Author: Michael Shank

FERC Commissioner: Listen to the Scientists

RUTLAND HERALD 10/21/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr.  A federal energy regulator, nominated to his position by President Donald Trump, told those attending a virtual renewable energy conference Wednesday that America needs to listen to scientists on man-made climate change. “We’ve got to stop having these disagreements as to whether greenhouse […]

The Herald Candidate Questionnaires: Vt. Senate, Rutland District

THE HERALD 10/01/20 Rutland County District (Three Seats) The Rutland Senate District covers the White River Valley town of Pittsfield. The Herald sent out questionnaires to area candidates running for state representative and state senator. Each was given space to respond to the following questions: As a result of the […]

Rutland County Needs to Band Together for Broadband

VTDIGGER 10/07/20 By Michael Shank Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank of Brandon, who is vice chair of the Rutland Regional Planning Commission and the chair of the Brandon Planning Commission. Many things in life are easier when done together. Whether it’s education, economic development, everyday chores or […]

Band Together for Broadband

MOUNTAIN TIMES 10/07/20 By Dr. Michael Shank Many things in life are easier when done together. Whether it’s education, economic development, everyday chores or even emergency response, when you have more hands and more help, the work is more efficiently executed and more effectively implemented. It takes a village to […]

Broadband for All

RUTLAND HERALD 10/07/20 By Michael Shank Many things in life are easier when done together. Whether it’s education, economic development, everyday chores or even emergency response, when you have more hands and more help, the work is more efficiently executed and more effectively implemented. It takes a village to lighten […]

Rutland Herald’s General Election Guide

RUTLAND HERALD 10/07/20 Michael Shank Independent, Brandon Why are you running this year? I love this community and I want to give back and serve the community in every way I can. I see a need to strengthen our ties and bonds so that we’re more resilient and more protected […]

Ten Vie for Three Seats in Vermont Senate from Rutland County

VT DIGGER 10/06/20 By Emma Cotton With three Democrats, three Republicans and four independents vying for three seats in the Vermont Senate, possibilities abound in Rutland County, which has been a Republican stronghold in recent decades. Incumbents Cheryl Hooker, a Democrat, and Brian Collamore, a Republican, say they aren’t taking […]

Environmental film contest goes countywide

RUTLAND HERALD 09/22/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr. BRANDON — An environmental film contest that awarded cash prizes to local students is going countywide this year. Michael Shank, an adjunct faculty member at New York University Center for Global Affairs, of Brandon, contributor to a number of national publications, said Tuesday […]

A Roadmap for a Resilient Rutland County

By Dr. Michael Shank Published: September 20, 2020 Protecting our infrastructure – physical, economic and social – from shocks to the system should be everyone’s priority. It’s compromised by increasingly extreme weather, extreme economic hardship and extreme ideologies. Committing to a repair and reinvestment strategy, then, should be on everyone’s […]