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Annual Reports

Rural Vermont Inventory of Dependent Communities

 

Vermont is a study in contrasts, with many innovative businesses and dynamic
communities juxtaposed with struggling communities and at-risk businesses.

This 2005 report, Rural Vermont Inventory of Dependent Communities, was aimed at anticipating problems that arise from community dependency on a small number of businesses for majority employment. Over 60 interviews with community and economic development practitioners in every rural county in the state took place, and a set of dependent communities and 'communities with opportunities' was developed.

 

 


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Vermont Biofuels Initiative

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The Vermont Biofuels Initiative (VBI) is a multi-year, integrated program designed to foster a biofuels industry in Vermont using local resources to replace a portion of the state's liquid fossil fuel energy needs. Funds from the U.S. Department of Energy were expensed from 2006 through 2008 for seven projects: 1) a feedstock production, logistics, and biomass conversion research project conducted by the University of Vermont Extension; 2) technical assistance in the form of a safety review and engineering study of State Line Biofuels existing biodiesel production facility; 3) technical assistance in the form of a safety review and engineering study of Borderview Farm’s proposed biodiesel production facility; 4) technology and infrastructure purchases for capacity expansion at Green Technologies, LLC, a waste vegetable biodiesel producer; 5) technical assistance in the form of feasibility studies for AgNorth Biopower LLC’s proposed multi-feedstock biodigester; 6) technology and infrastructure purchases for the construction of a “Cow Power” biodigester at Gervais Family Farm; and 7) the education and outreach activities of the Vermont Biofuels Association.

Click below to read the final report from the first phase of the VBI:

During this phase, a number of additional feasibility studies were completed:

Additional info:

Feed and Fuel Project

In 2008, VSJF and Vermont Biofuels Association commissioned an oilseed crop market potential and economic feasibility study in order to explore whether Vermont farmers could sustainably, economically, and competitively produce some portion of Vermont’s liquid fuel and livestock feed demand.

We were also interested in the requirements for and characteristics of small-scale, Vermont-made biofuels for local use, as an alternative to industrial-scale biofuel production.

Emily Stebbins, a graduate student in the Community Development and Applied Economics department at the University of Vermont, conducted the majority of the research for this project, which she also used for her Master's thesis:

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Vermont Biodiesel Project

The VBP was a collaboration between the Vermont Biofuels Association, Vermont Fuel Dealers Association, VSJF, Vermont Department of Public Service, Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and more than a dozen private companies engaged in building the renewable fuels sector in the state. The VBP's two large-scale pilot projects tested the use of biodiesel for heating when blended with No. 6 heating oil at the Waterbury facility of the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS); and biodiesel in snowmaking operations at Smugglers’ Notch Resort.  A final report on the outcomes of these pilot projects was released in October, 2006:

Vermont Bioheat Program

The Vermont Bioheat Program was created to help contribute to the understanding of B20 biodiesel as a residential heating fuel. Vermont Bioheat Program research, which took place over the 2005-2006 heating season, was primarily concerned with a comparison of heating system performance when using B20 bioheat and conventional No.2 fuel oil.

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Sustainable Wood Guide Specifications

Wood Guide SpecSustainable Wood Guide Specification documents, or “Green GuideSpecs”, were created to assist architects, designers, specifiers, facility managers, green builders, Vermont wood product manufacturers, fabricators, and communities interested in supporting third-party certified, Vermont forest products.

Notice: The following guide specification may be used and distributed provided that copies include this cover and references to JMMa Specs, VSJF and the Sustainable Wood Guide Specification project. Re-packaging or sale of this Guide Specification is not permitted.

Last Updated: August 20, 2009

  • 060530 Certified Wood Short Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 060530 Certified Wood Long Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 061003 Certified Rough Carpentry II Short Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 061003 Certified Rough Carpentry II Long Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 061603 Certified Wood Sheathing Short Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 061603 Certified Wood Sheathing Long Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 061703 Certified Shop-Fabricated Structural Wood Short Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 061703 Certified Shop-Fabricated Structural Wood Long Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 062003 Certified Finish Carpentry Short Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 062003 Certified Finish Carpentry Long Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 064003 Certified Architectural Woodwork Short Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 064003 Certified Architectural Woodwork Long Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 085203 Certified Wood Windows Short Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 085203 Certified Wood Windows Long Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 096403 Certified Wood Flooring Short Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 096403 Certified Wood Flooring Long Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 125083 Certified Wood Furniture Short Form (DOC, PDF)
  • 125083 Certified Wood Furniture Long Form (DOC, PDF)

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Vermont Wood Products Resource Manual

VT Wood Products Manual

The complete Vermont Wood Products Resource Manual is now available. The Resource Manual is a publication of VSJF and the Vermont Wood Manufacturers Association, with additional funding from the John Merck Fund.  The publication provides wood products end-users with the information they need to specify and purchase wood products grown and manufactured in Vermont.