A top priority of ours for the 2021 legislative session was the Transportation Modernization Package in the Transportation Bill (H.433) – a host of policies that would save Vermonters millions of dollars while reducing climate pollution. Championed by a host of legislators, VPIRG’s amazing members, and our many allies, this…
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GlobalFoundries, the largest electricity user in Vermont, recently filed for permission from the Public Utility Commission to become a “self-managed utility,” cutting off its reliance on Green Mountain Power for electricity – and requesting special treatment no other company or ratepayer in the state gets in the process. One of the managers of the facility put it this way, “We…
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VPIRG members have been pushing for an equitable, substantial Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P) for several years. We believe a well-designed program can boost our economy, reduce climate emission, and address inequities in our transportation systems. In December 2020, a bipartisan group of governors and mayors from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and the…
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Right now, the Vermont State Senate is considering how to invest the over $1 billion in federal stimulus funds the American Rescue Plan is delivering to Vermont. We need to make sure that they understand Vermonters see climate action investments as critical to our state’s ability to build back from…
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Late yesterday, Gov. Phil Scott released his proposal for the over $1 billion in funds Vermont will receive from the American Rescue Plan Act. Included in his proposal is $200 million over the next four years in energy affordability and climate investments. This is an important down payment on the…
Read MoreLast week, Governor Scott delivered his annual budget address. We’re happy to see that the Governor supports many of the programs spelled out in the Transportation Modernization Act. He also proposed a significant increase in weatherization funding and other climate initiatives. The Governor’s proposals and the Transportation Modernization Act provide…
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The Vermont Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Tuesday issued an order halting all involuntary disconnections due to nonpayment of electricity, natural gas, and landline phone utilities until March 31st, 2021. We are overjoyed and thank the PUC for making the right decision to prevent Vermonters from going without heat or…
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No Vermonter, particularly in the midst of an ongoing spike in COVID-19, should have to worry that their heat, electricity or water could be disconnected this winter because they are unable to make bill payments due to the pandemic. That’s why we have joined Vermont Legal Aid and half a…
Read MoreLate last month, the Vermont Senate cleared the final hurdle to ensuring the Global Warming Solutions Act becomes law with the upper chamber’s 22-8 override of Gov. Phil Scott’s veto. I am thrilled to see the act pass, with both chambers of the General Assembly upholding overwhelming majorities in favor…
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For a few months now, we at VPIRG have been expanding some of our research, advocacy, and organizing to include issues related to criminal justice reform and public safety. And we’ve been following the shocking reporting of mismanagement coming out of the Mississippi prison that houses more than 200 incarcerated Vermonters. The prison is owned by CoreCivic, a private prison…
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