Valley towns tackle global warming

The Times Argus reports that on Tuesday, March 4, 2008, three towns in the Mad River Valley -- Warren, Waitsfield and Fayston -- will consider a nonbinding resolution to "reduce the energy use and carbon emissions of residents, businesses and institutions [in the Mad River Valley] by 10 percent by 2010." The effort is being called "10 by 10" and was spear-headed by the  Carbon Shredders, "the coalition of Valley residents that petitioned to have the carbon-reducing articles on town meeting" agendas. According to Gregor Barnham, the head of the corporate responsibility division at the Burlington-based company Seventh Generation and a Carbon Shredders founder, "it's still unclear exactly what Valley residents are signing on for" and the "carbon-reduction mandate will assume whatever form its participants choose." Barry Simpson, a longtime selectman in Warren, explained that while "he supports the underlying concept behind the articles" he is worried that the measure may hurt Warren's fiscal health.

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Update on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 11:42AM by VCF Staff

The Times Argus reports that "voters in Warren, Waitsfield and Fayston gave overwhelming approval to a Town Meeting Day article that calls on residents and businesses to cut their carbon footprint by 10 percent by 2010." According to Roni Donnenfeld, a Warren Elementary School teacher and member of Carbon Shredders, "the nonbinding resolution empowers local residents to tackle a global problem and save money – as much as $500,000 by participating in the program."

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