WEC was formed 35 years ago as the environmental movement was just beginning in this country. The issues of the time determined where we focused our time, energy and resources. Over the years, we have enjoyed the leadership and support of many fine individuals and have formed an effective coalition with the various public and private groups in Washington and the surrounding region.

WEC's first celebration of Earth Day in 1972 was a marker to adopt recycling and other sound ecological practices as part of every day life in town. Through the following decades we have fought to protect Washington's environment. In cooperation with others, we were successful in our battles against the Iroquois Pipeline and the Sempra Power Plant and also helped to save the Shepaug River.  Washington’s beauty today is in part the result of things that did not happen in the past.

As we enter the 21st Century, the challenges have changed and so has WEC. Today, we are educating a new generation in important environmental issues through our expanding school programs, our scholarships, our newsletters and our lecture series. While we continue to expand many of our original activities, WEC is also responding to new threats to our environment. We are establishing a town-wide ”green power” initiative, focusing on maintaining our biodiversity and entering new alliances to avert projects that threaten our open space and farmland.

The challenges we face to carry out our mission have become more complicated and expensive.  WEC’s ongoing success will be based on our ability to identify new opportunities and new threats and to effectively increase local understanding and support for us to deal with them..

WEC’s mission is clear to Support Your Local Environment. Together, we can keep Washington the unique and beautiful place that it is for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Elliott Davis August 2006