborhoods where they patrol. People in many countries use tricycles for making deliveries and hauling things to market.

Many kids in North America grow up riding a bicycle to get around because bicycles are fast, cheap and fun. Today, in many places, riders have local bike paths that often connect to longer trail networks. The Adventure Cycling Association maintains a 38,000-mile network of bike trails in the United States, along with maps and cycle tours (https://www.adventurecycling.org/).

But the U.S. still has a long way to go. Out of every 200 commuters, only one now rides a bike to work. Many towns and cities don’t have good bike lanes to help make riding safe. And bicycles still have to be accepted and seen as a “normal” choice for getting around before many people will begin to use them.  

No matter how much time and effort it takes to help grow the use of bicycles in place of cars, it will be worth the effort for the sake of Earth. One of the best things about bicycles is that they contribute little, if anything, to global warming gases. When everything is added and subtracted to the amount of carbon dioxide created and absorbed by a person riding a bicycle, it balances out to about zero. That’s pedal power! And it’s why bicycles are “cool” for the planet.

What You Can Do:

• Safety First: Make sure to practice all of the safety measures while riding a bicycle, such as wearing a helmet, going with the flow of traffic, using a safety flag, tying your shoelaces and so on. Here is a great website to read for bicycle safety tips: http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/bike_safety.html#
• Check out the Bike Commuting Options web page at Go!Vermont: https://www.connectingcommuters.org/greener-ways-to-go/biking-in-vermont/bike-options/
• Locate bike trails to explore as mapped by the Upper Valley Trails Alliance (https://www.uvtrails.org/), and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2021/december/15/top-10-trails-in-vermont/. A great book for finding new biking adventures is Rail-Trails of Northern New England by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Photo caption: “This intersection in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is alive with cyclists.”Photo credit: “Photo by Noralí Nayla on Unsplash.”

Going Places With Pedal Power 

Here are some ways to use your bicycle, from fun to the practical. 

• go out and play games or sports
• visit friends and family
• pick things up at the local store
• exercise and keep in shape
• ride on a designated mountain bike trail
• take a historical tour
• visit a museum
• ride to a nature center and take a hike in the outdoors
• go to a community bike trail or rail trail and take a long ride
• pedal to a park for a picnic
• start a small, local delivery service and make some extra money

For longer trips, the best equipment for carrying things is a bike rack for the rear and a set of saddlebags or panniers. Twin bags that drape over the bike rack above the rear wheel sit low on the bicycle, which helps you to hold the road and doesn’t interfere with steering. Make sure to put equal amounts of weight in each side of the saddlebags so that the load doesn’t pull you off to one side, especially when cornering.

The post Raising the (Handle) Bar on Cycling appeared first on Sustainable Woodstock.

This is the second year that Sustainable Woodstock will be hosting the travelling Upper Valley E-Bike library. The library, hosted by Vital Communities, is a chance for borrowers to check out an e-bike from the Norman Williams Public Library for time slots of 1 hour to find out how these bikes can replace car trips and transform their daily transportation needs. There will be four types of e-bikes to try with a variety of bikes at different price points. Bikes available include a cargo bike with a rear rack and several standard bikes, all with an electric assist that helps riders get around with less effort and scale hills that previously seemed impossible.

While you may picture an electric scooter or motorbike when you think of an e-bike, in reality they don’t look all that dissimilar from a regular bike. The difference is that e-bikes have components such as a battery, motor, and controls integrated into their design. You can ride an e-bike in the same way you would a regular bike, simply by pedaling—no electricity required. The resistance is typically the same as any other bike, and you will be able to shift gears depending on terrain and speed. You can also use electric-assist. Electric-assist allows you to combine human and electric power, which means that the motor will turn on to assist you as you pedal. This mode makes hills feel almost effortless.

The main difference between a regular bike and an e-bike is that e-bikes can provide an assist for hills and difficult riding conditions, where a regular bike depends completely on the rider. This difference makes e-bikes very attractive for commuters who do not want to arrive to work exhausted and sweaty and people who bike carrying the weight of a child or groceries. They are also an easier alternative for those who face challenges with their joints or with physical stamina. 

E-bikes use rechargeable batteries and can be plugged directly into an outlet at your home. Much like an electric car, they use energy from the grid. A 2016 European Cyclist Federation life cycle study found that e-bike CO2 emissions were almost identical to regular bikes, at 22 and 21 grams per passenger per kilometer respectively (This is in comparison to a bus at 101 grams and a passenger car at 271 grams for average short trips). 

Typically e-bikes can travel up to 20 mph, and can travel 22-50 miles on a single charge, depending on a number of factors. Some bikes have high ranges of 80+ miles per charge. To fully charge a depleted battery, it will typically take 3.5-6 hours, whereas batteries with a partial charge will take less time. Depending on the bike, it will usually take 500-800 watt hours (0.5 – 0.8 kilowatt hours) to charge the battery. Assuming 17 cents per kwh, you will be paying 6-13 cents for a charge that will last anywhere from 22-80 miles. Compared to a car, that’s a pretty great deal.

