Green Mountain Power Opens Nominations for 14th Annual GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award
- Honors Meeri Zetterstrom’s legacy of Osprey preservation in Vermont
- Individuals or organizations can be nominated for their impact in protecting Vermont’s wildlife and natural areas
- Award includes a $2,500 donation to winner’s environmental cause
COLCHESTER, Vt. – Green Mountain Power (GMP) is calling for nominations for the GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental award, given each year to a person or organization making a big difference in protecting Vermont’s natural areas and wildlife. This is the 14th year of the award, created to honor the conservation legacy of the late Meeri Zetterstrom, a Milton resident who had a pivotal role in saving the Osprey population in Vermont.
“This award highlights the passion, commitment, and community focus of so many people and organizations – all working in their own ways to protect Vermont’s environment and the wildlife who live here. Meeri Zetterstrom taught about her bond with nature, and she showed Vermont how an individual can make a positive impact on our state. We’re so excited to celebrate more Vermonters who embody her same drive to help the natural world,” said Kristin Carlson, GMP’s vice president of external affairs.
Nominations for the 2023 GMP-Zetterstrom award are being accepted through March 31, 2023. The prestigious honor includes a $2,500 donation to the winner’s environmental cause. Individuals, non-profits, and businesses are eligible for the award. You can learn more about the award application on GMP’s website.
Past GMP-Zetterstrom Award Winners
- 2022, Mike Korkuc, a volunteer who led successful Loon recovery efforts at Lake Dunmore and surrounding lakes
- 2021, Angella Gibbons, who founded EarthWalk Vermont
- 2020, Brian Lowe, who has helped hundreds of American kestrels successfully hatch and fledge in Vermont over two decades
- 2019, Eric Hanson, a biologist at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, who helped save endangered loons in Vermont
- 2018, Steve Parren, a biologist for the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife
- 2017, Marty Illick of the Lewis Creek Association
- 2016, Lake Champlain International, a nonprofit working to protect, restore and revitalize Lake Champlain and its communities
- 2015, Roy Pilcher, founder of the Rutland County Chapter of Audubon
- 2014, Kelly Stettner, who founded the Black River Action Team in southern Vermont
- 2013, The Lake Champlain Committee, which works to protect and improve Lake Champlain
- 2012, Margaret Fowle, who led Vermont’s peregrine falcon restoration program
- 2011, Michael Smith, the founder of Rutland’s Pine Hill Park
- 2010, Sally Laughlin, a scientist whose work was instrumental in restoring three species of endangered birds in Vermont
About Meeri Zetterstrom
Zetterstrom was living on Lake Arrowhead in Milton in the 1980’s and was among the first to notice that a couple of Ospreys had returned to fish in the lake outside her cabin. Osprey had not been around the area since near extinction in Vermont in the 1940’s. She became a passionate advocate for the birds, and her vision and drive over 25 years of work led the state, utilities, and private landowners to work together to protect Osprey nesting areas. Osprey were removed from the endangered species list in 2005, and the GMP-Zetterstrom Award was created shortly before Zetterstrom passed away in 2010.
About Green Mountain Power
Green Mountain Power serves more than 270,000 residential and business customers in Vermont with electricity that’s 100% carbon free and 78% renewable on an annual basis, and GMP is partnering with customers to improve lives and transform communities. GMP is providing solutions to cut carbon and is delivering electricity that is clean, affordable, and always on. GMP is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. In 2022, GMP was named to TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies. Fast Company named GMP one of the top five Most Innovative Companies in North America in 2022. GMP also earned a spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in the World list in the energy sector four years in a row, and in 2023 and 2021 the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) honored GMP as a nationwide leader in energy transformation.
This award highlights the passion, commitment, and community focus of so many people and organizations – all working in their own ways to protect Vermont’s environment and the wildlife who live here.
Kristin Carlson, GMP’s vice president of external affairs
