Vermont’s Health Care Reform Commission (HCRC) moved our state one step closer to comprehensive system reform yesterday. Members voted unanimously in support of a consulting team, lead by Harvard Professor, Dr. William Hsaio, to move state health care reform efforts to the next level. His team, which includes Jonathon Gruber of MIT and Steve Kappel …
Earlier this week there was yet another new problem at the Vermont Yankee reactor, and this time it was related to the reactor core cooling system, which is critical to reactor safety.1, 2 The new leak was causing the reactor cooling system to lose 1.6 gallons of coolant per minute. It took Entergy nearly six …
VY springs another new leak, narrowly avoids emergency shutdown Read More »
Just two months after fixing their most recent leak of radioactive material, Vermont Yankee is at it again. Hours after the plant powered up after its recent refueling outage workers found a previously undiscovered leak in the piping excavated during the investigation into the just-fixed tritium leak. Entergy Vermont Yankee officials claim the hole, which …
Gov. Jim Douglas deserves some praise for his decision today to allow Vermont to continue down the path of health care reform. Though he was unwilling to sign S.88, the governor also chose not to block the popular measure from becoming law. Vermonters will be well-served by that decision. This health care law takes immediate …
Today’s Burlington Free Press “My Turn” section features VPIRG’s President Duane Peterson’s report on his personal experience touring the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant earlier this month. Below is Duane’s full report. Vermont Yankee Tour Misses Opportunity for Open Dialogue I recently toured the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. The visit was arranged so the Vermont Public Service Board …
Vermont Yankee Tour Misses Opportunity for Open Dialogue Read More »
New Standards for Cars & Trucks Will Also Help Cut Global Warming Pollution, Save Money at the Pump President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum today in a Rose Garden ceremony that will help to move the country away from oil, cut global warming pollution and save Americans money at the gas pump by putting cleaner …
Pres. Obama’s Push for Clean Vehicles Will Help Cut Demand for Oil Read More »
On Wednesday, May 19, Vermont became the second state in the nation (after Connecticut) to enact tough legislation restricting the use of the synthetic hormone bisphenol A (BPA) in a variety of consumer products. Gov. Jim Douglas officially signed into law S.247, the VPIRG-backed bill phasing out the use of BPA in products ranging from …
Gov signs new BPA law — new report shows why it’s critically important Read More »
The differences between the House and Senate version of S.88, Vermont’s main health care bill, have been reconciled. The bill final bill, which is critical to Vermont’s health care reform efforts, passed the Senate on May 11, 2010 by a vote of 25-4. It marks an important step forward in our goal of ensuring that …
On May 5th Vermont state legislators gave final passage to a bill that will help to curb predatory practices by credit card companies and protect both Vermont businesses and consumers. VPIRG Executive Director Paul Burns testified earlier in the House Commerce Committee in favor of the bill, S.138, An Act Relating to Credit Card Fees. …
On Monday, the House passed a bill to protect children from Bisphenol A (BPA) – a toxic chemical used in some baby bottles, sports bottles, infant formula cans, and many other reusable food and beverage containers. S.247 will now make its way to the Governor’s office where he is expected to sign the bill into …