Vergennes Day info inside
ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron
pg. 7-9
VERMONT
Published by Denton Publications, Inc.
'tiolllD Fli&I
COMMUNITY NEWS
TAKE ONE August 24, 2019
Serving Addison, Rutland & Chittenden Counties
Brandon sets energy goals for 2050 By Lou Varricchio EDITOR
BRANDON | Earlier this year, the Brandon Town Energy Committee set energy guidelines and goals for the town. Many of the ideas are best on Vermont goals in reducing fossil fuel dependency,and reducing carbon emissions in the local environment, by 2050. According to the committee’s plans, the town will decrease its energy consumption using conservation and efficiency means. Coupled with ambitious statewide consumption goals will be an effort by the town to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels as well as imported sources of energy; local renewable energy resources will get special attention in the coming years. “The purpose of the Brandon Enhanced Energy Plan is to conduct comprehensive energy planning at the local level while also achieving state energy goals – most importantly, the goal to have renewable energy sources meet 90 percent of the town’s energy needs by 2050,” according to the Committee’s plan. To improve energy efficiency locally, the town will see a greater reliance on electricity to power everyday needs, according to the committee’s recommendations. “Since electricity can be generated from renewable resources, and since electric-powered technologies such
RNG pipeline work underway 5-mile-long pipeline to connect farm with college
Ver mont Ga s Systems beg an construction last week of 5-milelong pipeline along Halladay Road in Middlebury. When completed, the line will connect the yet-to-be-built Goodrich Family Far m R NG and fertilizer plant in S alisbur y w it h the Middlebur y College camps. Photo by Lou Varricchio
By Lou Varricchio EDITOR
MIDDLEBURY | Vermont Gas Systems began construction last week of 5-mile-long pipeline along Halladay Road in Middlebury. When completed, the line will connect the yet-to-be-built Goodrich Family Farm methane gas and fertilizer plant in Salisbury with the Middlebury College camps. Parties involved with the Goodrich project include Vanguard Renewables of Wellesley, Massachusetts, and Vermont Gas. Various permits have been received with the town of Salisbury being among the last to approve. Under the terms of a signed agreement in
See ENERGY » pg. 12
2017, Vanguard Renewables will construct, own, and operate the cow manure and food waste plant on the 2,220-acre farm. Vanguard will produce what’s known as Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). An anaerobic digester will use the pipeline to connect with the college’s power plant. According to the 2017 ag reement, Middlebury will purchase the bulk of the farm’s output but residents along the pipeline will be able to purchase the biogas but at a higher price than normal natural gas. According to the college, Vanguard’s Salisbury plant will produce liquid natural fertilizer and will generate the most RNG in Vermont, each day using 100 tons of Goodrich’s manure and 165 tons of organic food waste.
Organic food waste used by the facility will be trucked in from various food and dairy manufacturers. It is unknown how increased truck traffic will impact local residents as well as traffic patterns. Based on data posted by the college, the farm will produce 140,000 Mcf per year (a Mcf is 1,000 cubic feet of Renewable Natural Gas.) “The college will buy 100,000 Mcf of the gas from Vanguard and Vermont Gas will purchase the remainder,” according to a news release on the college’s website. “The digester offers help with many of the challenges we face as farmers,” said Chase Goodrich at a college news conference in 2017. See PIPELINE » pg. 12
Local teens win at State Dairy Show Middlebury, Bristol, Lincoln teenagers claim victory By Lou Varricchio EDITOR
MIDDLEBURY | On Aug. 12, 87 4-Hers, ages 11 to 18, from throughout the state showed 125 dairy animals at the Vermont State 4-H Dairy Show. The exhibitors qualified for the show, which was held in
Lyndonville, through their 4-H dairy project records, interviews, participation in a local 4-H dairy show and community service activities. Judging the event were Richard Caverly, (Ayrshires, Brown Swiss, Jerseys and Junior fitting and showing) and Reid Lundy (Holsteins, Guernseys, Milking Shorthorns and Senior fitting and showing) In the running for Senior Fitting and Showing Champion, which was won by Keenan Thygesen, Tunbridge, were the winners of these age groups: Age 18: Lilliane Seward, East Wallingford; Age 17: Aislynn Farr, Richmond; Age 16: See DAIRY SHOW » pg. 3
I wanted to go to college but I didn’t think I could afford it.
'
I-
~ AT CCV, I CAN.
ccv.edu/ican
1 •.1
223149
CCVE
Photo by Jen Thygesen
43! ....
COMMUNITYO
OF VERMONT~
Abagail Carson and Keenan Thygesen pose with their prizewinning animals outside the show ring at the Vermont State 4-H Dairy Show on Aug. 12.
/