“As an advocate, you’re always banging your head against the wall,” said co-owner Stephanie Waterman of White River Growpro.
Before Waterman jumped in earlier this year, all tier two and above commercial cannabis facilities in Vermont were required to have UL-listed LED lights. After weeks of repeating herself, sending emails, and leaving voice messages, Waterman finally received an email from the lead electrical inspector saying Vermont would now accept UL, ETL, and CSA-certified grow lights.
All three certifications test equipment to the same standard and are nationally recognized as safe to use, and Vermont electrical inspectors are now required to accept them. This has given Vermont commercial cultivation facilities a wider array of lighting options to choose from. For Waterman, it was yet another small victory in a long advocacy fight.
“We have to make things more accessible,” said Waterman, who wants to reduce the barrier to entry for growers. “The harder we make things, the more we keep things in the legacy market.”
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