A slate of Vermont dignitaries were in Stowe Wednesday to celebrate recent clean energy accomplishments in Lamoille County.
Gov. Peter Shumlin, Department of Public Service Commissioner Chris Recchia and others gathered in the parking lot of the new Alchemist Brewery, alongside a high-speed electric vehicle charger.
The charger is one of 10 vehicle charging stations being installed by the Stowe Electric Department. Stowe Electric also recently commissioned a 1-megawatt solar farm, as did the nearby village of Hyde Park.
According to Gov. Shumlin, one in 17 Vermonters now works in the renewable energy sector.
“[That means] jobs, money in Vermonters’ pockets," Shumlin said, "but here’s the most important thing you all are accomplishing with these projects and with these plug-ins: We’re actually showing the rest of the nation how you can get off of coal and oil and move to renewables while you create jobs and gain economically for your people."
Shumlin added, if Vermont is going to reach its goal of 90 percent renewable energy by 2050, then transportation has to be addressed.
