Wayne decided to pursue the possibilities of an idle-free campaign for the area of Vermont he lives in after searching and discovering other idle-free cities and towns in Canada (Our neighbors to the north are way ahead of us on idle-reduction.) and the USA. These locations have no-idle street signs strategically placed and have enacted enforceable laws. In Vermont, there are other local, regional and statewide idle-free efforts. Among these are the 10% Challenge in Burlington, and Post Oil Solutions, in Brattelboro. In addition, Burlington has a municipal idle-reduction law (see Idling Facts page).

In late 2005, Wayne became a member of ACoRN, then a newly formed Middlebury post-carbon/localization group (and one of a growing number nationally). ACoRN was formed to address, in many ways, the interrelated issues of global warming and peak oil (the peaking of world oil production that will then be followed by a decline). In regular meetings with its members, Wayne was encouraged and inspired by helpful feedback about the idling campaign as it evolved.

Wayne discovered a very comprehensive idle-free campaign in Lenox, Massachusetts, organized by Rick Gregg, of the Lenox Environmental Committee. Rick also observed folks idling needlessly which, in 2001, spurred him to act. Support for the grassroots effort was built on contact with schools, "cornerstones" of the community (board of health, chamber of commerce, dept. of public works), flyer handouts and media coverage. The initative gained further credibility with grants and outside sponsors. One other important fact is that, unlike Vermont, Massachusetts has an idle-reduction law (see Idling Facts page). In 2004, the Lenox Selectboard officially designated Lenox "idle-free". But there remains an ongoing effort to raise an awareness of unnecessary idling in Lenox.

Wayne and his ACoRN supporters realized that the Lenox model could be applied to towns in Vermont and there were thoughts of campaigning in some Addison County towns. But then the idea of a farther reaching, statewide campaign that would feature a petition drive was thought of. Wayne had remembered participating in the "ironing board" actions of the INFACT GE Boycott of the 1980s--with the successful result of getting GE out of the nuclear weapons business. This nationwide grassroots campaign utilized petitioning actions in public gathering locations. This was the basic model for Idle-Free VT's 2006 petition drive.

In its ongoing educational effort to make Vermont "idle-free", Idle-Free VT is currently involved in an ongoing media campaign and legislative lobbying. In the summer and fall of 2007, the campaign's main focus is Business Idle-Free and an Online Petition Drive.