Local efforts or campaigns are a very essential way to raise awareness about unnecessary vehicle idling. These efforts can include a local or regional organization with a goal to raise awareness about idling specifically or as a component of a larger effort dealing with issues of transportation or energy conservation in a town or community. An effort, for instance, may seek to have a town's governmental authority pass or enact a town-wide resolution or ordinance, and/or to work with a school board to adopt an idling policy for vehicles other than school buses as part of Vermont's state law on school bus idling on school property.
Idle-Free VT wants to hear about and list your local campaign!
LISTING OF LOCAL EFFORTS
2008
STOWE
STOWE REPORTER, MARCH 27, 2008: "IDLING CARS TARGET OF STOWE EFFORT'
The Stowe Energy and Climate Action Network, a group of 15-20 people, in one of several initiatives, is educating members of the Stowe community to shut off their vehicle engines when parked. They are distributing pink notices (placing under windshield wipers of cars idling while parked) that say, "THANK YOU FOR NOT IDLING WHEN PARKED" along with a few bulleted points.
PLAINFIELD
STATUS: RESOLUTION ADOPTED MARCH 4, 2008
Robert Atchinson, Plainfield Energy Commissioner, encouraged by the action taken by SERG (Sustainable Energy Resources Group) to encourage the placing of idling resolutions on town meeting warnings, took the initiative to introduce a resolution to restrict vehicle idling at the Plainfield town meeting. Comments were generally positive and the resolution passed unanimously on a voice vote. While non-binding, the Selectboard has given permission for this information to be posted in the public venues of Plainfield. Congratulations, Bob!
NO-IDLE ARTICLE PETITIONS FOR VERMONT TOWN MEETINGS
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2009 TOWN MEETINGS
On January 11, 2008, Robert Walker of SERG (Sustainable Energy Resource Group) notified Town Energy Committee Organizers of a town meeting article petition to be placed on the town warning that is being circulated by the Thetford Energy Committee calling on the town to pass a no-idling resolution (not an ordinance, but that could later lead to signs posted in town and a policy for town vehicles). He suggested that they could feel free to adopt this for their own town. With a deadline approx. 40 days before town meeting and the need to get 5% of voter checklist signatures, time was short to achieve much.
Most importantly and significantly, this initiative can be an effective vehicle idling awareness raising measure for future town meetings throughout the state. Click on the PETITIONS link above for a sample, downloadable town meeting petition that can be adapted for any town. Keep an eye on this as Idle-Free VT works with SERG and others to organize this effort for 2009.
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NEWFANE
STATUS: RESOLUTION ADOPTED JANUARY 3, 2008
After reviewing Selectboard member Dan Dewalt's draft of an anti-idling resolution, the selectboard of Newfane voted unanimously to adopt it. It includes a one minute idling maximum with exceptions. Town employees are bound to it (although it is a non-binding resolution). No-idle signs will be installed at appropriate locations when available.
2007
MIDDLEBURY
STATUS: RESOLUTION ADOPTED DECEMBER 11, 2007
MAGWAC--Middlebury Area Global Warming Action Committee is an ad hoc citizens group, led by coordinator Laura Asermily, that seeks to lessen carbon emissions in Middlebury which certainly has its share of vehicular congestion. A component of this initiative is to restrict vehicle idling. Their proposed idle-restriction policy is the same one that Idle-Free VT advocates as an all motor vehicle idling policy. On December 11, 2007, the Middlebury Selectboard unnanimously passed an idle-free resolution as recommended by MAGWAC. As part of the educational effort of this resolution, no-idle signs will be posted at strategic locations throughout the town. Report in the Addison Independent before passage: "Middlebury to mull car idling policy". December 18, 2007 news report on WCAX-TV channel 3 news about Middlebury's idling resolution, "No Idle Task".
RICHMOND
STATUS: ENERGY CONSERVATION POLICY ADOPTED NOVEMBER 19, 2007
On November 19, 2007, the Town of Richmond adopted an Energy Conservation Policy. The goals of this policy are to save taxpayer dollars by reducing town operating costs, promote investments in long-term energy and dollar savings, reduce pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Each town department will monitor and evaluate their energy useage in their respective buildings and vehicles. Idle reduction is a component of this policy. To encourage customers not to idle, signs will be posted at Town facilities, other public areas and at street intersections. Town employees will abide by a specific idling limitation procedure.
PUTNEY
STATUS: RESOLUTION ADOPTED JUNE, 2007
Through the efforts of PEC (Putney Energy Committee) the Town of Putney Selectboard approved a no-idling resolution that limits idling to two minutes, effective June 2007. PEC has designed several signs and will be deploying signs around town and at the schools. PEC, an ad-hoc organization of volunteers, was formed in Sept of 2006 with the help of Bob Walker from SERG (Sustainable Energy Resource Group). Their goal is to diminish the effect of climate change by saving energy and reducing our energy usage through conservation and the replacement of non-renewable with renewable energy sources.
BRATTLEBORO
STATUS: RESOLUTION ADOPTED APRIL 17, 2007
In an effort led by Paul Cameron, executive director of Brattleboro Climate Protection, with support from Tim Stevenson, Post Oil Solutions, Brattleboro and students of the Compass School of Westminster Station (Windham County), the Brattleboro Selectboard unanimously approved a no-idling resolution on April 17, 2007. Although not an ordinance and therefore non-binding, this is an important educational component (including posting of no-idle signs) for Brattleboro. Report in the Bratteboro Reformer: "Board: turn off engines".
BURLINGTON
STATUS: REAPPLICATION OF EXISTING IDLING ORDINANCE APRIL 10, 2007
In an April 10, 2007 news conference in front of City Hall, Mayor Bob Kiss, Police Chief Tom Tremblay and other city department heads urged residents to join public employees in creating "an idle-free Burlington", by dusting off a long existing but unenforced idling ordinance, amid the rising public concern over greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. More important than the ordinance itself is the companion educational component spearheaded by the Burlington Legacy Project. This effort includes the posting of many idling signs all over the city. Report in the Burlington Free Press: "Burlington announces no-idling campaign".
Idle-Free VT wants to hear about and list your local campaign!
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