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...

Read full piece

Governor's panel lays out energy-efficiency road map

October 27, 2007

MONTPELIER -- The Governor's Commission on Climate Change called for increased energy efficiency, greater use of renewable energy, more public transit and a collaboration with the state's colleges to foster research and try to attract environmental jobs, among other items, as it issues its final report Friday.

James Moore, clean energy advocate for the Vermont Public Interest Research Group who served on the advisory group, said he was pleased to see the commission keep intact the advisory group's recommendations. "The question that remains is whether or not our governor will recognize the report or sweep it under the rug," Moore said.

Read full article

Climate panel submits report

October 27, 2007

MONTPELIER — The commission charged with finding how the state should reduce its contribution to global climate change — and profit from concerns worldwide about the issue — released its final report Friday calling for more energy efficiency, renewable energy development and the creation of an alliance between the state, nonprofit groups and Vermont's colleges and universities.

The commission called in its report for the expansion of the efficiency efforts begun by the state's electrical efficiency program to other fuels, and for more renewable energy to be developed in the state.

That means commercial scale wind power, the cheapest way to develop such projects within Vermont's borders, said James Moore of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group.

"You have got to have wind in Vermont as part of our electricity future," said Moore, who added that the report "comes on the same day as oil prices hit a new record high and Vermonters are turning on their furnaces for the winter."

Read full article

Vt. climate change group urges use of renewable energy

Governor's commission completes two-year climate change report






Saturday, October 27

MONTPELIER -- A governor's commission charged with making recommendations on how to curb greenhouse gas emissions recommended that the state expand energy efficiency programs, support renewable energy and team up with its colleges and universities to develop a "green economy" in Vermont.

Renewable energy advocate James Moore of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group called the report a "road map to support our economy and reduce global warming pollution at the same time." But he said his group would act as a watchdog to see if the governor takes the recommendations and actually acts on them.

He said the first recommendation is for an all-fuels utility that will help Vermonters reduce heating and electricity bill, which the governor vetoed in the last legislative session.

Read full article

Commission on Climate Change releases detailed plan

Friday October 26, 2007
Montpelier, Vt.

(Host) After almost two years of work, the Governor's Commission on Climate Change has laid out a detailed plan for how Vermont can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% in five years.

The commission met today for the final time and handed its report to Governor Jim Douglas. The panel's recommendations range from expanding energy conservation programs to creating a center for climate change within state government.

James Moore is an energy specialist with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. He says the technical data in the report shows that the most cost-effective way to cut greenhouse gas pollution is by reducing energy demand.

(Moore) "Where the rubber is going to meet the road is clearly if the governor is going to take the commission's recommendations to heart, he needs to change his tune, support more energy efficiency...

Read full article

Report: Vt. No. 1 in waste per person

Friday, May 18

BRATTLEBORO -- A report to be released today details how Vermonters are shouldering more than two times the national average of nuclear waste per person than elsewhere in the U.S.

The Vermont Public Interest Research Group and Citizens Awareness Network, along with the Toxics Action Center, Nuclear Free Vermont and the Vermont Sierra Club, plan to release the report at 1 p.m. in Montpelier and in Brattleboro.

The report is designed to explain the full life-cycle costs of nuclear power and "debunk the notion that Vermont Yankee is a 'green' power source," wrote Drew Hudson, the field and communications director for the public interest group.

Read full article

May 19, 2007

MONTPELIER -- Activists released a report Friday indicating Vermont has more radioactive nuclear waste per capita than any state in the nation, which they said underscores the need for approval of a climate change bill that would tax the Vermont Yankee plant.

Activists and others say it's more likely the waste will remain at the nuclear energy plants where it's produced.

Drew Hudson of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group said that was justification enough for tripling a tax on Vermont Yankee for the electricity it produces, as the Legislature proposed in a climate change bill that Gov. Jim Douglas has said he'll veto.

Read full article