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Weathering Energy Costs Brattleboro Reformer 11/22/06 Senate President-elect Peter Shumlin said over the weekend he believes the most important legislative priority in the coming years is global warming. The Putney Democrat might seem to be coming out of left field on this one, but he has a point. The signs that something is wrong with our planet's climate are piling up rapidly and there may not be much time left to alleviate the problem. There are still those who believe that global warming is a myth. Those are the same people who also believe that dealing with it means crippling the nation's economy. The reality is that using less energy and making smarter use of the energy we do use can not only save our environment, but save us money and create new jobs. That is the gist of a report released Monday by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. ... Trouble Toys WCAX 11/21/06 "We just think it's important for parents to know there are still dangerous toys on the shelves," said Jakki Flanagan with the Vt. Public Interest Research Group. From too loud like a keyboard. "While these toys may seem just to be annoying they can actually damage children's hearing." To too small and choking concerns, like a small hello kitty toy. "Here's a toy that is considered to be safe for children, the leg broke off very easily and it goes right through the tube, it's not safe." The Vermont Public Interest Research Group released their 21st Trouble in Toyland Report.... VPIRG Pushes for Energy Efficiency WCAX 11/20/06 Vermont Public Interest Research Group's new study says Vermonters spend about $600 million dollars a year heating their homes and business. "When you look at the actual costs facing Vermonters, a huge part of that is wrapped up into home heating during the winter months," said James Moore, a VPIRG clean energy advocate and one of the authors of the report.... VPIRG calls for home efficiency to cut down global warming Boston Globe Online 11/20/06 Burlington Free Press 11/21/06 Vermont can reduce global warming and save money by making its older homes more energy efficient and adopting stricter standards for new construction, an advocacy group said Monday. With the state spending $600 million a year on heating fuel -- half of it to heat homes -- the potential for savings is "astronomical," said James Moore, energy advocate for the group. "To achieve this goal does not require radical action. It does require immediate action," he said. ... Heating fuel findings leave Vermont in cold Times Argus/Rutland Herald 11/20/06 A Vermont environmental advocacy group is scheduled to release a study today making the case for dramatic increases in energy-efficient use of heating fuels. Housing in Vermont is on average the second-oldest in the nation and many of the old buildings are quite inefficient, according to the Vermont Public Interest Research Group study. About half of the houses in the state were built before any energy-efficient building standards were put in place. "Vermont has one of the oldest housing stocks in the country," said James Moore, who helped write the report. "Vermonters are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to heat old, leaky homes." ... IP abandons tire-burn plan Burlington Free Press 11/15/06 The surprise decision apparently ended a controversy that spanned three years, two states and pitted Vermont -- both government officials and environmentally minded residents -- against the paper company and the public agencies that sanctioned the test burn... "I think that clearly the results demonstrated that there was a lot more pollution coming from the burning of tires than IP anticipated," said Paul Burns, executive director of Vermont Public Interest Research Group. "That reality, combined with the growing public pressure, convinced company officials that they could not move forward. And that's good news for everybody downwind." Vermont reaches efficiency deal with U.S. Times Argus/Rutland Herald 11/15/06 Vermont and a handful of other states have reached an agreement with the federal government that should lead to implementation of long-delayed appliance efficiency standards... Vermont's regulations and those included in the federal settlement are unlikely to conflict, because in most cases they deal with different classes of appliances, said James Moore of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group... "The federal standard was so inadequate," Moore said. Tire burn called off before end of scheduled testing Boston Globe Online 11/14/06 The Addirondack Daily Enterprise 11/15/06 International Paper Co. concluded a test of tire-derived fuel at its mill along the Lake Champlain shoreline a week early Tuesday after finding that the process was not economically feasible in the long-term. IP was performing the test to determine whether scrap tire chips could supplement fuel oil and wood scraps to power the plant's boiler... "The data clearly showed that burning tires was producing a lot more pollution than company officials had anticipated," Burns said. "They did the right thing by shutting down." Rainville: New Natural Resources chief? Times Argus/Rutland Herald 11/10/06 Persistent talk among politicians and environmentalists that Martha Rainville may become the new head of the Agency of Natural Resources are just rumors at this point... Paul Burns, head of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said that he was pleased that Rainville seemed to become more aware of the dangers of global warming — and human impact on climate change — during the campaign.
