Report: Global Warming Pollution Drops in Vt

Montpelier, Vermont - March 26, 2008

A new report finds global warming pollution has dropped in Vermont and across New England.

Activists say it's a good sign. They credit lower transportation emissions and people using less heating fuel. It's a trend environmentalists want to see continued. They're asking the state to encourage more public transportation. And they want a voluntary pledge to decrease emissions 25-percent by 2012 made mandatory.

"This is the beginning potentially of a good trend but we're not going to continue to reduce our global warming pollution by hoping it is going to happen or by talking about it happening. We need action," says James Moore of VPIRG.

"Today's youth considers global warming to be the greatest challenge facing our generation-- global warming threatens the economy, environment and general quality of life in Vermont...

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It should be easy to stop junk mail

By Paul Burns
March 16, 2008

Each year, the direct mail industry sends Vermonters over 40 million pounds of junk mail or 64 pounds per person, with little regard to whether people actually want to receive their solicitations for credit cards, cable TV and the like.

Fortunately, Rep. Chris Pearson, P-Burlington, and 25 tri-partisan co-sponsors in the Vermont House have introduced H.409 to create an opt-in Do Not Mail registry, modeled after the very popular Do Not Call registry. Since 2003, the Do Not Call registry has provided more than 150 million people with a free and comprehensive way to end intrusive telemarketing calls. It is arguably the most popular consumer-rights bill ever passed.

We believe individuals should have a similar choice about receiving unsolicited mail. In 2006, America's mailboxes were stuffed with over 104 billion pieces...

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Entergy Corp. feeling legislative heat

March 15, 2008

MONTPELIER -- Hundreds of bills filtered through the Statehouse this week as the legislative session reached its midpoint, but no topic was the focus of more of them than Vermont Yankee.

Four bills zeroed in on issues surrounding the Vernon nuclear power plant, including two coming out of committees Friday. At least one more might be coming from legislators who question the plant's physical and financial safety.

The scrutiny comes as the Legislature gears up for a vote next year on whether the plant should be allowed to continue operating beyond 2012, when the plant will be 40 years old and its license expires.

"As somebody said yesterday, at the Vermont Statehouse we have the Vermont Yankee channel 24 hours a day," said Brian Cosgrove, spokesman for Vermont Yankee. Though he was joking, he finds the legislation no laughing matter.

"It's reasonable for a thinking Vermonter to conclude that at least some of the goals would make it difficult to relicense Vermont Yankee," Cosgrove said.

That would be fine with some supporters of the bills. "I think they all point to the problem Vermont's facing with an aging nuclear power plant," said James Moore, energy policy coordinator for Vermont Public Interest Group.

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Vt. lawmakers mull idea of same-day voter registration

March 14, 2008

MONTPELIER – With an eye toward boosting voter turnout in Vermont, some lawmakers are considering allowing residents to register to vote right up through Election Day.

At least nine other states, including neighbors New Hampshire and Maine, allow residents to register to vote on the same day as an election and advocates say that has led to increased voter turnout.

In Vermont, residents must register to vote six days prior to an election, usually the Wednesday prior to a Tuesday election. And while Vermont has a higher turnout than the national average, it still ranks 17th among the states, according to the secretary of state's office.

Allowing for same-day registration could boost statewide voter turnout by nearly 5 percent, according to Paul Burns, the executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, who distributed copies of a study on the issue released this winter by Demos, a New York City-based nonprofit group.

He added that turnout among young voters, typically the lowest among all the age demographics, could be increased by 10 percent, and turnout for low-income voters could be boosted by 6 percent.

"Vermont is very proud of its high voter turnout," he said. "But we can do better."

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Douglas seeks independent review of Yankee

March 13, 2008

MONTPELIER -- Gov. Jim Douglas decided Wednesday to jump-start the process to have an independent assessment of the safety and reliability of the Entergy Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant rather than wait for lawmakers to pass a bill detailing the scope for such an evaluation.

Senators, meanwhile, voted 24-3 Wednesday to give preliminary approval to a bill that sets out the scope of the review they would like to see. The bill calls for the Department of Public Service to select an independent team of experts to conduct a detailed audit of the plant -- an evaluation that could cost the plant as much as $25 million.

James Moore of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group counters that before the Legislature or the Vermont Public Service Board considers whether Vermont Yankee should stay open past 2012, "the plant deserves a top-to-bottom look." He argued that the Senate bill didn't go far enough.

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VT Senate wants detailed inspection of nuclear plant

Wednesday March 12, 2008
Montpelier, Vt.

(Host) The Vermont Senate has called for a detailed inspection of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. Lawmakers say they need the independent inspection before they vote on whether to extend the plant's license for another 20 years.

VPR's John Dillon reports.

...(Dillon) But the Vermont Public Interest Research Group says the legislation falls short. James Moore is the group's energy expert.

(Moore) We commend the Senate for doing the work that they did on this bill. However, it doesn't go far enough. It looks at approximately 15% of the Vermont Yankee facility. And Vermonters deserve to have the entire facility looked at.

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My Turn: Countdown to digital disaster

By Charity Carbine
March 4, 2008

Like most Americans, I love technology. I appreciate speedy computers and cringe when the hourglass prevents my immediate access to a document. I enjoy having 5,000 songs in a device that can squeeze into the pocket of my jeans. I take comfort in having my cell phone on me at all times even when I know it won't get reception for another 20 miles. And I agree that the picture on the new big screen TVs is hard to beat.

But I'm also aware that there is a huge cost associated with this growing wave of technological waste. Electronic waste, commonly referred to as e-waste, is the fastest growing waste stream...

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Lawmakers call for review of Vermont Yankee safety

March 1, 2008

MONTPELIER -- A Senate committee wants to require an independent review of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, with oversight by a panel appointed by the Legislature.

The Senate Finance Committee passed a bill this week that would require a "vertical audit" of the plant before the state decides whether the plant should continue operation beyond its current license, which expires in 2012.

James Moore, energy policy coordinator for the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said his group would like to see a more in-depth review. "We think if this facility is going to continue past the closing date in 2012 it should have a top to bottom, inside out look," he said. "That's a small price to pay."

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