Eight Vermonters and Vermont organizations have been nominated for the 2014 GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award, which will be presented May 6 at a ceremony in the Vermont Statehouse.
"Nominations for the Zetterstrom Environmental award ranged from an individual who volunteered for an environmental organization for 40 years, to small organizations spearheaded by one very active person, to well-organized groups that have operated for years,” said Mary Powell, President and CEO of Green Mountain Power. “What they all shared was dedication, optimism and an abiding interest in protecting Vermont’s environment.”
"It is inspiring to look at the work all the nominees have accomplished, demonstrating how important the many volunteers and non-profits are to the health of Vermont’s environment,” said Steve Costello, GMP’s vice president who worked with the award's namesake, Meeri Zetterstrom, to assist once-endangered ospreys. "Meeri would have appreciated what they’ve done."
The award, first presented in 2010, was named for Zetterstrom to honor her work to promote ospreys' return from the brink of extinction in Vermont, and to recognize others who follow her example.
"Meeri was the epitome of determination, and worked tirelessly to educate Vermonters about the birds, advocate for their recovery, and instill a love of nature in children," Costello said. "She devoted the last two decades of her life to ospreys, often studying them for 16 to 18 hours a day. Many of this year's nominees have demonstrated similar focus and persistence in their work and volunteerism."
The 2014 winner will be chosen by a panel of GMP employees with responsibilities related to land management, resource protection, community relations and education, and environmental compliance. The award comes with a cash prize of $2,500 to benefit the winner's ongoing environmental work.
The nominees include:
- Larry Clarfeld - North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier, which runs a statewide Amphibian Monitoring Program that trains volunteers to help amphibians cross roads during spring migration;
- Allison Gillette of Pittsford, who produced and directed "Cow Power: The Movie," a documentary film about the use of cow manure to create electricity in Vermont.
- Susan Houston and Northern Rivers Land Trust, which works to protect the natural, scenic and working landscapes in the headwaters of the Winooski, Lamoille and Black Rivers;
- Lewis Creek Association, a watershed protection group oriented towards preserving water quality, habitat quality and recreational and aesthetic qualities of waters in the Lewis Creek watershed;
- Roy Pilcher, a decades-long volunteer at the Rutland County Audubon Society who has worked to protect bird habitats, wetlands, agricultural space and our own backyards;
- Kelly Stettner of Springfield, who founded the Black River Action Team, which celebrates, cleans up and protects the Black River in southeastern Vermont;
- Tinmouth Pond Milfoil Project, a volunteer effort to control the invasive aquatic weed Eurasion Water Milfoil, using cutting edge natural methods; and
- Waterbury LEAP, a town energy committee turned non-profit that plans to turn Waterbury into the greenest community in Vermont by 2020.
About Green Mountain Power
Green Mountain Power (www.greenmountainpower.com) generates, transmits, distributes and sells electricity in the state of Vermont. The company, which was named 2014 Solar Champion by Vote Solar, serves more than 250,000 customers and has set its vision to be the best small company in America.