VPIRG

Vermont Yankee can’t seem to get it right. As the Rutland Herald reports “Entergy’s Nuclear problem-plagued cooling towers have again been cited by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, this time for a low-level safety violation of the towers’ inspection program.” This happening as the decommissioning fund loses more funds, again. The decommission fund finished October at …

Vermont Yankee cited by NRC again for inspection violation Read More »

An update from VPIRG’s federal consumer advocate in Washington, DC on reform efforts: “Today, Senate Banking Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) proposed a draft of a comprehensive financial reform bill that includes a strong stand-alone Consumer Financial Protection Agency. It’s a major step and we intend to work with him, Chairman Frank in the House and …

Uphill Battle on Federal Consumer Reforms Read More »

With critical environmental, economic and energy decisions to be made over the next year and in the upcoming legislative session, more than 200 citizen activists and over 60 non-profit organizations from across Vermont gathered this past Saturday at the Environmental Action 2009 Conference. Attendees learned how they can affect the state’s most pressing environmental issues …

Over 200 Grassroots Activists Attend Environmental Action 2009 Read More »

The U.S. House of Representatives passed historic health care reform legislation late last night! This landmark bill increases choice and competition while reining in costs.  When Rep. Welch cast his vote in favor of the health care bill, he not only helped to get it passed, he stood up to the insurance industry that’s been …

U.S. House passes historic health care reform legislation Read More »

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed legislation to protect American communities from industrial and water facilities that use and store large amounts of highly hazardous chemicals.  The House rejected efforts to gut the bill’s requirement that the most dangerous facilities implement safer technologies.   The Chemical and Water Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2868) will require …

U.S. House Passes Chemical Security Legislation Read More »

The Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee today passed the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733) by a vote of 11-1. The bill, sponsored by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair John Kerry and Senate EPW Chair Barbara Boxer, sets the first-ever federal limits on global warming pollution and invests in energy efficiency, …

Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act passing Senate Committee Read More »

Vermont’s energy path is at a cross-road. Vermont Yankee, the state’s sole nuclear power plant, is scheduled to close down in 2012. Currently, the Vermont Legislature is considering whether or not to grant a 20 year license extension to continue operation of the plant through 2032. That choice was discussed at the Shelburne Town Hall …

Packed House for Discussion on VT Yankee Read More »

The debate in Washington, D.C., about health care reform comes down to this: If the insurance companies win, we lose.   Insurance companies have a total stranglehold over health care.  They are spending $641,000 a day to oppose reform because they benefit by keeping the system as it is…by denying claims, raising premiums, co-pays and …

Big Insurance: Sick of It Read More »

In July, Ed Mierzwinski, VPIRG’s senior fellow for our federal consumer program, testified at the House Financial Services Committee in strong support of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA).  We’re working to pass broad new protections for consumers that will minimize the chance that reckless behavior by Wall Street banks and insurance giants can ever …

Preventing the Need for Future Bailouts Read More »

VPIRG has joined a chorus of product safety advocates from across the country in urging the Obama administration to replace Nancy Nord, head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Caving in to pressure from manufacturers, Nord, a Bush administration appointee announced earlier this year a one-year delay in the enforcement of a new federal …

New Leadership Needed for Product Safety Read More »