Transition Potential at Middlebury College:

Middlebury College claims to be committed to advancing social, economic, and sustainable initiatives across campus and beyond. The college recognizes the importance of promoting equity and social justice, and is dedicated to creating a more just and sustainable world through its different initiatives and programs. Here are some examples:

Energy 2028:
The college has set this 2028 deadline to achieve goals of having the “campus powered 100% by renewable energy, reduce our energy consumption by 25%, and have a robust faculty-initiated experiential curriculum in place focusing on energy use” (Gaiss 2022). To achieve this goal, the college has implemented a number of initiatives, including increasing energy efficiency, utilizing renewable energy sources, and reducing waste.

1. Middlebury uses locally sourced wood chips that are superheated in a low oxygen chamber and ignited to produce steam for heating, cooling, hot water, and cooking.
2. A five-megawatt solar array planned for construction on South Street Extension is in the state permitting process. That system will provide about 33 percent of the College’s electrical needs. The project has a planned second phase that will include two megawatts of battery storage to provide a more consistent availability of electricity and potentially serve as an emergency source of power during local outages.
3. One significant project is the anaerobic digester system at the Goodrich Farm in Salisbury. This system will produce renewable natural gas from cow manure and food waste, which Middlebury will receive annually to displace natural gas used when the biomass system cannot meet heating needs. This project will bring the College close to heating the campus with 100 percent renewable fuel. 
4. Middlebury is also committed to divesting its endowment from fossil fuels by 2028. The College has made significant progress in this area, reducing fossil fuel-related investments by 44 percent as of December 31, 2020. 
5. To learn more about Middlebury’s Energy 2028 initiative, click here: Energy 2028

Green Buildings:
Middlebury College has constructed several green buildings on its campus, including the Franklin Environmental Center and the Axinn Center for the Humanities. These buildings are designed to be energy-efficient and utilize sustainable building practices

1. Middlebury has made significant building renovations, including upgraded insulation, new windows, new mechanical systems, and air conditioning for all spaces. These renovations have resulted in a projected 20 percent net reduction in energy consumption compared to its pre-renovation status. 
2. Five of Middlebury’s buildings have achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification: The Franklin Environmental Center, The Bostwick Family Squash Center, The InSite solar housing, The Virtue Field House, and 3 South Street
3. They look to incorporate different green architecture, like green roofing, stormwater management, and locally sourced wood.
4. To learn more about Middlebury’s initiatives on Sustainable Architecture click here: Sustainable Design

Sustainable Food:
Middlebury College has implemented a number of initiatives to promote sustainable food practices on its campus. This includes a campus farm (the Knoll), a composting program, and a commitment to purchasing locally-sourced and organic food.

1. The Middlebury Knoll “provides students and other members of the college and town with the opportunity to participate in and learn about local organic agriculture” (Middlebury College 2023). It also offers three main programs: The Educational Garden, Outdoor Kitchen, and Serenity Garden to the local community.
2. Middlebury turns about 300 tons of food waste into compost annually, diverting around 90% of waste from going into landfills. Staff collects food waste from the dining halls and compost bins on campus, and mixes it into piles to decompose. Once tested for quality, the compost is used to fertilize the campus landscapes (Middlebury College 2021a).
3. Middlebury also is committed to support “local, environmentally-committed, and minority- and women-owned vendors” whenever it is possible (Middlebury College 2021b)

Community Engagement:
Middlebury College encourages its students to engage with the broader community through volunteering and community service. The college offers a number of programs and resources to facilitate community engagement, including the Center for Community Engagement.

1. Partnerships with Community-Based Organizations: Middlebury College partners with a number of community-based organizations aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion. These partnerships include mentoring programs, community service projects, and other initiatives designed to support underrepresented students.
2. To learn more about community engagement, click here: Community Engagement

Social Justice Initiatives:
Middlebury College has implemented a number of social justice initiatives aimed at promoting equity and justice. 

