The 2022 legislative session has begun, and our staff at VPIRG are back to doing what they do best: fighting for the public interest. 2021 marked a year of many victories including universal vote-by-mail, major investments in climate solutions and broadband, the nation’s strongest ban on PFAS chemicals in consumer…
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Vermont is on track to become the first state in the nation to ban the sale of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) after the lighting industry conceded to state officials that better, mercury-free alternatives are now widely available. Attention now turns to the wide variety of other mercury-containing fluorescent lighting still…
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Coalition Calls for Phase Out of Mercury in Lighting in Vermont A new report released today by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, the Mercury Policy Project and the Clean Lighting Coalition highlights the environmental and health risks posed when fluorescent lamps break, especially to vulnerable populations. The report provides concrete steps government,…
Read MoreVPIRG takes seriously the concerns raised by a former canvasser who made an anonymous post recently on social media, and we deeply regret any sense of harm they may have experienced while working as a canvasser. In addition to the specific accusations about a director in the office, the post included complaints about the culture of VPIRG’s canvass…
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Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed into law a nation-leading bill that restricts the sale of consumer products that contain toxic chemicals known as PFAS. Legislative leaders and organizations released the following statements in response. Senator Ginny Lyons, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health & Welfare noted, “Firefighters, outdoor enthusiasts,…
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Today, the Vermont Senate gave initial approval to legislation (S.20) to ban PFAS and other toxic chemicals from certain products. The bill is supported by firefighters, business groups, educators, public health and children’s advocates, and environmental groups. The bill will be up for its final Senate vote tomorrow, before being…
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The 2020 general election is fast approaching! The Secretary of State has sent every active, registered voter in Vermont their mail-in ballot, and voting is officially underway. Once you receive your ballot, it’s important to remember the “4 S’s” to ensure your vote gets counted: Select your candidates, Seal the ballot inside the return envelope, Sign the certificate…
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We believe that open channels of communication between Vermont citizens and their elected representatives are essential to a healthy, functioning democracy. And in a year like this one, that’s never been more critical. That’s why we’ve compiled the Vote Safe Vermont Candidate Information Toolkit. This comprehensive compilation of legislators’ websites,…
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The Vermont House and Senate need more climate champions. Could you be one? As the only state in New England to experience a rise in greenhouse gas pollution since 1990 and the state with the highest per capita emissions, it’s clear that Vermont is moving in the wrong direction. In…
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An overwhelming majority of Vermonters are worried about global warming and support a wide range of actions to cut Vermont’s climate pollution. That’s according to poll commissioned by VPIRG and Vermont Conservation Voters – released on Wednesday. The alarming news (or at least the news about people being alarmed): 76%…
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