Interview #4: Annette Smith

Founder and Executive Director of Vermonters for a Clean Environment

An outspoken environmental activist, Annette works out of Dansby for public outreach in order to "fight for the well-being of all Vermonters assuring the appropriate use of our resources." Vermonters for a Clean Environment or VCE is constantly working to conserve the clean environments around small-towns statewide. This includes minimal industrial development and preserving Vermont's natural beauty. It also means that the organization works on behalf of the citizens of Vermont to protect their interests in conjunction with planning a sustainable economic future for the state. 

Interview #3: Dorothy Tod

Producer, Director & Editor

Dorothy was heavily involved in the process and creation of Freedom & Unity: The Vermont Movie. In fact, it was originally Dorothy's idea to put together the sixth part of the documentary after she heard about the controversy over the Lowell Mountain Wind Project in northern Vermont. She feels strongly about about protecting our water sources, which led her to become extremely involved in the role of power and energy in conjunction with politics in the state of Vermont.

Interview #2: Jack Lazor

Owner of Butterworks Farm in Westfield, VT

Cofounder of the Northern Grain Grower's Association 

Author of The Organic Grain Grower: Small-Scale, Holistic Grain Production for the Home and Market Producer

For the first time, Jack is teaching a course on Organic Grain Growing at UVM this semester. Having farmed for the better part of the past 30 years, he's decided to share his knowledge with fellow farmers and agricultural students. He focusses on all aspects of grain production in the region, including organic seed saving, finding and choosing seeds, variety improvement, and grinding grains for animal and human consumption. His farm sits in the valley across from Lowell Mountain and they have a 35 kW wind turbine on their property. Installed in 2003, when the wind mill is up and running (it's having some difficulties at the moment) it produces up to 3500 kWh in a good month of energy production. 

Interview #1: Nora Jacobson

Founder of Off The Grid Productions in Norwich, VT

Filmmaker, Producer, Director & Cinematographer

One of her most recent projects: Freedom & Unity: The Vermont Movie
This project is a documentary series on the state of Vermont, the first of its kind. Made up of six parts, it starts by covering the history of the state starting in 1777 coming all the way up to the present. But the most relevant portion of the film is part six, entitled "People's Power." This segment tackles the conflict over "energy, independence, the environment and the state's future." For more information, visit: http://www.thevermontmovie.com/

BIG Questions

With this project and through associated research, I would like to answer the following questions:

(1) There is always so much hype in getting "industrial" green power established within the energy grid, but what are the options for installing individual, decentralized green power sources?
(2) Would wind power be a viable option, (especially here in Vermont) not only as a green power source, but as a decentralized power?
(3) Are there any current examples of decentralized wind power already in place or are there any in the works? If there aren't, why not?
(4) What are the main challenges to wind power, in general? Do these same challenges threaten decentralized power? Do these challenges include NIMBY, legislature, etc?