As the state reviews options for reducing waste, one proposal is a clear winner: an expanded Bottle Bill. A recent draft study shows the state could recycle more and reduce greenhouse gases by expanding its Bottle Bill – and according to polling, that’s a very popular idea among Vermonters. The annual Doyle survey consistently shows …
Bottle Bill is Strongly Supported by Vermonters, Polling Shows Read More »
Time and time again, VPIRG has exposed how Entergy regularly fails to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. In the wake of Entergy’s decision to go public with its decision to close Vermont Yankee, the take-away point of a recent memo from VPIRG’s legal team rings especially true. Entergy’s adamant …
Champagne: Bottle bill needs to be part of new recycling regs Reposted from VT Digger By Beth Champagne, a member of the North Country Coalition for Justice and Peace in St. Johnsbury who writes on environmental, climate change, farming and energy issues. Clearly and calmly, one after another, Vermonters challenged the Agency of Natural Resources …
Reduce – Reuse – Recycle: it’s a catchy tagline, but it’s a lot trickier to figure out how to truly get the job done. In fact, you might be surprised to hear that Vermont’s recycling rate is falling behind many other regions. The state has finally gotten serious about this problem, and they hired a …
Why you should attend the public hearing on zero waste Read More »
Lighting the Way: What We Can Learn from America’s Top 12 Solar States, is a new report highlighting a solar energy boom across the country. The report ranks Vermont 9th in the nation for per capita solar installations. This makes Vermont one of a dozen states that have led the nation in solar energy with supportive policies and a commitment to continued expansion.
One Billion Tax Dollars per Year Subsidize Junk Food Ingredients, Fuel Obesity Epidemic Montpelier, VT – Federal subsidies for commodity crops are subsidizing junk food additives like high-fructose corn syrup, at a rate that would buy 20 Twinkies for each American taxpayer every year, according to USPIRG’s new report, “Apples to Twinkies 2013.” Meanwhile, the …
The legislative session is over, and the results are in. Here at VPIRG, we’re celebrating the victories that our members helped to bring about. Thank you! Of course, we didn’t win every fight. The Legislature failed to commit the necessary resources to weatherize our homes and businesses, for example. But we’re taking the time to celebrate …
Minutes after debate over corporate influence, Coca-Cola wins out over public good in Senate Finance Committee MONTPELIER, VT—Just minutes after an extended floor debate about the possible influence of corporate contributions, the Senate Finance Committee opted against a publicly-supported proposal to have the state keep an estimated $1-3 million per year in unclaimed Bottle Bill …
NEWS RELEASE: Corporate Influence and Coke’s Win over the Public Good Read More »
Vermont leads nation in collecting discarded mercury thermostats Manufacturer-led recycling programs found to be ineffective in most other states Montpelier, VT – While a manufacturer-run program for collecting mercury thermostats is failing to keep the toxic heavy metal out of the trash—and the environment—in most states, Vermont leads the nation in per capita collection rates, …
News Release: Vermont leads nation in collecting discarded mercury thermostats Read More »
NEWS RELEASE Montpelier, VT – Vermont received a “C+” when it comes to government spending transparency, according to “Following the Money 2013: How the States Rank on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data,” the fourth annual report of its kind by a federation of public interest research groups that includes the Vermont Public Interest Research …
