VBSR Member News Round Up 6-6-24
Local Motion: The Island Line Bike Ferry is back in action post-winter, letting cyclists link their routes between Burlington, the Colchester causeway and the Lake Champlain islands. The ferry that makes the 200-foot connection between the gap in the causeway is operated by VBSR member Local Motion (celebrating 25 years this year!), whose goal is “making it safe, accessible, and fun for everyone to bike, walk, and roll in Vermont.” The ferry operates continuously throughout the day, no reservations are required and passage is by donation only this spring, summer and fall. Learn more here.
Casella and UVM: Champion Member Casella Waste Systems recently collaborated with an Advanced Ecological Design Class at Gold Member University of Vermont to explore their newest solution for home food waste - FoodCycler® by Casella. The students conducted a semester-long study of ways to use the FoodCycler output (called Foodilizer®) in-home uses such as gardens. They designed a study that carefully measured the impacts of Foodilizer on plant biomass and seed germination. Learn more here.
Green Lantern Solar, Green Mountain Power, Vermont Electric Cooperative: In a move that advances Vermont’s renewable energy objectives, Green Lantern Solar is embarking on eight net-metered solar projects with Sea Oak Capital, LLC. These community solar projects, spanning across Champion Member Green Mountain Power (GMP) and member Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) territories, represent a substantial contribution to the state’s renewable energy goals. Learn more here.
UVM SI-MBA, Hula: As a reader of this Newsletter you know that VBSR held its 34th annual conference in mid-May at Champion Member Hula Lakeside. VBSR welcomed the full cohort of 38 students from the Gold Member University of Vermont (UVM) Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) program at the event. SI-MBA students had the chance to network with the Vermont business community and take part in impactful discussions on timely topics like AI and social responsibility. They also applied their MBA coursework and helped a few companies think through business challenges. Learn more here.
Darn Tough Vermont, Vermont Foodbank: Gold Member Darn Tough Vermont is celebrating 20 years with “A Tough History” which looks back on the incredible, committed journey of a true Vermont original. Vermont isn't just where they knit socks, it's who they are. They invest in their home state by hiring local, donating to VBSR member Vermont Foodbank, and through expansion and revitalization. Learn more here.
Shelburne Farms: Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools has released Learning Locally, Transforming Globally, a free guide for educators that lays out a step-by-step process for shifting schools and communities toward sustainability. As the school year comes to an end, many teachers will be turning their attention to professional development opportunities in preparation for the coming school year. This resource offers a host of resources and ideas for educators interested in a sustainability approach to their teaching. Learn more here.
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center/Leahy Center for Lake Champlain: Last summer, the Columbia Climate School hosted the 2023 cohort of their Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains program. The program welcomed 65 students from around the world to Castleton, Vermont. The cohort represented 15 different states across the U.S., in addition to Puerto Rico, Canada, China, India and Turkey. Students traveled to Burlington, Vermont, to learn about applied sustainability science from various practitioners including the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain where students had a chance to explore the science and nature museum. Learn more here.