Wal-Mart Expands Cheap Drug Program to Vermont, New York WCAX 10/19/06 Wal-Mart has expanded its low-cost prescription drug program to include its stores in Vermont and New York, and twelve other states. The program allows customers to get generic medicines for as little as four dollars. ... Wal-Mart has its critics, and one of them is the director of the Vermont Public Interest research Group, VPIRG. Paul Burns says Wal-Mart's cheap prescriptions could drive smaller local drug stores out of business. "You know, again, the difficulty is that if that means bad news for small independent pharmacies in the state, they may ultimately not be such a good thing for consumers or for our local economy." Vt. to get Wal-Mart low-cost Rx Times Argus/Rutland Herald 10/19/06 Wal-Mart is expanding a low-cost drug program it launched in Florida last month by allowing shoppers in Vermont and 13 other states to begin buying generic prescription drugs for $4, the retailer will announce today. ... In Vermont, those who stand to benefit most are the state’s nearly 63,000 uninsured residents. In a recently released study, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group found that Vermonters without insurance paid nearly 60 percent more for drugs than the federal government paid for the same medications. “It’s an outrage that those who can least afford prescription drugs … pay the highest price,” said Jakki Flanagan, VPIRG’s public health advocate. “With no one to negotiate lower prices on their behalf, consumers often face a difficult choice, buying their desperately needed medications or paying for other necessities such as utility bills or school clothes for their children.” Douglas and Parker divided on energy Burlington Free Press 10/16/06 ... When the Vermont Yankee and Hydro-Quebec power contracts expire, with their guaranteed prices, Vermont's utilities could buy replacement power on the market -- but it would cost a lot more than electric users pay today. To avoid this result, people like Ventriss of the Vermont Business Roundtable and James Moore of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, say the next governor needs to promote conservation and efficiency to reduce demand, and to encourage the development of new, renewable sources of power in Vermont. Energy a hot issue this election season: Douglas, Parker spar over sources of power Times Argus/Rutland Herald 10/8/06 Politicians come and go, but in Vermont those whose reputations linger are often the ones who are known for their work on electric and public utilities. ...
Advocacy groups like [VPIRG] put pressure on candidates and elected officials to ensure that such energy regulations in the Green Mountains are as progressive as they are anywhere. New England states may buck feds on furnace efficiency rules Boston Globe Online, WCAX 10/06/06 Times Argus/Rutland Herald, Burlington Free Press 10/7/06 Recently passed laws in three New England states requiring more energy efficient furnaces and boilers could fall by the wayside due to less stringent federal rules on the same topic. ... "There are already furnaces and boilers on the market -- and they're cost-effective -- that meet the higher standards. The technology exists today," said James Moore, energy advocate with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. State: Verizon sale wouldn't slow broadband growth Times Argus/Rutland Herald 10/04/06 The possible sale of Verizon's land line business in Vermont isn't likely to adversely affect the expansion of high-speed Internet service in the state, according to state officials and business leaders. But groups opposed to the sale say that's a gamble the state shouldn't take. ... "Clearly there's a real concern that consumer interests have to be factored into any possible sale," said Colleen Thomas, VPIRG's associate director. Sanders' voting record is target for rival Burlington Free Press 10/1/06 Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has cast at least 9,600 votes during his eight terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. It's an enormous voting record to defend and an inviting target for Republican Rich Tarrant, his chief political rival in this year's six-way race for the U.S. Senate. ... "He has a lifetime rating from us of 99.9 percent," said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. "For any member to score that high, year after year, is impressive."
