Antos-Ketcham Brings 22 Years of Natural Resource Management to the Statewide Non-profit
Huntington, VT – Energize Vermont is pleased to announce that Pete Antos-Ketcham, formerly of the Green Mountain Club (GMC), has joined the organization as its new Executive Director. Antos-Ketcham succeeds Mark Whitworth.
While Executive Director, Whitworth led many of the organization’s initiatives including lobbying for effective climate change policies, environmental preservation, and sensible deployment of renewables. Whitworth will continue to carry out policy analysis for Energize Vermont and will serve on its Board of Directors.
Pete Antos-Ketcham comes to Energize Vermont with over 22 years in natural resource and non-profit management. Antos-Ketcham is leaving his position as GMC’s Director of Land and Facilities Management. While at GMC, he oversaw the construction of the club’s new Visitor Center in Waterbury Center, Vermont. The Visitor Center consumes no fossil fuels and employs appropriately-scaled renewables to produce more electricity than it uses. It demonstrates an approach to an energy future that doesn’t require massive energy sprawl.
Antos-Ketcham said, “I look forward to continuing the great work Mark has done. He has been a clear voice advocating responses to climate change that respect our communities and preserve our natural resources.
“People are worried about climate change and they are concerned that Vermont’s climate change response has gone very wrong. They wonder what has happened to the traditional guardians of Vermont’s natural resources heritage. Why are the conservation groups not promoting real conservation? Why aren’t natural resource groups protecting our natural resources? Why is no one representing the real interests of the public?
“Energize Vermont offers an alternative for the many people who are disturbed by the conduct of these old-line organizations. Energize Vermont has no industry moguls on its board and has not compromised its mission in exchange for large donations.
“Our first priority in responding to climate change has to be the preservation of our irreplaceable wildlife habitat. Industrializing our mountains, forests, wetlands, and agricultural lands may be profitable for a few, but it is jeopardizing the ability of countless species to adapt to a changing climate. Energy developers are destroying our environment and our cultural heritage for meager amounts of intermittent electricity. I will advocate sensible energy policies that bring our communities together—policies that emphasize conservation, efficiency, and thoughtful siting of Vermont-scale renewables.”
Outgoing Executive Director, Mark Whitworth said, “We look forward to Pete’s leadership of Energize Vermont. His many years of experience with the Green Mountain Club, his advocacy for effective climate change response, and his passion for preserving Vermont’s landscape, make him ideally suited to Energize Vermont’s mission to promote common-sense renewable energy solutions.”
Board member and former Executive Director Lukas Snelling said, “We couldn’t be happier with the appointment of Antos-Ketcham to lead the organization. Pete comes to us with deep experience in natural resource management and is greatly respected in the environmental community for the work he has done. Pete will continue the organization’s growth and work with his fellow Vermonters toward an energy future that emphasizes sustainability, conservation, adaptation, and resilience.”
Pete Antos-Ketcham is a resident of Starksboro, where he lives with his wife and two children. He graduated from UVM with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. He has served six years on the ATC (Appalachian Trail Conservancy) Stewardship Council, the Board of Directors for the RMC (Randolph Mountain Club) and as an Emergency Medical Technician for Stowe Rescue, Stowe Mountain Rescue and Huntington First Response.
Energize Vermont is a non-profit education and advocacy organization that promotes renewable energy solutions that are in harmony with the irreplaceable character of Vermont, and that contribute to the well-being of all her people. This mission is achieved by researching, collecting, and analyzing information from all sources; and disseminating it to the public, community leaders, legislators, media, and regulators for the purpose of ensuring informed decisions for long-term stewardship of our communities.
For more information about Energize Vermont and the organization’s mission, visit energizevermont.org.