When considering which e-bike is right for you, you will want to factor in what the bike’s primary use will be. Cargo bikes allow the rider to carry a larger load of cargo, such as groceries, and many can be outfitted with a child’s seat for school pick-up. There are also commuter bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, and many more customizable features. You can also purchase e-bike conversion kits, which convert a regular bike to an e-bike for less cost than purchasing a new e-bike. Green Mountain Power offers a $200 rebate when you purchase an e-bike or conversion kit, and the state of Vermont now offers $250-$400 rebate for income-qualifying purchasers.

Heather Wolfe and daughter, Esther, enjoying their e-Bike trial during Sustainable Woodstock’s first e-Bike event in October 2021. Photo: Jenevra Wetmore.

Are you interested in using an e-bike but don’t know where to start? Come try one out for free! Local Motion’s Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library will be in Woodstock on Friday October 1st, Saturday the 2^nd, and Sunday the 3^rd. There will be four bikes for participants to try:

• The RadWagon 3 has a long frame and low center of gravity, and is a cargo bike meant to pick up the kids from school or load up on groceries. We also have a child’s seat that be strapped onto the bike to take your kid for a test ride too!
• The Turbo Como 3.0 has a stylish design with a battery that seamlessly fits into the frame. The bike intuitively picks up the strength of the rider’s pedaling and responds with more power to assist.
• RadMini Step-Thru 2 Electric Folding Fat Bike is the only bike in the library that folds to save space. The fat tires can tackle rough terrain, all with assistance from the battery.
• DIY Conversion Kit based on a Bianchi Cortina allows riders to try a regular bike that was converted to an e-bike using a conversion kit. This is an excellent option for riders who already have a bike they love and would like to convert, while saving money.

To reserve an e-bike head to: https://webreserv.com/vitalcommunities Contact Sustainable Woodstock with any questions at programs@sustainablewoodstock.org.

The post Try Out an E-Bike for Free appeared first on Sustainable Woodstock.

The climate and energy bill aims to reduce national carbon emissions 40% by 2030. A collaboration of researchers led by energy modellers at Princeton University estimates that, by 2030, actions supported by the bill would advance the U.S. two-thirds of the way toward meeting its climate goals, reducing national emissions by the equivalent of one billion tons of carbon dioxide per year. In addition, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, through 2031 the bill will net about $300 billion in revenue and will reduce federal deficits by $305 billion, all while decreasing net taxes by roughly $2 billion per year.

As written, the key climate and energy provisions of the bill would:

• Increase the availability and affordability of electric vehicles and EV chargers;
• increase the availability and lower the cost of renewable energy to households, including solar panels and heat pumps;
• extend by ten years the available tax credits for renewable energy, including solar and wind;
• increase renewable energy production in the U.S.;
• ramp up production of batteries and computer chips critical to producing EV’s and other electric-based systems and equipment;
• impose fees on methane emissions resulting from the production of oil and gas;
• allocate $60 billion to aid disadvantaged communities where most of our polluting infrastructure is situated, and who face the highest risk of flooding and other damage due to climate change.

Considering that more than 40% of the recent rise in inflation is due to the increased cost of fossil fuels, these initiatives would have an outsized impact on decreasing the proportion of household budgets paying for energy costs. Over 100 million households would see their energy costs decrease, especially among those who install heat pumps and who switch to electric water heaters and furnaces. (As more and more of our electricity is produced from renewable sources, switching to electrical appliances and systems gradually reduces greenhouse gas emissions.)

Significantly, the bill would do away with the cap on the number of EV’s that vehicle producers can sell by offering a $7,500 tax break to buyers of new cars, which would remain available through 2032. A ground-breaking tax incentive of up to $4,000 would be offered to those purchasing used EV’s. These tax credits will help to make EV’s more affordable for low- to moderate-income households who would not have otherwise been able to afford to purchase an EV, with an income-eligibility limit of $150,000 for couples and $75,000 for individuals. (According to the New York Times, the average cost of an EV is now $60,000.) Vehicles manufactured outside of the United States would not qualify for the tax credits, while those made in the U.S. (by any manufacturer) would qualify.

The impact of passage of this bill would be even more far-reaching when considering the $280 billion bill that has already been passed by the House and Senate to subsidize U.S. production of semiconductors (including computer chips), which have been in critically short supply since the start of the pandemic, thus limiting production numbers and raising the cost of EV’s across the auto industry.