Report: Uninsured Vermonters charged higher prescription prices The Vermont Guardian 9/28/06 Drug companies charge uninsured Vermonters 59 percent more for common prescription drugs than they charge the federal government, according to a new Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) report. “It’s an outrage that those who can least afford prescription drugs, over 63,000 uninsured Vermonters, pay the highest price,” said VPIRG’s Public Health Advocate, Jakki Flanagan. “In the United States, 46 million uninsured Americans go it alone at the pharmacy. With no one to negotiate lower prices on their behalf, consumers often face a difficult choice, buying their desperately needed medications or paying for other family necessities such as utility bills or school clothes for their children.” New report: Vermont is getting hotter The Vermont Guardian 9/26/06 This year’s unprecedented heat wave is part of a broader trend of rising temperatures in Vermont, according to a new report released by a leading environmental group. The average temperature in Burlington is up 0.86° F since 2000 compared with the previous three decades (1971-2000), according to the the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG). “Global warming is happening, and Vermonters are feeling the heat,” said James Moore, VPIRG’s clean energy advocate. Uninsured Vermonters Paying More WCAX 9/25/06 Burlington, Vermont - Vermonters without health insurance pay more for their prescription drugs than people in most other states. That according to a new study released by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. They say uninsured Vermonters pay fifty nine percent more for prescription drugs than what the U.S. government pays. This ranks Vermont 23rd out of 36 locations surveyed. The Issue is Emissions Times Argus/Rutland Herald 9/17/06 Hugh Kemper’s recent letter criticizing VPIRG for supporting wind farms in Vermont (“The issue is emissions, not renewables” 9/3) gets the spirit right but the facts wrong. VPIRG has always been focused on generating Vermont’s power from clean, safe and affordable sources. And our 35 years of experience and research clearly show 3 things: 1) Our current supply of electricity is nowhere near as clean as some would have us believe; 2) Clean, renewable sources - including wind - can meet our power needs; and 3) we have a very short window of opportunity to build a clean energy future... 111 candidates sign VPIRG power plan WCAX 9/9/06, Times Argus/Rutland Herald 9/10/06 More than 100 candidates for federal, state and local offices in Vermont have signed onto a plan by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group to reduce dependence on foreign oil and emphasize renewable sources of electricity. "With so many Vermonters speaking out and demanding action from our elected officials, it's no wonder most candidates say they support renewable energy," said VPIRG Energy Advocate James Moore. "But Vermonters want more than just talk about this issue, they want leadership. The 138 candidates that have responded so far have taken that next step by supporting concrete policy goals that will move Vermont towards a clean energy future." An unseemly campaign The Barton Chronicle 9/6/06 As its name implies, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) is founded on the principle that, beyond the competing interests that run our society and control our lives, there is a public interest that is all too often neglected. We agree with the general proposition. Using weapons no more powerful than a knack for publicity and an ability to bring vocal citizens into the halls of government and, more rarely, onto the streets, VPIRG has brought the public to the table on a long series of important issues. The issue is emissions not 'renewables' Times Argus/Rutland Herald 9/3/06 Marchers' message on global warming: Do something now WCAX 9/1/06, The ME Sun 9/2/06 Marchers continued on a journey Friday that started a day earlier in Ripton and is to end Monday in Burlington to bring attention to global warming. "It's perhaps the largest single demonstration yet in this country against global warming," said Bill McKibben, a Middlebury College environmental scholar whose book, "The End of Nature," was among the first to present the problem to a popular audience. Some 200 people from around the state and across the country joined the march and set off Thursday for the 49-mile trek from Ripton to Burlington, where a rally is set for Monday.Vt. walk aims to spur action on global warming Times Argus/Rutland Herald 9/1/06 RIPTON — Bill McKibben can't recall the last time more than 200 Americans launched a five-day walk calling for government action on global warming. And so he deemed what happened in his Vermont town Thursday to be historic. ... The Vermont Public Interest Research Group offered specific solutions as it used the walk to release a new report, "Rising to the Challenge: Six Steps to Cut Global Warming Pollution in the United States." "We have hit the tipping point," VPIRG Executive Director Paul Burns said. "People have recognized climate change is real and we have an obligation to do something about it."
