Calendar
Annual Meeting
The Joint Fiscal Office (JFO) has finalized a contract for independent professional assistance to
complete a study of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Vermont, per Act 11 of 2018.
That contract is with Resources for the Future (RFF), an independent, nonprofit research institution
whose mission is to improve environmental, energy, and natural resource decision making through
impartial economic research and policy engagement. RFF has decades of experience delivering
solutions to cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance a reliable and clean
energy system.
Two public forums are scheduled to gain an understanding of Vermonters’ interests and concerns
regarding policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Vermont. RFF will use the information
from these public forums to help inform their study. The general public is invited to participate in
these two public forums. The Forums are scheduled from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. and details are as
follows:
Wednesday September 26, Room 11,Vermont State House, 115 State Street, Montpelier, VT.
Thursday, September 27, Theater room, Billings Farm, 69 Old River Road, Woodstock, VT.
Please RSVP here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XF98YTJ
RFF will examine 4 decarbonization policy approaches and will provide qualitative analysis for
other options to reduce carbon. Currently, the plan is to investigate the following policy scenarios:
1. Carbon fee-and-rebate, as in H.791 or S.284 (2018) – The ESSEX Plan;
2. Expanding cap-and-trade if Vermont joined the Western Climate Initiative (WCI);
3. Expanding cap-and-trade if the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) covered
transportation fuels as considered in the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI); and
4. A carbon pricing policy based on further research and input from stakeholders.
People attending the forum are asked to address the following questions:
A. What do you think are two or three things that a study of policies to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions in Vermont ought to take into consideration, in order to be helpful in answering
your questions and in advancing the climate and energy policy dialogue in Vermont?
B. Starting by considering the policy approaches listed above, which approaches do you think
RFF ought to focus on?
RFF will be represented by Marc Hafstead and Wesley Look. They will attend both public forums
and will be available to answer questions about the study, as appropriate, during the times outlined
above.
For those unable to attend, please feel free to email comments by September 28, 2018 to
[email protected].
Writing good land use decisions is not easy. This training is for members of Development Review Boards, Planning Commissions, and Boards of Adjustment, as well as Zoning Administrators who also can make these decisions. We will look in depth at all of the basic steps and especially at the parts of a good written decision. There will also be time for questions and answers about any thorny issues you may have run into.
SAVE THE DATE:
“Making It Happen!”
Local Leadership for the Future of Vermont Communities
October 1, 2018 | Castleton University
Join local leaders working to improve life in their communities at the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s VT Community Leadership Summit!
- Skills Workshops for Community Initiatives
- Community Success Story Panels
- Leadership Resource Fair
- Group Dialogues on the “Future of Community Leadership in Vermont”
In democracy, ALL citizens are called upon to lead – where leaders step up, towns achieve great things. Local Citizens Make It Happen!
Registration will open in August. For more information or to sign up for event updates visit https://www.vtrural.org/Summit18 or contact the Vermont Council on Rural Development at [email protected] or 802-223-6091.
TRORC will host a Button Up table on October 27, 2018 from 9:30 till 12:00 at the Gory Daze 5K (benefiting Hartford Dismas House) with coffee, cider, donuts, Efficiency Vermont rebate and DIY weatherization information, and free products to help you get ready for the home heating season. Button up, weatherize, save money and be more comfortable in your home this season!
Click here for more information: https://buttonupvermont.org/events
The Bradford Planning Commission, with assistance from the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, is revising the town’s 2005 zoning bylaw. The zoning bylaw is a regulation that covers what, how, and where development can take place in town. In most of the rural parts of town it is quite simple, and in the more developed areas the rules are more complex. The revisions are meant to make the rules more consistent with the Town Plan, more understandable, enable more development aligned with residents’ views in a recent survey, and to better reflect the actual development already in town.
On your way to vote, stop by and see staff from TRORC at the Bradford Academy and learn more about the town’s zoning and the effect of any changes.
Please join us for a new outreach effort to foster a collaborative relationship with the environmental community. A handful of Brownfields staff and ACCD partner will present information about Vermont brownfields program, and we will hear about past or ongoing projects in each region. Topics include liability, the site investigation and remediation process, and funding sources. Questions and open discussion are encouraged throughout. This event is beneficial to realtors, lenders, developers, municipal officials, and anyone curious about brownfields.
Agenda
Welcome/Introductions
Introduction/Overview of Brownfields
• Benefits to Brownfields Redevelopment
• Roles of major stakeholders
Vermont Brownfields Information
• Liability and BRELLA Program
• VTDEC’s Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup Process
• Liability Exemptions for Lenders, RPCs/RDCs, Municipalities
Financial Assistance Opportunities
• VT DEC Brownfields Funding
• ACCD Revolving Loan Fund
• EPA Grants
• Regional Assessment Program
Regional Brownfields Sites
• Success Stories or Lessons Learned
• Current and Upcoming Projects
Questions and Open Discussion
Wrap Up/Closing
To RSVP, please email [email protected]
Vermont Energy and Climate Action Conference – December 1st: Do you want to help Vermonters lower their energy bills? Help mobilize Vermont to make bold progress on climate? Come join us at the 11th annual Community Energy and Climate Action Conference! Panels, networking, and discussions will focus on empowering Vermonters to take the lead on climate and energy issues. Workshops will explore a wide range of topics, from The Path to a Green Transportation System, Making Solar Accessible to Vermonters with Low Incomes, Using Digital Tools to Reach the Public, Beneficial Electrification, and many more. We will have two keynote speakers, including Bill McKibben and Michael Shank. Bill McKibben is a world-renowned author, environmental activist, and founder of 350.org, the first planet-wide, grassroots climate change movement. Michael Shank, Ph.D., is the Communications Director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network.
Held on December 1st at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT from 9:00am – 4:30pm, this is one event you won’t want to miss!
Register Today and find out more info by visiting: www.regonline.com/VTEnergy2018
Vermont Community Development Association’s Fall Conference
Workforce Development: Community-Based Strategies
Many Vermont businesses, agencies, organizations, and communities are actively exploring strategies at all levels to support Vermont’s workforce. Join VCDA on December 5th in White River Junction to:
- Learn about Vermont’s workforce today: What are the challenges and opportunities in ensuring a new generation can work to build tomorrow’s economy?
- Hear about key statewide workforce development initiatives and how your community can connect and partner.
- Engage in discussions on practical strategies and community case studies around fostering a workforce-friendly community— including housing, transportation, childcare, and advancing training and career development.
When it comes to supporting, growing, and training the Vermont workforce, we all have a role to play—join us to learn practical community-based strategies for how your town can lead!
Complete Registration packet will follow soon.
For more information contact Theresa Bachand at 802-229-9111 or [email protected]
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a destructive and invasive forest pest that feeds on and eventually kills all species of ash trees. EAB is now confirmed in Orange, Washington, Caledonia, Grand Isle, and Bennington Counties and communities statewide are encouraged to prepare for the impacts of the pest.
This training, led by staff from the Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program, is intended to teach participants about EAB, introduce planning and management strategies, and to give an overview of the resources available to help towns assess risk and establish a plan.
This event is free but registration is required. Space is limited; sign up here by April 9th. To read more about the event, visit here.
Are you a new Selectboard member? A town manager or Administrative Assistant?
The staff at your regional planning commission, TRORC, provides a wide variety of services for your town. Come meet us, hear about your roles and our assistance with roads, regulations, emergencies, water quality, conservation, mapping and more.
This free event includes a full catered breakfast and refreshments!
RSVPs are highly encouraged, so please register by 4/11/19.