GMP names environmental award nominees

Springfield's Kelly Stettner is among eight Vermonters nominated for the 2014 Green Mountain Power-Zetterstrom Environmental Award.
http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140428/BUSINESS/704289870

Published April 28, 2014 in the Rutland Herald GMP names environmental award nominees Staff Report Eight Vermonters and Vermont organizations have been nominated for the 2014 Green Mountain Power-Zetterstrom Environmental Award, which will be presented May 6 at a ceremony at the State House. “Nominations for the Zetterstrom Environmental award ranged from an individual who volunteered for an environmental organization for 40 years, to small organizations spearheaded by one very active person, to well-organized groups that have operated for years,” said Mary Powell, president and CEO of Green Mountain Power. “What they all shared was dedication, optimism and an abiding interest in protecting Vermont’s environment.” “It is inspiring to look at the work all the nominees have accomplished, demonstrating how important the many volunteers and nonprofits are to the health of Vermont’s environment,” said Steve Costello, GMP’s vice president for energy innovation who worked with the award’s namesake, Meeri Zetterstrom, to assist once-endangered ospreys. “Meeri would have appreciated what they’ve done.” The award, first presented in 2010, was named for Zetterstrom to honor her work to promote ospreys’ return from the brink of extinction in Vermont, and to recognize others who follow her example. “Meeri was the epitome of determination, and worked tirelessly to educate Vermonters about the birds, advocate for their recovery, and instill a love of nature in children,” Costello said. “She devoted the last two decades of her life to ospreys, often studying them for 16 to 18 hours a day. Many of this year’s nominees have demonstrated similar focus and persistence in their work and volunteerism.” The 2014 winner will be chosen by a panel of GMP employees with responsibilities related to land management, resource protection, community relations and education, and environmental compliance. The award comes with a cash prize of $2,500 to benefit the winner’s ongoing environmental work. The nominees include: Larry Clarfeld of the North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier, which runs a statewide Amphibian Monitoring Program that trains volunteers to help amphibians cross roads during spring migration; Allison Gillette of Pittsford, who produced and directed “Cow Power: The Movie,” a documentary film about the use of cow manure to create electricity in Vermont; Susan Houston and Northern Rivers Land Trust, which works to protect the natural, scenic and working landscapes in the headwaters of the Winooski, Lamoille and Black Rivers; Lewis Creek Association, a watershed protection group oriented towards preserving water quality, habitat quality and recreational and aesthetic qualities of waters in the Lewis Creek watershed Roy Pilcher, a decades-long volunteer at the Rutland County Audubon Society who has worked to protect bird habitats, wetlands, agricultural space and our own backyards; Kelly Stettner of Springfield, who founded the Black River Action Team, which celebrates, cleans up and protects the Black River in southeastern Vermont; Tinmouth Pond Milfoil Project, a volunteer effort to control the invasive aquatic weed Eurasion Water Milfoil, using cutting edge natural methods; and Waterbury LEAP, a town energy committee turned nonprofit that plans to turn Waterbury into the greenest community in Vermont by 2020.