The Road Less Traveled Grist.com 8/31/06 Ripton, Vt., is the definition of New England mountain hamlet: stuck along the spine of the Green Mountains, a tiny burg with a general store and a town hall and a white church. And, this morning, a line of 300 people marching in the bright sunshine, a snaking line alongside the Middlebury River as it descends to the Champlain Valley below... Jeffords urged to support 'net neutrality' says he does WCAX 8/20/06, Times Argus/Rutland Herald 9/1/06 Groups trying to preserve equal access to the Internet for all converged on Sen. James Jeffords' office on Thursday to urge him to support the principle of "net neutrality." ... Colleen Thomas, associate director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, described someone trying to go to favorite small Internet sites and finding they were not coming up on the computer screen. "Eventually, you'd grow frustrated, you'd give up. You'd log on to a bigger, more mainstream, ad-driven Web site, linked directly from the home page of your big, Internet media provider. And poof! That Web site loads immediately." "If you think that scenario is far-fetched, think again," Thomas continued. "Because that's what the Internet's going to be like if we lose Internet freedom." State gets poor grade on global warming pollution reduction Vermont Public Radio 8/28/06 An environmental group gives Vermont a poor grade for its efforts to reduce global warming pollution. ... (Hudson) "We are no where near on pace to meet the goals of the New England governors' agreement." Advocates give Vermont low marks on combating global warming The Vermont Guardian 8/28/06 A coalition of environmental advocates is giving Vermont low marks for efforts in reducing global warming pollution, according a report released Tuesday. ... “Five years ago today, the governors of New England and eastern premiers of Canada committed to making our region a leader in the fight to stop global warming,” said Drew Hudson, the field director for the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. “Unfortunately, Gov. Douglas has consistently failed to live up to his promise to abide by this agreement, and as a result Vermont lags behind our neighbors in permitting commercial wind power and developing a comprehensive climate change action plan.” Wind power a vexing question for Vermonters Times Argus/Rutland Herald, Boston Globe Online, Burlington Free Press, Bennington Banner 8/19-8/21/06 When farmer Greg Bryant first heard about plans for windmills along a swath of mountain ridges in this northeastern Vermont hamlet, he was all for it. The idea of tapping a plentiful natural resource for power was appealing. ... "For us to say we don't want wind turbines in Vermont is irresponsible," said James Moore, an environmental advocate with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. "If not wind, are we going to be supporting coal and mountain top removal? Are we going to support oil and aging nuclear power plants and nuclear waste?" Who will champion renewable energy? Brattleboro Reformer 8/19/06 Where will Vermont get its electricity in another decade? That question has been discussed and debated endlessly, particularly with the potential expiration of Vermont Yankee's license in 2012 and the potential loss of the state electric contract with Hydro-Quebec in 2015. A report released by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group on Thursday shows one path the state can follow -- committing itself to having 55 percent of its energy coming from renewable sources by 2015. VPIRG report: Vt. could get half its power from renewables Times Argus/Rutland Herald, Boston Globe Online, WCAX, the Sun Journal 8/17-8/19/06 Vermont could get half its electric power from renewable sources within 10 years, including 20 percent from wind, if it gets busy developing the resources now, says a new report. The report by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, issued Thursday in the front yard of a company that makes testing equipment for potential wind power sites, comes against the backdrop of a debate over energy policy that has grown increasingly heated and increasingly political this election season. "Energy has become the hot issue of this election cycle because we are too dependent on dirty, dangerous and expensive power," said James Moore, VPIRG's clean energy advocate and author of the report. In Vermont, farmers buck registration efforts Christian Science Monitor 8/15/06 If authorities in Vermont have their way, farmers will have to tell them more about their business. Or face a $1,000 fine. Vermont is the latest state to consider requiring farmers to reveal data on such things as their farms' livestock and size - laws veterinarians say could help manage farm animal diseases like mad cow and foot and mouth in the event of an outbreak. ... In Vermont, a state known as much for its progressive politics as for its pastoral provincialism, the number of organic farmers has more than tripled from 90 in 1994 to 332 in 2004, according to the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, based in Montpelier. While the premises-registration program is free, many here see it as a first step toward the kind of labor-intensive bureaucratic regulations that could pose huge challenges for small farms. Governor's stand focuses attention on energy policy Times Argus/Rutland Herald 8/11/06 Gov. James Douglas said Thursday he supports an initiative to increase the amount of renewable power used in Vermont, a day after Democratic challenger Scudder Parker repeated his accusation that the administration is failing to plan for the state's energy future. ... Paul Burns of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group took a different view of Douglas' role in energy initiatives in the Statehouse. Douglas endorses renewable energy initiative; Democrats skeptical Boston Globe Online 8/10/06 Gov. Jim Douglas endorsed an initiative Thursday that would greatly increase Vermont's and the nation's dependence on renewable energy, but Democrats dismissed his comments as political opportunism and blamed him for blocking previous energy-efficiency efforts. ... "To hear this governor talk today, you'd think he was the real leader behind all of the significant energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and laws that have been put in place," said Paul Burns, executive director. "I think for the most part, Vermont has been making progress on green legislation in spite of the governor, not because of the governor." 'Affordability' meeting shows agenda, Dems say Bennington Banner 8/10/06 During a presentation on the high cost of living in Vermont on Wednesday, Sen. Wendy L. Wilton said she thought it was something all legislators could work together to improve. "I hope we put aside politics. This is not a partisan issue. This is about the survival of Vermont," said Wilton, R-Rutland. ... Morrissey said she believed the report card was no more harmful than the ones from the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, which traditionally gives her a poor grade. The group is a liberal organization that looks at issues like global warming and environmental health. State board wants to hike efficiency budget Times Argus/Rutland Herald 8/3/06 The state's Public Service Board on Wednesday approved a substantial increase in the budget of the state's energy efficiency utility, the first organization of its kind in the country. ... "This is a great step in the right direction. This is a big step towards cleaner, cheaper energy for all Vermonters," said James Moore of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. "It is clear that the Public Service Board got the message from the Legislature that the Legislature recognized efficiency as the cheapest and cleanest electricity source and we need to do everything we can to capitalize on that." Public Service Board boosts Energy Efficiency budget The Vermont Guardian 8/2/06 The Public Service Board today announced a graduated increase in the budget for the state’s energy efficiency utility over three years, and initiated a process to develop financing alternatives to reduce the short-term increase on electricity rates that will result. .. In September, the Conservation Law Foundation and Vermont Public Interest Research Group submitted testimony to the board saying investments in efficiency measures have consistently been shown to be the cleanest and lowest cost means of providing electricity to Vermont. “Based on the savings per dollar invested in efficiency in Vermont, each $2.5 million invested in efficiency saves an additional 10,000 megawatt hours,” the groups declared. “Failure to make the investments now to realize these savings means Vermonters will be paying more for electricity in the future.”
