As discussions of land use persists, solar grazing promotes dual-use of space

H.740 would give the Agency of Natural Resources more authority to source data for its greenhouse gas inventory.

A Senate bill has proposed a study group of Vermont officials to evaluate state water quality. 

H.326 was supposed to regulate the state’s usage of pellet poison

A manual for developers would provide guidance to accelerate the permitting process under the Agency of Natural Resources

Paraquat, one of the most widely used herbicides in the U.S., would be phased out over five years

Legislators are debating how to reformat a law that would exempt farmers from municipal regulation

A new bill aims to protect children from overexposure to heavy metals in foods, but debate over the inclusion of infant formula has taken the reins. 

The bill looks at how to make community-based energy education more accessible across all income levels

Campaign manager Joanna Grossman is going after a Vermont Senate seat, focusing on small businesses, education reform and housing affordability

A dam safety bill passed in the House Committee on Environment on Feb. 20.

After almost six years of lobbying, faith-based activists have added a new piece to their annual tradition.

Educators who support S.175 still have concerns about integrating the subject into their curriculum.

The advocacy group will zero in on PFAS, local regulations and more on behalf of local farmers

A new bill that would allow customers to install plug-in solar systems without a previously required middle man passes the Senate

Vermont hawkwatch counting sites saw fewer numbers for the broad-winged hawk population this year.

Alkaline hydrolysis — a cremation process that dissolves body tissue in water and chemicals — has been introduced to Vermont as a greener afterlife alternative.

From Nov. 15-30, Vermont Fish and Wildlife will be collecting deer teeth from hunters to evaluate deer population management decisions.

A new wave of agritech tools — from maple monitors to virtual fences — is revolutionizing how small farms manage labor, costs, and climate challenges.

Community Supported Agriculture, also known as a CSA, has taken over the Vermont agriculture world. As farms deal with and adapt to climate change, their members are seeing how a warming world creeps onto their dinner plates.

Slow Birding, a meditative and insightful form of birding, is a new concept in Vermont and beyond. Birding enthusiast Bridget Butler has emerged as the reigning “Bird Diva.”

Swimming in natural waters, also known as open water swimming, has taken over the world recreationally and competitively. These Vermont swimmers talk about the serenity it brings them, but also how it empowers their connection to nature.

A St. Albans food digester that opened in May transforms organic waste into energy, fertilizer, and water. 

The Bolton Babe Force, an all-female and nonbinary sports group, wrapped up their mountain biking camp this past July. 

The Green River Reservoir State Park needed an alternative to a gas-powered boat. Park supporters gave them an electric canoe in order to maintain the land properly without causing a noise disturbance. 

A food-start up bill exempts home based food producers from requiring state food safety permits if they keep their sales under $30,000.

Researchers have studied how greenspace influences human health. These forest bathing participants find benefit in surrounding themselves with nature.

“Our whole mission is trails that go somewhere,” one org director said. “The whole point is that you could use it to commute.” 

Group members say weather patterns may have contributed to the huge uptick in sightings this year.

Following a population dip in the 1960s and 1970s, the muskellunge were seemingly wiped out after an untreated waste spill.

Despite election anxiety, Charlotters report a welcoming atmosphere at the polls.

The July 2024 flooding was more destructive downstream while the December 2023 flooding resulted in higher flow because it involved snow and rain, said one scientist.

“The only way we know a lot of this stuff is because thousands of people have helped us collect data across the landscape,” one Vermont expert said.

Another approach to addressing climate crisis in Vermont? One grounded in spirituality.

The mission is to reduce the distance pollinators like bees and butterflies must go to get nectar and pollen. The gardens, in effect, form a highway.

Researchers also announced the Lake Champlain Sea Grant was awarded just under $300,000 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

A number of Vermont vineyards and wineries practice regenerative agriculture — that goes beyond minimizing farming’s costs on land to instead help restore it.

“We’re not on the level of having gigantic fires in Vermont yet,” Dillner said. But officials believe Vermonters should pay attention and prepare to protect their homes and health.

The institute, its partners and others in the sustainability industry see the practice — dubbed “peecycling” — as a cheap, easy and less-destructive method than synthetic fertilizer.

In a survey by the state after last summer’s flooding, 70% of farmers said they didn’t have crop or livestock insurance. Another 10% said the insurance didn’t apply to their industry — meaning only around one in five had coverage for those losses.

Management last year rolled out parking fees, carpooling incentives and bus service improvements — but it may not be doing enough. 

Winooski residents want infrastructure improvements along Main Street to make crossing, walking and biking safer, according to local leaders working on a new walk-bike plan for the city.

The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost. Reducing personal use of gasoline powered vehicles is a top priority of state Rep. Mollie Burke, D-Brattleboro, heading into the next legislative session.  “The priorities have been so […]