Many of the groups who have led the massive grassroots, policy and legal effort to retire Vermont Yankee over the years gathered at the State House this morning to make clear that they aren’t going away or giving in on this 40th anniversary of the plant’s launch. March 21st is the day that was to …
Groups Mark 40th Anniversary with Renewed Commitment to Retire VY Read More »
Late Friday, the Clean Energy Bill (H.468) passed out of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee, and it will be voted on by the full House of Representatives on Tuesday. Advocating for this bill has been a wild ride. Multiple representatives have told me it’s been one of the toughest bills they’ve ever worked …
An Update from VPIRG Director, Paul Burns, on Friday, March 16 As you know, nearly two months ago Judge Garvan Murtha handed Vermonters a significant defeat when he ruled that state legislators had exceeded their authority to regulate the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. In light of this decision and as we approach the date that …
When Judge Garvan Murtha ruled against Vermont a month ago in Entergy’s lawsuit against the state, he made very clear that the state still has authority over the plant, through Vermont’s Public Service Board. On Friday, the Public Service Board, which oversees all electric generation in the state, started to exercise that authority.
By passing PACE, your municipality agrees to let homeowners pay back investments on energy renovations to their homes over time through a separate assessment on their property tax bill. So if your town adopts PACE, and you want to make your home more efficient or install solar panels (for example), you’ll be able to pay for them by putting a little extra every month on your property tax bill, rather than going through the hassle of getting a personal or home equity loan. In many cases, your energy savings every month will more than cover your monthly payment. What’s more, if you ever sell your home, the cost of the energy upgrades stay with the house, so you can’t get stuck paying for someone else’s savings.
Increasing the use of clean, renewable energy like wind and solar and encouraging conservation and efficiency is the responsible thing to do. Vermont is on the right path now. By the end of 2012 Vermont will get 10% of our electricity from clean, local wind power, helping Vermonters take control of our energy future, keeping our money working in our state and ensuring a positive legacy for future generations. We need to continue building clean energy, like wind, in Vermont today.
VPIRG continues to show support for the responsible development of wind power in Vermont. Wind, as one of the cleanest and environmentally responsible forms of electricity out there, must play a significant role in our clean energy future. With just the 5 permitted wind projects in the construction phase, or already built, around 58,800 Vermont homes will be powered with clean, local, renewable energy!
Countering a group of anti-wind activists gathered at the State House today, Vermont’s largest environmental and consumer advocacy group made clear that responsible development of our state’s renewable wind resources, both large and small, is an essential part of our clean energy future.
In the coming weeks, the legislature is considering taking big steps to realize Vermont’s clean energy future:
On Monday, Vermonters gathered outside the State House in Montpelier to thank Governor Shumlin and other state leaders for moving Vermont toward a clean energy future and for their support for retiring Vermont Yankee on schedule.