IP paper mill given OK to burn tires The Vermont Guardian 7/28/06 New York environmental officials have given International Paper the OK to burn up to three tons of tires an hour at its Ticonderoga paper mill, much to the chagrin of Vermont leaders and environmentalists. ... “It appears that New York DEC has simply disregarded the interests of Vermonters to breathe clean air. They’re allowing the test to go forward even though they know that IP is refusing to use the most up-to-date pollution controls,” said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. Douglas calls for more energy efficiency Times Argus/Rutland Herald, WCAX 7/28/06 MONTPELIER — The Douglas administration wants to boost spending on energy efficiency by 50 percent in the next two years. But that's about half what its consultant said would be cost-effective, and much less than environmental groups and key lawmakers want. ... Environmental groups including the Conservation Law Foundation and Vermont Public Interest Research Group argued in board hearings that even the doubling of the efficiency budget that GDS talked about would not be enough. Despite rhetoric, candidate health plans similar Burlington Free Press 7/7/06 For weeks, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Richard Tarrant has blitzed the public with advertisements touting significant differences between his health reform ideas and those of the man he hopes to face in the November election -- Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Torti quits post early Burlington Free Press 7/6/06 Tom Torti, secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, bowed to public pressure Wednesday that he leave the state's top environmental position sooner than November -- the timetable he announced previously for his move to a new job as president of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce. ... "Every day he is there, there is something of a cloud over the agency and its decision-making process," said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. The bottle-bill battle Burlington Free Press 7/2/06 Vermont's bottle bill, venerable and ungainly, is many things to many people. ... "The bottle bill is the most effective recycling program we have, bar none," said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, a supporter. ANR chief's departure worries environmentalists Burlington Free Press 7/2/06 It's not surprising that the announcement of Tom Torti's impending departure from the Agency of Natural Resources would draw calls of foul play from some environmental groups. They have not been the best of friends from the start. ... The Vermont Public Interest Research Group called for Torti's immediate resignation. "He's already negotiated and agreed to take a position as leader of an organization that represents 2,000 businesses in the state," VPIRG Executive Director Paul Burns said.
