Legacy Projects

Comprehensive Energy Plan Chapter

Sustainable Woodstock’s Energy & Transportation Action Group (SWEAT) wrote the Town/Village of Woodstock’s Comprehensive Plan Energy Chapter and worked with the Woodstock Select Board and the Planning and Zoning Department to adopt the plan.

Forest Carbon


Poster 24x36: How Can Family Forests Help Mitigate Climate Change?

The stunning 24×36 poster, How Can Family Forests Help Mitigate Climate Change? is now available in print and digital formats. This 2-year-long project – a partnership between Sustainable Woodstock and Northam Forest Carbon – is the result of extensive planning and comprehensive review by a broad field of experts, ranging from scholars and field researchers to practicing foresters.

From photosynthesis to forest management practices, the poster employs clear text and colorful graphics to explain the role of the carbon cycle in carbon storage and sequestration, as well as compelling facts about carbon and Vermont forests. The poster also provides resources that landowners can use, and actions that can be taken, to manage forests in order to mitigate climate change.

NEW! Digital Guide: How Can Family Forests Help Mitigate Climate Change?

East End Park

As an organization that conceives and develops projects and initiatives for the betterment of the environment and the public good, it has been Sustainable Woodstock’s honor to be entrusted from 2009–2020 with planning and developing the East End Project, and with creating the East End Park. 

When the park was completed in early 2021, we transferred long-term stewardship of the East End Project to the Town of Woodstock and the Woodstock Community Trust as part of that organization’s mission to improve the quality of life in Woodstock.

EVENT APPLICATION: Download the application form from the Village of Woodstock to hold an event at East End Park. Completed applications must be emailed to: nnourse@townofwoodstock.org.

Solar Showcase

Sustainable Woodstock’s Energy Action and Transportation Group hosted an annual Solar Showcase from 2017–2019.The Showcase coincided with the annual Taste of Woodstock event and featured solar installers from our region. Participants could enter to win solar raffle prizes and meet with solar installers to sign up for free home site visits and solar consults.

Thank You to Our Past Sponsors:

Past Recycling Projects

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sustainable Woodstock managed recycling, trash and composting for over 3,000 people at major community events every year.

Sustainable Woodstock helped develop a recycling policy for community events, facilitated the installation of recycling bins throughout the Village, and historically provided recycling services at public events, including the Road to the Pogue, Covered Bridges Half Marathon and the Trek to Taste (pictured here). We typically diverted 90+% of trash to recycling and compost at those events.

Solarize Pomfret & Woodstock

With the help of Vital Communities, Sustainable Woodstock and Catamount Solar partnered together to for the Solarize Upper Valley initiative.  Between 2014-2016, residents in Woodstock and Pomfret signed up for 25 new solar arrays in our communities. With over 50 known solar arrays in our area now, we were able to double the amount of solar we had in 2014!

Economic Development

Projects consist of the Economic Development Commission, Local First Alliance, and The Naked Table.

Woodstock Area Non-Profit Network

In 2011 Sustainable Woodstock helped launch an initiative to foster collaboration among the many nonprofit organizations in the Woodstock area. Through regular monthly meetings and outreach, this network allowed its members to coordinate efforts and work together toward common goals for the good of the community. Any area nonprofit is welcome to join the group. The network continues to meet quarterly as the Woodstock Area Collaborative Network, under the leadership of the Ottauquechee Health Foundation.

Community Solar

Sustainable Woodstock worked with Rainbow Playschool, Sundeavor and the Town of Woodstock to plan, design, promote and obtain permits for Green Mountain Power’s first community solar array (CSA). The array generates 150 kWh of electricity—supplying all of the power needs for Rainbow Playschool (preschool) in addition to 15 Woodstock homes and businesses on Green Mountain Power’s grid, as well as a portion of the electricity used by Norman Williams Public Library. The Rainbow array served as a model for CSAs in other towns, encouraging homeowners, businesses and municipalities to transition into renewable energy.
Accessibility

Woodstock Access Group

Sustainable Woodstock participated in an ad hoc group of local residents, business owners, professionals and nonprofits which discussed the issue of accessibility in the Village of Woodstock. The group saw the need for a master plan to address accessibility within the community as well as establish priorities, clarify rules, identify the tools and resources to get it done, get a sense of the economic benefits and effectively educate the whole community (businesses and residents) on the issues and the process.

Woodstock Area Flood Relief Fund

Following the devastating damage done by tropical storm Irene in August 2011, Sustainable Woodstock was proud to have stepped up to take on the task of administering the Woodstock Area Flood Relief Fund, coordinating both the solicitation of funds and the grant distribution process. Through the generosity of hundreds of individuals and organizations both inside and outside the community, as well as support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the fund raised $425,000 and provided significant flood recovery help to more than 125 families in Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Pomfret, Reading and Woodstock.

Photo Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project
The effort would not have been possible without the many volunteers who coordinated the effort to raise funds, set up procedures, prepare and process applications, and meet, advise, and follow up with all the applicants. While we are unable to name all the people who contributed to making the fund such a success, we would like to acknowledge the particular contributions of Joanne Boyle, Jim Bryant, Laurie Chester, Alison Clarkson, Candace Coburn, Moe Garmon, Kandy Gray, Sam Harvey, Ken Howe, Charlie Kimbell, Daniel Jantos, Susan Kelley-Outten, Denise Lyons, Ron Miller, Sally Miller, Meg Seely, Laurel and Rick Tobiason, Vickie Brooks, Judy Williamson, and Liza Wilson.
Woodstock Emergency

Sustainable Emergency Services Building

Sustainable Woodstock partnered with Woodstock’s EMS personnel, Town of Woodstock, Efficiency Vermont and Intermunicipal Regional Energy Coordinator to make the new Philip B. Swanson Public Safety Facility net-zero ready for energy, thus saving thousands of dollars in propane costs over time and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent.

Union Arena

Sustainable Woodstock assisted with some of the energy-efficiency projects, such as an energy audit and the installation of LED lighting, in order to make Union Arena more energy efficient. We continued in a support role as this amazing project unfolded, eventually serving on the committee that helped to plan Union Arena’s 2021 celebration of becoming the first Net-Zero Ice Arena in the U.S.!

Learn More

Please contact us for more information about programs and initiatives.