Common Sense Radio: Renewable Energy from Vermont’s Working Lands with Evan Dell’Olio
Thursday, November 12, 2026, Common Sense Radio, with Bill Sayre, weekdays, 11 o’clock till Noon.
Evan Dell’Olio, of Synergy Bioproducts and Vermont Renewable Gas, joins Bill to discuss the challenges and opportunities for developing renewable energy from the product of our working lands — forest and farm — and those who work those lands. With special emphasis on Synergy’s proposed plant in the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont Renewable Gas.
Potential Questions and Issues
What should we know about your proposed plant in Lyndon, Vermont Renewable Gas. What is the product — renewable gas, electricity, other? In what quantities?
How many potential employees? Increasing economic activity — sales, income, and tax revenue.
What capital investment? Increasing Grand List.
What is the feedstock? Low grade forest products? Wood chips? Quantities? What changes in the market for forest products, especially low grade markets, make the new markets for low grade materials? Finch Paper. Also, tariffs and trade wars.
Some say wood energy is not renewable energy. What is their reasoning? Do you agree or disagree, and why?
Affect on work for loggers, truckers? In the context of higher diesel prices.
The effect on landowners, foresters, and the quality of forests. Removing low grade, low value stems.
The effect on rural communities. Vitality and volunteer community services.
What is important to know about the Northern Forest, and the resource base for markets and industries that depend on the forest as a resource base?
What are the benefits to wildlife management from sound management of our forests? And the benefits for rural recreation, such as trails for hiking, biking, and snowmobiles? On publicly owned forestland, are trails often placed on logging roads?
What other products of working lands, that is, working farmland, may be sources of renewable energy?
Why do some believe that the greatest challenge facing working forests, and those who earn their living from the product of those forests, is the lack of public awareness and understanding of the important role that working forests and the product of those forests play in sustaining our environment, culture, and communities, as well as in our economy?
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