Forward Movement: Oct. 2022

Welcome to Forward Movement!

In this issue we recap our October 1st Organizing Summit, introduce our newest organizer, update folks on VGS's efforts to expand the use of dirty energy, and more!

Are you interested in doing communications work for 350VT? Fill out our interest form below!

Just Transition Campaign Update

On Saturday, October 1, 350Vermonters gathered in Middlebury to share our work and strategize about how to create a just transition to truly clean energy. Roughly 60 people from around the state spent an autumn afternoon connecting, learning, and generating ideas about how we move forward with our campaigns. We discussed ideas for cleaner electricity, clean heating and cooling solutions, and the policies and programs we need to maximize benefits for everyone.

Highlights: 

• Abel Luna, 350VT board member and Migrant Justice coordinator, shared his story of why we need to organize and build our power.

• Environmental organizer Earl Hatley described the problems with extracting and consuming resources, focusing on the impacts on Indigenous communities of mining metals used in renewable energy technology.

• Vanessa Rule, 350VT Lead Organizer, talked us through strategies to build people power and build the political will we need to create change.

• Danielle Laberge broke down the issues withVermont’s definitions of renewable energy, and explained the policy changes we can take to our legislators to get cleaner electricity.

• Our heating working group proposed ideas for transitioning to truly clean energy for keeping us warm (and cool), while prioritizing and protecting our most vulnerable neighbors.

• Finally, Lily led us in a circle of song, bringing our voices together: "We are, we are, we are together. For love, for life, today and forever.” (Learned from organizer Sam Corbin, composer unknown.)

Now, we are focused on taking our show on the road.  We're exploring how short videos, presentations, and other materials can spread the word to our fellow Vermonters (and our legislators) about the goals and ideas of the Just Transition campaign.  

What does your node need to know? How can your community get involved? If you couldn't attend, please contact vanessa@350vt.org to find out how you can contribute your time, skills, or ideas.

Node News

Introducing Connor Wertz!

This fall, 350VT is pleased to welcome our new community organizer, Connor Wertz. He recently graduated from Middlebury College with a major in Environmental Justice. Connor has been part of the climate justice movement since high school, and was involved with Middlebury’s successful fossil fuel divestment campaign. He was also a founding member of Sunrise Middlebury. After a few years as a volunteer, intern, and board member for 350VT, he is excited to join the staff team and further the climate justice movement in Vermont!

Connor is in the process of checking in with 350VT nodes around the state. "It's been an incredible month getting to know the 350VT community in-depth and the (many, many) amazing projects our organization is working on!” he says. “I'm excited to continue supporting our nodes and volunteer teams to expand our power and impact as the new biennium rounds the corner."

Getting There

VGS Seneca Falls Update

Vermont Gas Systems is currently seeking state approval for a contract to buy “renewable” natural gas from New York State’s largest landfill, Seneca Meadows. The contract would allow VGS to claim the dubious environmental benefits of this biofuel while continuing to deliver fracked natural gas to Vermont customers. (Read more about the problems with the plan here)

350VT member Catherine Bock has challenged the VGS contract before the Public Utility Commission, which is currently deliberating on whether to approve or deny VGS’s request—a case of combating corporate greenwashing with science, common sense, and grassroots people power.

Thanks to your efforts, public engagement on this issue has been enormous: 126 people have filed comments with the Public Utilities Commission, and dozens of members of the public attended a public hearing in which Catherine introduced the expert testimony of civil engineer and environmental sociologist Dr. Emily Grubert and others.

“After the two-and-a-half hour hearing, it felt to me like [the PUC] couldn’t just say this was some little old lady who didn’t want her rates to go up. They had heard a lot of really good arguments from professionals scientists showing what a stupid idea this is,” Catherine said.

This case is especially important as the state legislature prepares to consider a Clean Heat Standard that would regulate our heating sector: should utilities like VGS be allowed to meet environmental regulations by exploiting legal loopholes, or can we make sure they actually clean up their act?

There’s still time to tell the Public Utility Commission what you think: to leave a public comment with the PUC, follow these easy, step-by-step instructions here.

Theories of Change

A Writer Joins a Weatherization Crew

“Most of my climate justice work has revolved around words—composing letters to the editor, writing emails, editing zines . . . . So it came as something of a surprise this summer when I said to myself suddenly, You know, it’s all very well to demand funding for low-income weatherization, but someone needs to go out there and actually do it—and why not me?”

Read Marisa Keller’s blog post about joining a weatherization crew, learning new skills and working face to face with inequality in a new (to her) kind of changemaking work here.

Powering Our Movement

BIG NEWS: A Vermont-based family foundation has agreed to match up to $25k in donations from now until the end of the year. That means from now until the end of 2022, any amount that you can give will be doubled, until we hit $25k raised! If you can, please consider making an investment in our work of $100.00 or more this month. Thank you in advance!

Questions or thoughts on fundraising? Contact Carter, our Lead Fundraiser, at carter@350vt.org.

Stay Informed

Join us for upcoming meetings, trainings, and webinars

Making Vermont a Climate Justice Leader: Join our Call to Action for the 2023 Legislative Session!
Join us on November 10th at 7:00pm for a webinar on our legislative priorities and how you can take action. We solidified these at our Organizing Summit earlier this month. For more details as it approaches, visit our events.

Node Meetings!
In addition to the events above, most nodes meet once or twice a month. To be connected with a node near you or start a node fill out our interest form!

PS> Applications for our Spring Internship Program are now open! If you or someone who know might be interested in applying, click the link above to learn more.

Around Vermont

Showing up in solidarity

Milk with Dignity Month of Action - Wed. 10/26, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. each time.

2022 Renewable Energy Vermont Conference & Expo - Thursday, Oct. 27th & Friday, Oct. 28th in person at the DoubleTree Hilton in South Burlington

Youth Environmental Summit - Fri. 10/28, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. in person at the Barre Civic Center.

Last Word

Envisioning Vermont Has Launched!

Envisioning Vermont Podcast has launched! 350Vermont volunteer and board member Siddhesh Mukerji has officially launched a new podcast: Envisioning Vermont: Climate, Justice, and the State of our Future. For its first two episodes, the podcast introduces listeners to some of 350VT’s staff members, and speaks with Catherine Bock about her work on the VGS renewable natural gas case. Siddhesh writes: “The plan is … to highlight climate- and justice-related issues that concern us in Vermont. So far, this podcast seems like a promising tool to help us learn from each other in an accessible way so that we—and a broad swath of Vermont residents—feel empowered to act.”