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Would love to learn something about glacial Lake Vermont.

Quick facts:

Opportunity to vote:

1. Death With Dignity

2. EV

3. How many cows are there?

The Island Pond Raid of 1984, the fallout, and the precedents set as a result.

Thinking along the lines of Island Pond, Vermont's history with the railroad (Grand Trunk, Rutland Railroad, etc.) You could look at the New Amtrac line and even tell the tale of Phineas Gage.

Beyond Ben & Jerry's, a look at Vermont businesses that are known world wide. For example, Concept 2 is the gold standard for rowing machines (ergs) used all around the world by collegiate and Olympic teams for training.

Not really questions more like general ideas, but I can frame out questions if needed.

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Quick clarification:

You can vote in the current voting round by clicking the link above (also here). You can submit a new question for consideration by filling out the form embedded at bravelittlestate.org!

Oh I would love to know how many cows there are.

How well positioned is Vermont with regards to person to doctor coverage? How does a rural state dominated by essentially a duopoly of UVM and Dartmouth-Hitchcock provide both primary and specialty care for its' citizens? When does state governmental policy begin to demand specific services for the population that the two large medical systems think is not either profitable or worthy of providing?

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Gas to electric is a really interesting question. Our house is solar run and we use batteries and electric everything when we can (which is so damn satisfying, we really love it) but I can't imagine driving an electric car in a state like Vermont. At least, logistics wise it doesn't jive with the state. I'm open to learning more about that though

Where did all the restaurant workers go? 😅

Why did VPR choose such a stupid replacement name?

What have been the ramifications of the whole herd buyout program of the ‘80s. What is the average size (milking herd) or Vermont Dairy Farms now? Has the Extension Service changed their messaging to farmers in the last quarter century?

Nobody has the answer. Sorry. The Agency for Agriculture does not have it so I doubt that brave little state will be able to get to it.

Beyond Ben & Jerry’s would be really interesting. Great shout!

Check the census bureau and federal DoA? In terms of taxation, livestock and land was kind of what you were taxed on into the mid-1800s at least, and the census had agricultural schedules.

I've always heard about the "70% of VT used to be grazing land for sheep" thing but never heard any followup or backstory. Would be neat to know.

Also always love hearing about old Inns and Carriage Houses that were located at the tops of mountains. Always seemed odd and intriguing how and why folks would build large structures atop mountains.

An episode of dowsing for water would be neat.

Maybe then an in depth look to why our mountains (green and rolling) and NHs mountains (rocky and jagged) look so differently despite being 50 miles apart.

Then a look back at the movie Man With A Plan.

Then the Floating Bridge in Brookfield.

Then the glacial period that shaped Lake Willoughby.

Then the Morgan Horse.

Then the Barre VT granite quarry.

Then Thunder Road.

The why there are no McDonalds in Montpelier.

Then the micro-brewery boom.

I’m still kickin!

*jibe

But why do you think the logistics don't work?

Honestly after looking them both up I don't think either fits

But to the point-

1. Recharge times are still long for EVs- I don't know how you leave a car to charge in a non urban area. Do you just hang out in your car until it's done? What happens when everyone needs to charge up and we only have a handful of stations?

2. Hauling, especially hauling up hill, drops the range of EVs by a lot. Plenty of folks haul daily for their jobs. How does that affect them?

3. Emergencies- we're not exactly known for cell service. Right now a small tank of gas in the back of a pickup can get you down those last miles to the nearest town. What happens if your EV dies in the middle of nowhere? Do you lug a gas generator around? How do you charge it in the middle of nowhere? I'd imagine you'd need to call someone to get you charged up. And how long would that take to get you to the next stop and then how long after that to get you home? Vs pulling into a gas station and being on your way

I appreciate electric vehicles and I do think they're the future. I'm just concerned about the practicalities of the current state technology.

The definition of jibe you are looking for is: To be in accord; agree.

1.) There need to be more stations and I assume we'll see more built.

2.) Not everyone needs to go electric. It's probably going to be a lengthy transition and/or there may always be some vehicles that need to run gas/diesel.

3.) Sure, that situation sounds like a big hassle. Even now running out of gas seems like a big hassle that would throw a monkey wrench into my day.

A lot of these problems come down to planning ahead. It would certainly depend on the individual cases, but for me I'm unlikely to need to recharge during my daily commute. And if I did, well, there's a charging station outside my building at work that I have access to if needed. Obviously if you drive all day for work that's a very different deal.

The VT/NH mountains one has already been covered in a suuuuper interesting episode!

Thank you, yes that's what I was looking for

So, I don't think any of these address the major point that links a lot of these together- charge times. It takes a long time to charge an EV right now. I think that alone is a significant burden and barrier to adoption vs just driving up to a gas station and being on your way in a moment or two.

I think partial adoption is fine - cities in particular will be grand. Rural folks and professionals/contracts though, I don't think that's practical with current configs.