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Vermont Conference on "Community-Based Approaches to Energy and Climate Change"

When:

Dec 6, 2008
Registration, refreshments, and exhibitors -- 8:00; Conference -- 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Details:

1st Annual Vermont Conference on

“Community-Based Approaches to Energy and Climate Change”

CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION

The University of Vermont Extension Service and the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network invite you to attend the 1st Annual Vermont Community Energy Conference on “Tackling Energy and Climate Change at the Local Level” on Saturday, December 6, 2008 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Vermont Technical College in Randolph, Vermont.  Conference registration and exhibitors begin at 8:00 am, with the conference starting at 9:00.

This full-day conference is for those interested in how Vermont communities can take action to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy for municipal government, businesses, and residents. Through workshop presentations, regional break-out meetings, and plenary sessions, we will examine how Vermont communities can reduce energy costs and our contribution to greenhouse gases.  Participants will gain an increased understanding of a wide range of local opportunities for tackling energy and climate change at the local level, while also having an opportunity to network with other Vermont communities. 

Vermont, as the rest of the nation, is facing unprecedented increases in fuel prices – with fuel oil prices increasing 60% in the last year alone.  Families on fixed and low-incomes are being especially hard hit.   Vermont is reliant on fossil fuels to meet fully one-half of its energy demand, with energy demand growing 25% between 1990- 2005.  Further, Vermont contributed roughly 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emission from energy consumption over that period.  

Fortunately, there is an alternative path that relies on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.  In a recent energy preference survey, over 80% of participants expressed a strong desire for increased funding for efficiency measures, while over 90% believe that Vermont should obtain the majority of its energy from renewable sources of energy.   Vermont has the necessary resources and expertise to meet much of our energy needs with efficiency and local renewable energy.  We can make an intelligent transformation away from an economy dependent on polluting, imported energy to a secure, clean, and economically vibrant renewable economy.  Join us on December 6th for a day-long conference to share information, lessons, and ideas!

Who Should Attend
• Town energy committee members
• Selectboard and city council members
• Conservation commissioners
• Professional and citizen planners
• Town public works staff
• Environmental business professionals
• State government officials
• Academics
• Concerned citizens

Keynote Speaker
Glen Brand, Co-founder and Director of the Sierra Club's national Cool Cities Campaign, will speak about "Generating Local Energy Solutions: Solving Global Warming One Community at a Time."   Cool Cities is the Sierra Club’s major grassroots organizing vehicle to global warming solutions ( www.sierraclub.org/coolcities). For nearly twenty years, Mr. Brand has been active in the environmental movement, working for national and regional environmental organizations.  He has been quoted in print media including the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor and Time Magazine.  Glen lives with his family in Portland, Maine.

About the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network
VECAN is a network of statewide Vermont organizations helping communities across the Green Mountain State to help communities reduce energy costs and climate impacts through conservation, increased energy efficiency and conversion to renewable energy sources.  VECAN project partners include 10% Challenge Program, New England Grassroots Environment Fund, Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club, Sustainable Energy Resource Group, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, and the Vermont Natural Resources Council.   VECAN serves as an information resource and clearinghouse, facilitates networking among communities and resources, and provides direct technical assistance and education to local energy committees.  For more information, email: Paul Markowitz, Vermont Chapter of Sierra Club -- paul@markowitzvt.com; Joey Miller, Vermont Natural Resources Council --  jmiller@vnrc.org or Bob Walker, Sustainable Energy Resource Group -- Robert.J.Walker@valley.net, Debra Sachs, 10% Challenge -- dsachs@10percentchallenge.org.

To register, go to:

www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=658286

 

 

Directions:

NEAR: Randolph Center