Climate & Energy

Despite Bold Targets, VT’s Climate Pollution Continues to Rise

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Vermont seems to take climate change seriously. Our legislature set goals to significantly reduce global warming pollution, and we declared “We’re Still In” after Trump abandoned the Paris Climate Accord. And yet Vermont’s climate pollution has increased 16% since 1990. Why? The answer is simple. Goals are nice, but without requiring action they don’t result …

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A Tale of Two Vermonts

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This is the tale of two different Vermonts – one of which you’ve likely heard of, and one of which you may not have. The first Vermont is the one that’s repeatedly been named the “greenest” state in the U.S. The quality of our environment, our actions to protect it, and the work we’ve done …

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Governor Scott Signs Hydrofluorocarbons Bill Into Law

Global Warming Solutions, News and Updates / By

This week Governor Scott signed into law a bill (S. 30) which sets a schedule for phasing out the use of Hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, statewide. HFCs are an entirely man-made class of chemicals used primarily for cooling and refrigeration. Though originally introduced as an alternative to ozone-depleting substances, HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases that contribute …

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Governor Signs Weatherization Bill Into Law

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Weatherizing Vermont’s old housing stock is an essential element of any plan to address our state’s rising greenhouse gas emissions. But the benefits of weatherization extend beyond curbing carbon emissions – other perks include the potential for decreased energy bills, improved health, and more investment in Vermont’s economy. Since heating accounts for a sizable portion …

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Old vehicle emissions: Fix them, don’t exempt them

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The Transportation bill being debated in the VT legislature creates a program to help Vermonters who are low income repair cars’ emissions control systems, keeping pollution out of our air. Unfortunately, it also lets cars that fail emissions tests off the hook as long as they’re 15 years old or older, allowing them to pollute …

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Students Rally for Climate Action at State House

Global Warming Solutions, News and Updates / By

Hundreds of students from across Vermont gathered on the State House lawn on Wednesday for the fourth annual Rally For The Planet, organized by the Vermont Youth Lobby. This year’s event offered a rousing call to action, as Vermonters of all ages came together to demand meaningful action on climate change from state leaders. The …

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No New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure VT: What You Need to Know Before Tuesday’s Hearing

Climate & Energy, Resources / By

OVERVIEW The House Energy and Technology Committee is holding a public hearing on April 23rd from 4:15pm – 7pm in Room 11 of the State House in Montpelier on the future of fossil fuel infrastructure in the state. Several bills have been introduced this year aimed at limiting the growth of fossil fuel infrastructure in …

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EV Incentive Program Moves to Senate

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The electric vehicle incentive program made it into the budget and out of the House late last month, with Representatives allocating $1.5 million to the program. This is a far cry from the $4.5 million VPIRG and our allies have advocated for this session. As it moves on for consideration in the Senate, we will …

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VT House Votes to Boost Low-Income Weatherization Funding

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In a win for climate action, H.439, a bill to increase the funding of weatherization efforts in Vermont, passed the House and now moves onto the Senate. The bill increases the fuels tax by 2 cents a gallon, which will bring in an additional $4.5 million in revenue for weatherization projects for low income households. …

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Town Meeting Day 2019 Wrap Up

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Last week on Town Meeting Day, Vermonters across the state voted on important local issues, weighing in on banning plastic bags, electing local leaders (Lincoln the Goat was just sworn in as Fair Haven’s new ‘pet mayor’), and addressing climate change, among other things. VPIRG played a role in supporting many of these issues, and …

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