Ben Edgerly Walsh

Governor’s 2021 Budget Bodes Well for Climate Goals

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Last 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 a critical foundation we hope …

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Good News: PUC Halts Involuntary Utility Disconnections!

Climate & Energy, COVID-19 Resources, News and Updates / By

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 electricity because they can’t pay …

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PUC: Reinstate Moratorium on Utility Disconnections

Climate & Energy, COVID-19 Resources, News and Updates / By

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 dozen other Vermont groups in …

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Governor fails to lead on climate action

Climate & Energy / By

Late 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 (the House vote was 103-47). …

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Stop Out of State and Private Prison Incarceration

News and Updates, Racial Justice, Uncategorized / By

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 corporation. 84% of the Vermonters incarcerated there …

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Improving Policing in VT – Vote Needed this Week

News and Updates, Racial Justice / By

Back in August, we joined the ACLU of Vermont, Justice for All, and over a dozen other organizations in proposing a 10-point platform for reimagining policing in Vermont. Now, Vermont has an opportunity to take an incremental but concrete step towards improving public safety with legislation governing police use of force statewide.  This use of force bill, S.119, would promote peaceful, de-escalatory resolution while also providing clarity and uniformity around how and when police are authorized to use physical force in …

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Our Thoughts on Gov Scott’s Veto of The Solutions Act

Climate & Energy, Global Warming Solutions, News and Updates, Uncategorized / By

Update: You can find our take on Gov Scott’s veto below. As the House was preparing for its ultimately successful override vote on Thursday, however, the chair and vice chair of House Energy, Reps Tim Briglin (D-Norwich) and Laura Sibilia (I-Dover) spoke eloquently and in detail as to why, in their view, the Governor was …

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VPIRG Launches Racial Justice Program

News and Updates, Racial Justice / By

Two months ago, after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, we told you that VPIRG “stands in solidarity with those demanding justice and working to address systemic racism.” Solidarity isn’t about making a statement – it’s about taking action. In launching our Racial Justice Program, we are committed to doing more than …

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Coalition Thanks Lawmakers for COVID Work; Continuing Climate Work

Climate & Energy, News and Updates / By

Today VPIRG joined with more than 40 Vermont businesses and organizations and over 600 individual Vermonters to deliver a letter to Vermont lawmakers thanking them for their work thus far to respond to the COVID-19 crisis in Vermont and for continuing to make action on the climate crisis a priority this year. Over the past …

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