The first day of the Entergy vs. Vermont court case was a roller coaster. I went in with great optimism, feeling that the law is on the state’s side and that justice will prevail. Then I met Entergy’s corporate lawyer team.
In the aftermath of the devastating flood that ravaged so much of our state, Vermonters are coming together to help their neighbors and rebuild. It is a testament to the resiliency and strength of our communities.
Voting in the 2011 VPIRG Board of Trustees election is open now through October 31, 2011. Members in good standing as of Sept. 1, 2011 are eligible to vote.
Last month the Barre Development Review Board voted 6-0 to deny a local midwife’s request to operate a small office out of her home after hearing from neighbors who argued that “women — particularly pregnant women — would have difficulty safely backing out of (the midwife’s) driveway.” After hearing this, VPIRG invited our members to take action, and the response was overwhelming!
Our state’s Bottle Bill program has not only proven to be an amazing tool for recycling, but it also provides a resource for community groups, like the Waterbury Rapids Swim Team, who depend on bottle drives to help fund their programs. While 5 cents might not seem like a lot, it adds up for community groups across the state.
Entergy Louisiana announced today its plan to refuel its Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor, even though it used the threat of shutting down in an attempt to pressure federal Judge Garvan Murtha into granting it permission to continue operating while its lawsuit winds through the courts.
On the day that a landmark federal agency – the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – takes over enforcement of all major consumer laws, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group announced the results of a poll showing that an overwhelming majority of likely voters both support a new consumer agency (74%) and want Wall Street held “accountable” (77%). VPIRG also released a new report documenting “10 reasons” consumers need the new CFPB.
Minutes ago Judge J. Garvan Murtha sided with the state of Vermont, denying Entergy Lousiana its request for a Preliminary Injunction (PI) to keep Vermont Yankee open past its expiration date while the court case proceeds.
On July 12th, VPIRG launched a program to make it easy and affordable for folks throughout Addison County to harness the sun’s energy. This Solar Communities program has helped over a hundred Vermonters go solar, and as of today this opportunity will be available to home and business owners in Addison County.
Today Governor Shumlin sent a letter to President Obama sending a strong message, urging him to voice support for a single, national emission standard for passenger vehicles and light trucks.
Vermont is one of 14 states around the country that have adopted emission standards and while we have the lowest emissions in New England, car exhaust still makes up 40% of our greenhouse gas emissions. This a great step forward in reducing our dependance on dirty and polluting energy sources.
