News & Updates

Yesterday, Gov. Phil Scott vetoed the first major bill to reach his desk as a response to the 2016 discovery of the toxic chemical PFOA in drinking water in Bennington County and elsewhere around Vermont. The bill, S.103, was aimed primarily at protecting children from toxic chemicals in their toys, clothing, utensils and other products. Legislators ...

Last month, Governor Phil Scott sent a letter to legislative leaders outlining his opposition to several bills on the basis that these bills would impose new taxes or fees or somehow impose new costs on Vermonters. In his letter, the governor did not elaborate on what any of these bills would actually do. And based on ...

This past week, the Senate passed an amendment by Sen. Anthony Pollina (Washington County) to S.285, which would reclaim Vermonters’ nickels to fund recycling or other important state programs. This amendment must still win approval in the House, but this is a huge achievement that VPIRG has been working toward for decades. Vermont’s popular ‘Bottle Bill’ was ...

UPDATE (4/11/2018): Gov. Phil Scott could decide within hours whether to sign or veto new legislation that would protect kids in Vermont from harmful chemicals in children’s products. The bill (S.103) is on his desk, and industry lobbyists (chemical manufacturers, Associated Industries of Vermont and even some toy makers) are pressing the governor to kill it. Just ...

  Late last week, the House advanced their version of the budget in a 122-10 vote, and in it they included a ‘climate package’. This section of climate-related appropriations may ring a bell if you’ve been following our climate work this session! Specifically, the climate package includes: $120,000 for a “study of regulatory and market-based decarbonization mechanisms”. This ...

Wind energy is off the table in Vermont, thanks to the Scott Administration. The rules regarding sound from wind turbines, which Governor Scott supported, were the latest roadblock for wind energy in Vermont. Prior to that rule, there were just three projects under consideration in Vermont. Today, there is just one – a single turbine ...

Earlier this week, the Vermont Senate passed S.197, VPIRG-backed legislation aimed at helping Vermonters who have been harmed by toxic substance release, by a 17-13 vote. We strongly believe that Vermonters deserve the right to be protected from toxic chemical exposure and to effectively seek justice against those who poisoned them. Under current law, innocent victims ...

It’s Town Meeting Week, which means that civic energy is buzzing throughout Vermont. In communities all across the state, Vermonters are coming together to cast their votes, discuss important issues with neighbors and meet with local legislators as part of this longstanding democratic tradition. Vermont has a long history of vibrant civic culture and rigorous discourse ...