Legislation authorizing the State of Vermont to recoup financial damages caused by climate change from major fossil fuel companies became law yesterday when Governor Phil Scott failed to sign or veto the bill during the constitutionally-mandated five-day consideration period. The enactment of S.259, the Climate Superfund Act, marks a new era in the effort to …
Montpelier, VT — In a dismaying attempt to obstruct Vermont’s environmental and economic progress, today Governor Scott vetoed compromise legislation aimed at modernizing the Renewable Energy Standard and setting the state on a path to delivering 100% renewable electricity by 2035. By vetoing H.289, which was supported by nearly all of the state’s electric utilities, …
Governor Scott’s Veto of Landmark Renewable Energy Bill is Short-Sighted Read More »
On May 7, the Vermont Senate passed H.289, to modernize the Renewable Energy Standard and set Vermont on a path to delivering 100% renewable electricity across all the state’s utilities by 2035. This would make Vermont only the second state to meet that critical benchmark, and would significantly increase the requirements for Vermont utilities to …
Vermont Senate Passes Modernized Renewable Energy Standard Read More »
The Vermont Public Interest Research Group hailed the passage of a comprehensive consumer data privacy bill Saturday. The bill, H.121, passed after a series of back-and-forth amendments between the House and Senate in the final days of the legislative session. VPIRG called the legislation a win for consumers, while recognizing that the final bill includes …
The Vermont Senate gave final approval today to landmark legislation that holds the largest fossil fuel companies financially accountable for a portion of the costs of climate change. On a voice vote, senators approved final passage of the Climate Superfund Act (S.259). Earlier this month, 106 of the 150 members of the House of Representatives …
Climate Superfund Act Passes Vermont Legislature, Heads to Governor Phil Scott Read More »
The Vermont House of Representatives gave its strong endorsement yesterday to legislation designed to protect bees and other pollinators in the state from toxic neonicotinoid pesticides, known commonly as neonics. The vote in the House was 112-29. The bill (H.706) has four main components: (1) it prohibits the use of field crop seeds (corn, soy, …
The Vermont House of Representatives passed H.289 yesterday, to modernize Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard. The bill would put Vermont on track to achieve 100% renewable electricity across all the state’s utilities by 2035, which would make Vermont only the second state to meet that critical benchmark, and would significantly increase the requirements for Vermont utilities …
Vermont House Passes Modernized Renewable Energy Standard Read More »
The Vermont Data Privacy Act would be a meaningful win for consumers, says watchdog groups The Vermont House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation that, if enacted, would be the 2nd-strongest consumer data privacy law in the nation, according to a new report from the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) and the Electronic Privacy Information Center …
REPORT: Vermont closer to passing 2nd-strongest privacy law in nation Read More »
Effort to Hold Big Oil Accountable Clears Key Hurdle A key legislative committee approved the Climate Superfund Act, S.259, today. With a unanimous, tripartisan vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced this landmark legislation. Sen. Dick Sears (Bennington), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee stated, “The Climate Superfund Act builds on Vermont’s long tradition of holding …
Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee Advances S.259, the Climate Superfund Act: Read More »
Dozens of beekeepers, students, conservationists, environmental advocates, and pollinator enthusiasts of all sorts gathered at the State House to make the case for providing greater protections for bees and other pollinators. A key legislative committee took up the bill (H.706) with hopes of passing it, but at the end of the day the vote was …
