Vermont Business Magazine Coming this fall is the Way to Go! Challenge, a two-week event encouraging everyone to travel smart, September 26 - October 7. Registration is open for individuals, businesses and schools to sign-up online at http://www.waytogovt.org. Top performing businesses, schools and individuals will be awarded with recognition and prizes. Designed to encourage a culture of shared mobility, Way to Go! seeks to get people moving, support cleaner air and reduce fossil fuel consumption.
Students of the Starksboro Elementary School in front of their AllEarth Solar Tracker. AllEarth photo
Thanks to the generous donation of Williston-based AllEarth Renewables, K-12 schools in Vermont will compete for first place and the winning K-12 school will receive a Vermont manufactured AllEarth Solar Tracker. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to start off the school year choosing better travel habits and avoid driving alone. All schools pledging at least 50% participation will be eligible to win.
“We are thrilled to support this year’s Way to Go! Challenge by awarding the state’s top school with one of our locally manufactured solar trackers. This will not only be a visible recognition of the winning school’s commitment to changing their transportation behaviors, it will support the school in reducing carbon pollution impacts by producing clean power right on school grounds. If we have any hope of solving our energy problem, its going to come from our and future generations,” said David Blittersdorf, President and CEO of AllEarth Renewables.
The local manufacturer has produced more than 4,000 solar trackers, which are in operation at homes, businesses, schools and other institutions, across the country.
“These are the type of public/private partnerships that help Vermont advance our shared goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050, said Chris Cole, Vermont Secretary of Transportation. I’d like to recognize the many partners, business sponsors and hundreds of participating entities supporting and participating in this great event”.
“We are excited to receive such a valuable prize and incentive for K-12 schools this year,” said Michele Boomhower, Director for Policy, Planning and Intermodal Development. “The AllEarth Solar Tracker supports our mission to reduce carbon pollution and fuel consumption, it will also save the winning school an estimated $85,000 in power cost over the life of the tracker.”
Questions about sponsoring, contributing or how to get started, please contact the Way to Go! Team at [email protected]or Deb Sachs at [email protected] 802-238-9807.