Fighting the climate crisis, repowering Vermont, and saving Vermonters money with local, green energy solutions.
The climate crisis is here now, and it is affecting the quality of life and pocketbooks of Vermonters. More severe storms, deadly heat waves and growing tick populations are just some of the impacts. Since 2006, Vermont has had statutory goals to cut carbon pollution and do our part to combat this global crisis. Unfortunately, we have missed those goals by miles and our greenhouse gas emissions have risen dramatically.
There is a dire need for Vermont – and the world – to reduce the pollution that is warming our planet and threatening a stable, habitable world for young people and future generations. Unsurprisingly, an overwhelming majority of Vermonters are worried about global warming and support a wide range of actions to cut Vermont’s climate pollution. Strong policies must be put in place now to right this course.
>> CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR 2020 CLIMATE PLATFORM
To help meet Vermont’s ambitious climate targets and make our state an even better place to live, VPIRG is working to help shift Vermont away from dirty energy and towards clean alternatives. We all know the costs of dirty energy – global warming, health risks, air and water pollution, and an unstable economic future. On top of all that, Vermonters send over a billion dollars out of state – out of the local economy – every year to pay for fossil fuels. That’s money we could be keeping in our state.
The good news is, we have better options available now. To help create a better Vermont for our kids and grandkids, and save Vermonters money over the long run, VPIRG is working to ensure the continued growth of wind and solar in Vermont, improve and expand our electrification and efficiency programs, and put a price on carbon pollution in a way that boosts the local economy and supports Vermonters with low-incomes. We’re also educating Vermonters about the many options they have available right now to cut their energy bills and carbon pollution, from weatherization to cold climate heat pumps to solar power.
Learn more about our Climate & Energy campaigns:
Recent Climate & Energy News
Governor fails to lead on climate action
Late last month, the Vermont Senate cleared the final hurdle to ensuring the Global Warming Solutions Act becomes law with the upper chamber’s 22-8 override of Gov. Phil Scott’s veto. I am thrilled to see the act pass, with both chambers of the General Assembly upholding overwhelming majorities in favor (the House vote was 103-47). I’m ...
Read MoreMileageSmart Program Launches
Transportation accounts for nearly half of Vermont’s climate pollution. That’s because a lot of Vermonters travel long distances for work, and are often in older, low-MPG vehicles. One of the best strategies to reduce our carbon pollution from the transportation sector is to get Vermonters out of those vehicles, and into newer models that use ...
Read MoreLegislature Overrides Veto; Enacts Global Warming Solutions Act!
H. 688, the Global Warming Solutions Act, which was vetoed just last week by Governor Phil Scott, will officially become law after the Governor’s veto was overridden in both the House and the Senate. These votes reaffirmed the legislature’s, and the Vermont peoples’, commitment to climate action, despite efforts to derail action on the part ...
Read MoreHouse Votes to Override Solutions Act Veto, 103-47
Just two days after Governor Scott vetoed the Global Warming Solutions Act, the House of Representatives has voted to override that veto, surpassing the 100 votes needed to do so in a 103-47 vote. As the House was preparing for its ultimately successful override vote on Thursday, however, the chair and vice chair of House ...
Read MoreOur Thoughts on Gov Scott’s Veto of The Solutions Act
Update: You can find our take on Gov Scott’s veto below. As the House was preparing for its ultimately successful override vote on Thursday, however, the chair and vice chair of House Energy, Reps Tim Briglin (D-Norwich) and Laura Sibilia (I-Dover) spoke eloquently and in detail as to why, in their view, the Governor was ...
Read MoreGov. Scott Vetoes Landmark Climate Bill
VPIRG Joins Broad Coalition of Groups Calling on Legislature to Override Governor’s Veto of the Global Warming Solutions Act Governor Scott has vetoed the Global Warming Solutions Act, which was overwhelmingly passed by both the Vermont House and Senate. The historic climate bill requires Vermont to reduce its climate-damaging emissions while simultaneously creating jobs, improving community ...
Read MoreVermont Legislature Passes Groundbreaking Climate Bill
On Wednesday, the Vermont House passed the finalized version of the Global Warming Solutions Act, officially sending it the Governor’s desk for final approval. The Solutions Act is the first major piece of climate legislation to pass in the VT legislature in years. It will effectively create a roadmap for Vermont to take bold climate action while creating ...
Read MoreLet’s Talk About Environmental Justice
According to the EPA, environmental justice is “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” A goal which will be achieved “when everyone enjoys (1) the same degree of protection from environmental ...
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