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Explore our latest coverage of environmental issues, climate change and more.

Could A Homegrown Phosphorus Industry Clean Up Vermont's Water?

Gov. Phil Scott has suggested capturing and selling phosphorus before it gets to the state's waterways and lakes.
VPR File
Gov. Phil Scott has suggested capturing and selling phosphorus before it gets to the state's waterways and lakes.

In his budget address on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Scott suggested Vermont should turn lemons into lemonade by capturing the phosphorous flowing into our waterways - and selling it.

Would that work? We’re talking about whether the suggestion is feasible, how phosphorus could be separated out and what the economics of the idea might look like.

We're joined by Eric Roy, assistant professor of environmental sciences at the University of Vermont's Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. He studies the dynamics of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen in food systems and the environment.

We'll also be joined by Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore, who will talk more about the state's vision for how phosphorus commodification could work.

Broadcast Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
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