Green groups pan Vt. energy plan

September 30, 2008

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Environmental groups are joining Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility to criticize the latest draft Comprehensive Energy Plan out from the Vermont Department of Public Service.

The groups say the department is missing an opportunity to step up renewable energy in the state and move away from traditional sources of energy.

Department officials maintain that they're trying to balance goals of affordability, environmental protection and reliability of energy supplies.

Joining the business group in launching the criticisms Tuesday were the Vermont Natural Resources Council, the Conservation Law Foundation and the Vermont Public Interest Research Group.

Read full story

Officials want Vermont Yankee decision by April 2009

Monday September 22, 2008

(Host) The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant wants permission from the state to operate for another 20 years. And it wants the Public Service Board to make that decision by this spring.

Several groups involved in the case are asking for more time. They say that the case is too complex - and the consequences too important - to rush through the review.

VPR's John Dillon reports:

Read full piece

Welch will support energy bill that includes authorization of oil drilling

Thursday September 11, 2008

(Host) Congressman Peter Welch says he'll support a comprehensive new energy bill that increases heating assistance and boosts spending on renewable energy. Vermont environmentalists say they're disappointed, because the bill also authorizes oil drilling off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

VPR's Bob Kinzel reports.

Read full piece

Vermont: Winning hand in carbon auction

Pollution credits to fund efficiency programs




September 7, 2008

Vermont and nine other Northeastern states will make history Sept. 25 when they hold the nation’s first auction in a mandatory system to cap and then reduce greenhouse gases emitted by power plants.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, RGGI, is both a tiny step in cutting global carbon dioxide emissions and a big leap forward in designing cost-effective ways to make those cuts.
If it reaches its goal, RGGI will cut carbon emissions from power plants in the member states 10 percent by 2019. That’s a small reduction in just one source of greenhouse gases.

On the other hand, RGGI has constructed a model that already has influenced other regional, national and even international carbon trading programs.

Read full article

Grocer chops gas bill in new program

September 5, 2008

Price Chopper is trying to take a bite out of the cost of filling up the family car, offering 10 cents or more off a gallon of gasoline at participating Sunoco stations.

The New York-based supermarket chain on Thursday launched Fuel AdvantEdge in southern Vermont and New Hampshire. The program, built into its existing AdvantEdge discount card, gives shoppers a 10-cent-a-gallon discount on gasoline for every $50 of groceries purchased.

At the Sunoco station on South Main Street, the price of gas Wednesday evening was $3.72 a gallon. James Moore, clean energy advocate with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said the Price Chopper-Sunoco partnership appears to be a good idea as Vermonters look to save meaningful money on rising food and energy prices.

"I think that Vermonters are making all the responsible choices they can of trying to find new ways to reduce their (energy) use and it doesn't sound like this is a bad idea," Moore said. "If people can save...

Read full article

Editorial - Brattleboro Reformer

Thursday, September 4

You've seen the full-page ads from Entergy in our newspaper, and in every other newspaper in Vermont. You've also heard ads on the radio. These ads, which have been appearing regularly for the past couple of years, tout the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon as being "safe, clean and reliable."

There's a certain amount of puffery in all advertising, but the Vermont Public Interest Research Group believes Entergy is stretching the truth with the assertions in their ads.

VPIRG filed a complaint Tuesday with Attorney General William Sorrell, claiming that Entergy has engaged in deceptive advertising. "The out-of-state owners of Vermont Yankee have demonstrated such a disregard for the truth that it amounts to a violation of state law," said VPIRG executive director Paul Burns.

Safe? There have been numerous mishaps at Vermont Yankee over the past four years -- a transformer fire in 2004, a collapse of one of the cooling towers in 2007...

Read full editorial

VPIRG challenges Vt. Yankee ads

September 3, 2008

Advertisements in print and on the air tout Vermont Yankee as "safe, clean, reliable."

The nuclear power plant is none of those, argues the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, which Tuesday asked state Attorney General William Sorrell to investigate whether the ads amount to false advertising."Each aspect of this claim is misleading as it is unsubstantiated and conflicts with relevant science and reports," VPIRG Executive Director Paul Burns said in a letter to Sorrell.

Vermont Yankee stands by its advertisements, spokesman Rob Williams said. The ads are targeted...

Read full article

Group says Yankee ad misleading

September 3, 2008

MONTPELIER — An environmental group Tuesday asked the attorney general's office to investigate Entergy Nuclear's statewide advertising campaign for possible consumer fraud for making false claims that the power generated by Vermont Yankee is "safe, clean and reliable."

"It's simply not a reliable and safe plant," Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said Tuesday after delivering a six-page letter to Attorney General William Sorrell. "'Clean, Safe, Reliable' is a deceptive phrase to describe the operating track record of Vermont Yankee as safe and reliable when it's had myriad mishaps and catastrophes of all sizes in recent months and in recent years, ever since Entergy took over ownership."

Burns said the so-called "Vermonter to Vermonter" ads Entergy Nuclear has been running in state newspapers and on radio stations ...

Read full article

Consumer group charges Vermont Yankee with using deceptive advertising

Tuesday September 2, 2008

Montpelier, Vt.(Host) A consumer group says the owners of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant have used deceptive advertising in their campaign to operate the reactor for another 20 years.

The Vermont Public Interest Research Group has filed a consumer fraud complaint, and Attorney General Bill Sorrell says his office will look into the issue. VPR's John Dillon reports:

Read full piece

VPIRG Accuses Vermont Yankee Of Fraud

September 2, 2008

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant is being targeted in a consumer fraud complaint with the state that says the plant's owners have been engaging in deceptive advertising.

The Vermont Public Interest Research Group takes issue with the plant's advertising slogan, "safe, clean, reliable." It says the plant has not been reliable in recent years, suffering several operational mishaps.

VPIRG also takes issue with the plant's claims that it produces zero greenhouse gas emissions, noting that Entergy officials have acknowledged that production of nuclear fuel...

Read full story

Environmental Group Targets Vermont Yankee Ads

Montpelier, Vermont - September 2, 2008

An environmental group says ads about Vermont Yankee Nuclear violate consumer fraud laws.

The Vermont Public Interest Research Group filed a complaint with the Attorney General Tuesday over the ad. It is paid for by Yankee as it seeks a 20-year license extension.

VPIRG takes issue with the ads slogan; safe, clean, and reliable; arguing the plant has had several problems, including a water cooling tower collapse last year. They want the Attorney General to investigate whether the ads violate a state law designed to protect consumers from fraudulent claims.

Calls to the Attorney General and plant officials for reaction were not returned by the time this story was filed.

Read full story here