Two things: This week, we’re sharing resources for flood-affected communities in the Northeast Kingdom and sending off our summer interns.
Stay informed, stay connected – two things.
Northeast Kingdom Flood Resources
Last week, several towns in the Northeast Kingdom were hit with yet another round of devastating floods. Communities from Lyndonville to Morgan found themselves underwater with up to 8 inches of rain falling across the region. Our neighbors in the Northeast Kingdom are in our thoughts and we’re ready to rally once again to support them along with all the communities affected by this summer’s flooding. Thank you to the Swiftwater Rescue teams who have been working overtime evacuating NEK residents from their homes and washed out roads and to everyone chipping in to help rebuild.
Find flood resources, whether you need help or want to lend a hand to your neighbors, here:
https://www.vermont.gov/flood#gsc.tab=0
https://www.vlct.org/topics-all/flood-recovery
Highlighting our Summer Interns
This summer, we’ve been fortunate to host two amazing interns, Andy Chao and Nate Launer. As they wrap up their last week and we prepare to send them off on their next adventure, we wanted to give them the chance to reflect on their time with VNRC:
“I greatly appreciated the opportunity to help out with researching Vermont’s thermal and transportation sector this summer. While tracking the progress on the Clean Heat Standard, I have developed a more nuanced understanding of how environmental policy is integrated with economics, housing, and the energy sector. Within my transportation research, I looked into Vermont’s transportation funding structure and the state’s various transit programs to better understand how we can connect communities through cleaner modes of transportation. From a T4VT coalition meeting to a veto session, I have gotten so many opportunities to meet and observe the collective power and voices of Vermonters. I am grateful for the experience to learn more about Vermont and its communities. Thanks again to the VNRC for a great summer!” – Andy Chao
“As a Vermonter who has worked to address environmental issues for many years and is now studying environmental law at Vermont Law and Graduate School, I hoped there was a group of people who were working tirelessly and thinking intentionally and carefully about how to best protect and enhance the natural environment here in Vermont. Having worked with the team here at the VNRC this summer I can assure you that there is. Working with VNRC this summer, I had the opportunity to help implement policy and legislation that passed during this historic legislative session including Vermont’s 30×30 goal and reform to Act 250, to comment on the environmental impact of dam construct and repairs, to research and discuss renewable energy development, and to take legal action when necessary to protect our shared natural environment. I am thankful for the experience and skills I have developed, the lessons learned, and the amazing people I have had the pleasure of working with. It was an experience that will continue to inform and shape who I become and all of my future work.”
– Nate Launer
