Uncategorized

 In 2008, VPIRG worked to pass a law that required manufacturers of mercury-containing thermostats to share in the costs and responsibilities of recycling their discarded products.  This law required manufacturers to establish collection programs and provide a $5 incentive for those who turn in a mercury thermostat for recycling. That program is now up and …

Have an old mercury-containing thermostat? Turn it in and get $5! Read More »

What are all those chemicals in your shampoo? Your lipstick? Your aftershave? And what do they have to do with asthma, breast cancer and learning disabilities? Learn, share and help change this toxic mess: Watch The Story of Cosmetics, a 7-minute film exposing the ugly truth about personal care products – brought to you by …

Nothing pretty about toxic cosmetics Read More »

While VPIRG has been hard at work here in Vermont winning credit card reform in the state legislature and working with our delegation on the financial reform legislation making its way through Congress, our partners at USPIRG have been hard at work in DC. Ed Mierzwinski, the Director of the Consumer Program at USPIRG, has …

Update on federal efforts to reform Wall St. Read More »

Vermont’s Health Care Reform Commission (HCRC) moved our state one step closer to comprehensive system reform yesterday.  Members voted unanimously in support of a consulting team, lead by Harvard Professor, Dr. William Hsaio, to move state health care reform efforts to the next level.  His team, which includes Jonathon Gruber of MIT and Steve Kappel …

Health Care Reform Commission Moves Forward Read More »

Earlier this week there was yet another new problem at the Vermont Yankee reactor, and this time it was related to the reactor core cooling system, which is critical to reactor safety.1, 2  The new leak was causing the reactor cooling system to lose 1.6 gallons of coolant per minute.  It took Entergy nearly six …

VY springs another new leak, narrowly avoids emergency shutdown Read More »

 Just two months after fixing their most recent leak of radioactive material, Vermont Yankee is at it again. Hours after the plant powered up after its recent refueling outage workers found a previously undiscovered leak in the piping excavated during the investigation into the just-fixed tritium leak. Entergy Vermont Yankee officials claim the hole, which …

Vermont Yankee announces new radioactive leak Read More »

Gov. Jim Douglas deserves some praise for his decision today to allow Vermont to continue down the path of health care reform.  Though he was unwilling to sign S.88, the governor also chose not to block the popular measure from becoming law.  Vermonters will be well-served by that decision. This health care law takes immediate …

Health care bill S.88 becomes law Read More »

Today’s Burlington Free Press “My Turn” section features VPIRG’s President Duane Peterson’s report on his personal experience touring the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant earlier this month.  Below is Duane’s full report. Vermont Yankee Tour Misses Opportunity for Open Dialogue I recently toured the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.  The visit was arranged so the Vermont Public Service Board …

Vermont Yankee Tour Misses Opportunity for Open Dialogue Read More »

New Standards for Cars & Trucks Will Also Help Cut Global Warming Pollution, Save Money at the Pump President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum today in a Rose Garden ceremony that will help to move the country away from oil, cut global warming pollution and save Americans money at the gas pump by putting cleaner …

Pres. Obama’s Push for Clean Vehicles Will Help Cut Demand for Oil Read More »

On Wednesday, May 19, Vermont became the second state in the nation (after Connecticut) to enact tough legislation restricting the use of the synthetic hormone bisphenol A (BPA) in a variety of consumer products.  Gov. Jim Douglas officially signed into law S.247, the VPIRG-backed bill phasing out the use of BPA in products ranging from …

Gov signs new BPA law — new report shows why it’s critically important Read More »