Victories
NEWS RELEASE: Vermont Land Use Review Applies to Keystone VT
April 16, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2013
Vermont Land Use Review Applies to Tar Sands Pipeline
MONTPELIER, VT April 15, 2013 Today a decision letter was issued finding that Vermont’s land use law – Act 250 – would apply to any attempt to pump dirty tar sands oil through a 63 year-old pipeline that runs through Vermont’ Northeast Kingdom through to Portland, ME. The ruling, issued by the Act 250 District Coordinator in St. Johnsbury, came in response to a request filed by six Northeast Kingdom residents and landowners, as well as several conservation groups.…
Victory for Clean Energy – S.30 Gutted by Environmental Champs!
March 26, 2013
Just hours ago, VPIRG’s organizers, advocates, student interns and member activists were helping our advocates behind the scenes to fight a bill (S.30) that threatened to throw the brakes on to renewable energy projects in the state. And now, after a lengthy Senate debate and vote, we’re celebrating a major victory for Vermont’s clean energy future!
Up until the final minutes of debate, the bill – S.30 – remained fundamentally anti-renewable energy piece of legislation, designed to make it harder to build wind and other renewable projects.…
29 VT Towns Speak in Unison: No Tar Sands
March 8, 2013
Twenty-eight towns in Vermont went on the record to oppose the plan to pipe tar sands oil through Vermont’s 60+ year old pipeline.
The rising chorus of concern came after news this summer that Enbridge, Canada’s largest oil transport company, had teamed up with ExxonMobil to to pipe what is essentially high pressure, molten sandpaper through Vermont’s 60-year old pipeline. To put a stop the plan to repurpose the 750-mile pipeline route stretching from Alberta, Canada to port in Maine, VPIRG has joined 350.org, VNRC, the National Wildlife Federation, Conservation Law Foundation, NRDC and the Vermont Sierra Club to call for strengthening the state’s authority to require (and deny) a permit for Enbridge and ExxonMobil to pipe tar sands oil through Vermont.…
Montpelier Moves Forward with District Heat
November 29, 2012
Three months after a plan to switch much of Montpelier’s downtown from oil to wood heat got a new lease on life, the Montpelier City Council cast a final vote on the project last night. Up for debate was whether to pump the extra heat from an upgraded wood fired boiler run by the state to Montpelier’s municipal buildings and local businesses. The City Council’s decision to build the full project rather than a shorter line that wouldn’t reach the business district or municipal buildings was well received by the attending crowd.
2012 Legislative Accomplishments
May 8, 2012
The 2012 legislative session marked another busy and successful year in advocacy for the public interest. We came into the session with ambitious plans – from taking on the Oil and Gas Industry to ban fracking to initiating a campaign to require GMO labeling to standing up to health insurers and making sure they cover the medical care they should. We take our role as “Vermont’s Voice” in the State House seriously – bringing research and policy analysis, strong partnerships and principled organizing and advocacy to the fore.
Vermont Bans Fracking
May 4, 2012
The Vermont House of Representatives voted 103-36 today to give final passage to legislation that will make Vermont the first state in the nation to ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas.
Bill Passed! Now Easier to Power with Renewables
May 1, 2012
Vermont leaders took another step in the right direction toward our clean energy future. The Vermont House unanimously passed a bill (H.475) that improves the State’s net metering program and makes it even easier for Vermonters to power their homes and businesses with renewable energy.
Vermont House Passes Clean Energy Bill (H.475)
January 24, 2012
On Tuesday, the Vermont House of Representatives passed H.475, a VPIRG-backed bill that will streamline the process for Vermonters choosing to power their homes and businesses with solar and other renewable energy sources. This bill strengthens Vermont’s already nation leading renewables legislation, and builds on work VPIRG and our partners did in 2011.
Sheffield Wind Project opens a new clean energy chapter in Vermont
October 26, 2011
The completion of the Sheffield Wind Project, which will provide enough electricity to power 15,000 homes, marks a major step toward the kind of clean energy future that most Vermonters support, according to the state’s largest environmental and consumer advocacy group.
2011 Legislative Accomplishments
June 7, 2011
The 2011 legislative session was filled with victories on VPIRG-backed legislation across each of our program areas. With a new governor in office for the first time in eight years, our small state suddenly had opportunities to pass the kind of major policy initiatives that our friends in other parts of the country could only fantasize about. Our ambitious agenda heading into the session prioritized major campaigns promoting clean, local energy supplies, advancing affordable health care for all, defending recycling programs and demanding safe products and fair elections.…
