Innovators in Rural Community Economic Development
I spent a great day at the second annual Summit on the Future of Vermont’s Working landscape at Vermont Technical College, where more than 300 participants and speakers came together to talk about the state of Vermont’s farm and forest sectors.
Governor Peter Shumlin kicked of the event by expressing support for the sustainability and expansion of these sectors and their importance to Vermont’s identity, economy and quality of life. In a morning panel on Growing Enterprises and Overcoming Regulatory Barriers, Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Ross implored all farmers and those that work with farmers to review and comment on the proposed rules under the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) as these rules are likely to impact all agricultural producers in Vermont.
The afternoon panel on Biomass & Working Lands highlighted the important role thermal biomass must play in Vermont’s renewable energy goals. Chris Brooks of Vermont Pellet Company shared a vision for five small pellet manufacturing facilities spread across the state. These facilities, like his own in North Clarendon, would produce between 15,000 and 20,000 tons of wood pellets annually from wood harvested within 30 miles of the plant and pellets distributed to heating customers within 50 miles of the plant. This localized model of energy production would meet many goals, including: reduced heating fuel prices for Vermont homes and businesses that heat with expensive fuel oil and propane; revenue streams for loggers and others working in the forest products industry; a decrease in the State’s reliance on fossil fuels and carbon footprint; and an increase in economic activity. I left this session wondering how far biomass heating could go if it received the tax parity and rebates similar to other renewables (solar and wind) and marketing and press coverage comparable to our farm to plate movement?
