VTDigger

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 […]

An Organized Approach to Teaching Transferable Skills

VTDIGGER 09/10/20 By Michael Shank Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank, a resident of Brandon who teaches at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. He is an independent candidate for a Rutland District seat in the […]

Vermont Could Lead a National Bipartisan Conversation on Race

VTDIGGER 08/10/20 By Michael Shank Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank, of Brandon, who teaches at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which passed the U.S. House […]

Time to Divest from Factory Farming

VTDIGGER 06/16/20 By Michael Shank Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank, of Brandon, who is adjunct faculty at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs. It’s time for a global divestment campaign against the factory farming industry, which has now proved itself to be as harmful to human […]

Make it Possible to Transfer Net Meter Credits to Those in Need

VTDIGGER 4/28/20 By Michael Shank n Vermont’s all-hands-on-deck response to the Covid-19 crisis, no stone is left unturned. And it’s incredibly inspiring. Everyone is chipping in, helping neighbors with grocery deliveries, donating goods to local food shelves and banks, making homemade masks for health workers, and even donating government stimulus […]

Keeping Renewable Energy Credits Local

VTDIGGER 02/25/20 By Michael Shank When it comes to green energy innovation, there are few American states that innovate like Vermont. Recently, Vermont’s biggest power utility – Green Mountain Power – launched a peer-to-peer energy sales platform that will allow businesses to buy locally generated renewable power from other Vermonters. […]

Brandon, Vermont — The Birthplace of EVs

VTDIGGER 1/23/20 By Michael Shank Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank, of Brandon, who is the communications director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and adjunct faculty at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs. He is co-organizing the EV Festival on July 11 from noon-10 p.m. at […]

Planetary Benefits of Smaller Families

VTDIGGER 12/20/19 By Michael Shank Editor’s note: This commentary is by Dr. Michael Shank, a resident of Brandon who teaches sustainable development at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs. Given the climate inaction among national governments — from America and Australia to Brazil and Britain — there’s been a big focus […]

Climate Change is International Security Threat

VTDIGGER 06/19/19 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Gregory Meeks Editor’s note: This commentary is by Dr. Michael Shank and Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y. Shank, of Brandon, is the communications director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and adjunct faculty at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs. Meeks is a senior […]

Mosquito Control a Safer Way

VTDIGGER 05/17/2019 By Michael Shank Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank, of Brandon, who is the communications director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. He serves on Brandon’s planning commission and energy committee. Last month, a settlement was reached between the state […]