1. Middlebury College has established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, which is charged with identifying and addressing issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus. The task force works to promote a more inclusive and welcoming campus environment for all students (Middlebury College 2021c).
2. The Middlebury Anderson Freeman Center (AFC) provides resources and support for students from underrepresented backgrounds. The center offers a wide range of programs and events aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion on campus (Anderson Freeman Center)
3. Financial Aid: Middlebury College is committed to providing financial aid to students from diverse backgrounds. The college offers need-based financial aid to help ensure that all qualified students have access to a Middlebury education.
4. First@Midd: Middlebury College has implemented a First-Generation Initiative aimed at supporting students who are the first in their families to attend college. The initiative includes a range of programs and resources designed to help first-generation students succeed academically and socially.(First@Midd)

Transition Potential in the Town of Middlebury:

The Town of Middlebury has also made many strides in social, environmental and communal initiatives. Middlebury residents pride themselves in having a strong sense of community and look to find ways to help their less-fortunate neighbors.One example of this is the Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community, which emphasizes the need for service and helping other community members. They do this through many different programs, one of them being StreetGreens. StreetGreens is a food truck that provides free meals and snacks to community spaces during the summer months(Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community). This community also started a “community living room” called Gather, where all people can “come together and get to know one another” (Gather). Another example would be the Charter House Coalition, whose mission is to “provide shelter for the homeless, nutritious meals for the hungry, and social service support” (Charter House Coalition, n.d.). Similarly, HOPE (Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects) helps provide individuals ways to secure resources to fulfill their own basic needs (HOPE, n.d.). These are only some of the many initiatives started here in the Town of Middlebury..

Additionally, Middlebury has committed to transitioning to renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For example, ACORN Renewable Energy Co-op and the Climate Economy Action Center (CEAC) work to provide the community’s residents and businesses with different tools and ways to transition into cleaner renewable energy practices (CEAC, n.d.). Middlebury also has a strong initiative for providing locally sourced food. Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op emphasizes the importance of locally sourced organic food by purchasing products mainly from farmers and businesses in the state of Vermont. In doing so, the Co-op sustains the livelihoods of these local farmers and also strengthens the economy of this region and preserves an agrarian lifestyle (Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, 2022). Another example is ACORN-VT’s Food Hub, which helps market food from local producers and farmers in the Champlain Valley (ACORN, n.d.).

We can do better!

Everything that is being done or planned at Middlebury College and the Town of Middlebury is integral to the transition to a more equitable and just economy and lifestyle. However, it is not enough. We are calling for a just transition of the entire Middlebury community using other ways of knowing that are not centered on growth, development, and economic gain. Middlebury College and the Town are ideal places to begin this sort of transformation. We have a small tight-knit community with lots of networks and interactions, an award-winning newspaper, and many people who are striving to make the world a better place and help others. We also have abundant land where we could grow food and site renewable energy facilities.We have an excellent liberal arts college and a health-care system that will help to influence the town’s economy.  These are all integral parts of what the Middlebury community stands for, and are key to initiating transformative change. 

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ACORN. “Acorn Food Hub.” ACORN. Accessed April 26, 2023. https://www.acornvt.org/foodhub. 
CEAC. “Climate Economy Action Center of Addison County.” CLIMATE ECONOMY ACTION
CENTER of Addison County. Accessed April 26, 2023. https://ceacac.org/. 
Charter House Coalition.“Everyone Deserves a Place to Call Home.” Charter House Coalition. Accessed
April 26, 2023. https://chcvt.org/. 
Gaiss, Kevin. “Middlebury College Sets Goals to Get Greener by 2028.” Vermont’s Own WCAX, June 29,
2022. https://www.wcax.com/2022/06/29/middlebury-college-sets-goals-get-greener-by-2028/
HOPE. “Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects in Addison County, Vermont.” HOPE. Accessed April 26,
2023. https://www.hope-vt.org/. 
Middlebury College. “Anderson Freeman Resource Center.” Middlebury, April 20, 2023.
https://www.middlebury.edu/anderson-freeman. 
Middlebury College. “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” Middlebury, October 2, 2021c.
https://www.middlebury.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion. 
Middlebury College. “Food at Middlebury.” The Knoll at Middlebury College, January 28, 2023.
https://middfarm.wordpress.com/food-at-middlebury/. 
Middlebury College. “Recycling and Compost.” Middlebury, July 26, 2021a.
https://www.middlebury.edu/franklin-environmental-center/sustainability-action/living-sustainably-campus/recycling-and-compost. 
Middlebury College. “Sustainable Purchasing.” Middlebury, July 26, 2021b.
https://www.middlebury.edu/franklin-environmental-center/sustainability-action/sustainable-purchasing. 
Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op.“Farmers and Other Local Producers.” Middlebury Natural Foods
Co-op, October 20, 2022. https://middlebury.coop/participate/farmers-and-other-local-producers/.