Do you use alternative sources of energy to manufacture your soap?

Hello Larry,

I buy Vermont Soap at the outlet in Middlebury and love it.

My question is about natural gas distribution to Middlebury. What is your stance on the distribution of natural gas to Middlebury proposed by Vermont Gas Systems’ Addison Natural Gas Project, given as demand for this fuel increases, more natural gas will be sourced from fracked wells, polluting our water supply with chemicals.

Do you use alternative sources of energy to manufacture your soap?

Thank you.

Renee McGuinness

God Love Ya Renee.

Thanks for thinking about this stuff – we do too!

Vermont Soap made an executive decision last year to transition off propane/electric to 100% electric. We have only one large machine left that cooks on propane. That old propane boiler will be upgraded to a high efficiency electric boiler later this year. We are investing in serious money upgrading our electrical service to do this. Our decision is partly based on the availability of local hydropower, made right down the block to help offset our use. The second is that we in no way support methane gas fracking. There are a number of good reasons for this including damage to our clean water resources. But fracking NOW precludes ever pumping any OIL from the ground there. The day will come all too soon when $20 gasoline makes this type of pumping a viable option; plus you can harvest gas and oil at the same time for a double punch. Stealing methane gas now is shortsighted considering that this was our local (NY) last chance emergency petroleum source.

The Soapman wants to see algae to methane/alcohol/bodiesel farms covering large areas not suitable for organic food production. But stealing the methane gas out of the ground and dumping it on the market cheap is just plain sociopathic. These guys should face a 100% tax with the proceeds to be reinvested in renewable sources.

I live in an off grid solar log home so I think about these things every time I turn on an appliance. Glad you do to.

Look up next time you come to the factory outlet and you’ll see the three solar hot water panels on the roof of the factory.

All the Best,

Soapman Larry and the Soap Crew