As with most Federal bills of this size and scope, the climate and energy legislation comes with significant Faustian concessions to fossil fuel companies, including tax credits for controversial carbon capture technology and new leases for exploring carbon fuel sources in federal waters and lands. If there is any silver lining, it’s that the other provisions of the bill that support renewable energy and fight climate change will contribute to a reduced demand for fossil fuels over time, thus decreasing carbon emissions and both the need and value of leases.

As of this writing, all 50 democrats in the Senate have expressed their support for  the climate and energy bill. If Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough approves the bill for reconciliation (thus eliminating the possibility of having the bill blocked by a filibuster), the bill could pass the Senate within a few weeks.

The 2022 climate and energy bill supports the installation of EV charging stations in disadvantaged communities. The station shown here is located at Woodstock’s East End Park. Photo: Michael J. Caduto.

What you can do:

• Click here to contact Senators Patrick Leahy and Berny Sanders to express support for the climate and energy bill.
• Click here to contact Representative Peter Welch to express support for the climate and energy bill.
• Contact your legislators at the Vermont Statehouse to encourage strong actions on mitigating climate change: https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/
• Encourage local government officials to push for net-zero energy standards on all municipal buildings that are being newly-built or renovated in the future.

The post Hope on the Horizon in Federal Climate & Energy Bill appeared first on Sustainable Woodstock.

Being a rural state, Vermonters are accustomed to hopping in our cars whenever we want. While the convenience of driving a car will never be outdone by public transportation, rising fuel costs and concerns about climate change are good reasons for us car-drivers to make an effort to use public transportation when possible. Benefits of public transportation include: less traffic congestion, increased safety when compared to driving, financial savings, reduced air pollution and carbon emissions, and other community benefits including job creation, increased property value, and more opportunities for community members who cannot drive or do not own cars.

There are some basic existing options for public transportation in Woodstock. The Thompson Senior Center runs a door-to-door transportation program for seniors and disabled community members from the towns of Barnard, Bridgewater, Pomfret, and Woodstock. These rides can take residents to and from the Thompson Center, or to other stops in Woodstock such as the grocery store, Health Center, and more. The Vermont Elders and People with Disabilities program, or “Dial-A-Ride” Program through Tri-Valley Transit (TVT) is another free service for riders aged 60 or older, or living with an ADA disability.  

Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thompson Senior Center (TSC) provided approximately 5,000 rides annually. While ridership has been down significantly due to COVID, the need will likely increase as COVID concerns lessen. Up until recently TSC was also offering a bi-monthly West Lebanon bus route in collaboration with Tri-Valley Transit. This route connected Randolph, Barnard, Bridgewater, Pomfret, Woodstock, and Quechee with the final destination in West Lebanon for shopping in any of the plazas. This shopping trip was open to all ages of riders and was free to all. The Center has paused the route due to decreased numbers of riders, but they are interested in continuing to provide the service. Contact Thompson Senior Center at 802-457-3277 for more information.

With hopes of expanding on these options, Tri Valley Transit will be studying the potential for a “micro transit” program in the Woodstock area. This “micro transit” study is funded through VT Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and conducted by TVT.  If implemented, the project would create a door-to-door on-demand ride service in the Woodstock area. Micro transit operates similarly to taxis or apps like Uber and Lyft, which are platforms that allow riders to connect with drivers. Instead of individuals driving their own cars, the app would connect riders to a bus or van with a professional driver. Riders could book in advance, scheduling their trip on an app or by calling TVT, and the service would be open to all ages. 

Green Mountain Transit rolled out a micro transit pilot project in Montpelier in 2021, which replaced three fixed bus routes. In the case of Woodstock, estimating need will be more difficult, since we do not have an existing regional shuttle bus service. Tri Valley Transit will work with Via Strategies, a company selected to conduct feasibility studies for micro transit statewide. Via will collect data on ridership, such as where people live and what their transportation needs are. Via will also determine the potential area covered by the micro transit project–because it is focused on local rides, the area likely wouldn’t extend as far away as West Lebanon, for example. 

The micro transit pilot hopes to better and more efficiently meet the needs of transit-dependent residents currently served by Thompson Senior center and Tri-Valley Transit. The program would also provide increased access to public transit for community members not eligible for existing transportation programs in the area. Studies will likely begin in the 2023 fiscal year starting in July, and will be in partnership with Tri Valley Transit, the Thompson Center, and other community members and organizations.

Photo courtesy of Tri-Valley Transit.

What can I do?

• Join Go Vermont!, run by the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Go! Vermont assists with trip planning, including bus and train schedules, carpooling options, the locations of EV charging stations, and more. Visit https://www.connectingcommuters.org/ to learn more.
• Volunteer to be a driver for Tri Valley Transit’s Dial-A-Ride Program. This is a free service for riders aged 60 or older, or living with an ADA disability.  This program provides door-to-door transportation to a variety of destinations including grocery stores, medical appointments, work, errands, and social events.

The post Local Public Transportation, Current and Future appeared first on Sustainable Woodstock.