Environmental Groups Upset Agency Head Will Remain For Months After Announcing New Job WAMC 6/30/06 Vermont's top environmental official has announced that he will leave his post in state government to take the presidency of a business group. But Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Tom Torti won't actually leave until November, and some environmental groups say that raises serious conflict of interest issues. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more. Environmentalists say Torti should step down The Boston Globe, WCAX 6/30/06 Leaders of environmental advocacy organizations are critical of Natural Resources Secretary Thomas Torti for not stepping down immediately now that he has won a job as head of the Burlington-area chamber of commerce. ... "The secretary of ANR should not have divided loyalties," said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. "He has committed to represent the interests of 2,000 businesses in this state. He cannot simultaneously do that and represent the interests of 620,000 Vermonters." Environmentalists call for Torti to resign Times Argus/Rutland Herald 6/30/06 Environmentalists are calling on Tom Torti to step down from his position as the head of the state's Agency of Natural Resources now that he had decided to start leading a business group in the fall. ... Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said Torti cannot effectively protect the environment and go after polluters when he is going to be promoting some of the largest businesses in the state as the president of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce. High Court Wounds Vermont’s Campaign Financing Laws The New Standard 6/28/06 The US Supreme Court struck down portions of Vermont's campaign-finance law Monday, saying that limits on candidates' expenditures and individuals' donations to campaigns violate the First Amendment. ... In a press statement Monday, Paul Burns, Executive Director of Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said: “Vermonters spoke out loudly and clearly for reducing the influence of money in politics, and the Supreme Court turned a deaf ear. Instead of allowing us to level the playing field, the justices have pushed average folks to the sidelines and preserved a clear path to power for wealthy donors.” What the high court doesn't understand The Brattleboro Reformer 6/28/06 The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to strike down Vermont's campaign finance law reinforces the notion that money equals speech in politics. It does, except that now the race to gather money has become more important in campaigns than the race to gather votes and political support. ... As Paul Burns, the executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said on Monday, "It's a dangerous thing for our democracy if you're going to conclude that money equals speech, unless we all have equal access to money." Bureaucrats get to chill — a little Times Argus/Rutland Herald 6/28/06 Overheated state workers have changed the Douglas administration's new policy that air conditioning can be turned on only if the temperature inside state offices reach 80 degrees. ... "It sounds like a very reasonable policy," Paul Burns, the executive director of VPIRG said of the new policy. "I think it is appropriate to be responsive to the legitimate concerns of the employees and to balance those concerns against the state's interest in saving money and protecting the environment." High court rejects Vermont's campaign limits The Burlington Free Press 6/27/06 The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down keys parts of Vermont's 1997 campaign finance law that sought to limit how much money state candidates can raise and spend on elections. ... Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, which supported Vermont's law, was among those disappointed. "I think it's a sad day for democracy in Vermont," he said. State reaction to ruling is mixed The Bennington Banner 6/27/06 The United States Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Monday against Vermont's campaign spending limits, declaring they violated the right to free speech. Like the decision, reaction around the state was split. .. Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said the overturned law was appropriate for Vermont. "We're certainly incredibly disappointed with the majority of this decision," he said. "It was a relatively simple plan that people could get behind. The limits that we had made were the right fit for Vermont. We spend less on elections, and we like it that way." Supreme Court rejects Vermont campaign finance law; Money limits ruled unconstitutional Times Argus/Rutland Herald 6/27/06 The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down Vermont's smallest-in-the-nation campaign spending limits, saying the 1997 law violated the Constitution's freedom of speech provisions. ... That's too bad, said Stuart Comstock-Gay, the executive director of the National Voting Rights Institute, a Boston-based advocacy group representing several organizations that supported Vermont's law, including the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. "If people can spend unlimited money, they will spend unlimited money," he said in a brief telephone interview. "Until we as a society make that decision, people are going to be able to spend whatever they can get away with." High Court rejects Vt. campaign restrictions; Says rules violate First Amendment The Boston Globe 6/27/06 The Supreme Court yesterday struck down a Vermont election law that imposed sweeping restrictions on campaign contributions and expenditures, reopening the debate over whether campaign money should be protected as free speech. ... Public interest groups called the decision a blow to their goal of reducing the importance of campaign-fund-raising. Pat Burns (sic), executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, a leader in the push to make Vermont's election law a reality, called the decision ``incredibly disappointing." ``Instead of allowing us to level the playing field, the justices have pushed average folks to the sidelines and preserved a clear path to power for wealthy donors," Burns said in a statement. ``This ruling undermines Vermont citizens and all Americans who are working to protect the integrity of their democracy and participate equally in the political process." Political Vermonters Weigh Ruling on Campaign Finances The New York Times 6/27/06 In Vermont, people following the campaign finance case said yesterday that they were surprised that the Supreme Court had struck down the state's contribution limits, as well as its spending limits. The law was originally passed with the goal of testing the constitutionality of Buckley v. Valeo and the idea that restricting spending limits meant restricting free speech, said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, an intervenor in the case on the side of the State of Vermont. "It was quite intentional on the part of the Vermont legislature to pass a law that we knew would challenge that kind of concept of money equaling speech," Mr. Burns said.High court rejects Vermont campaign finance law The Boston Globe, Brattleboro Reformer, Bennington Banner, WCAX 6/27/06 When it comes to politics, money talks. And that's as it should be, the U.S. Supreme Court said Monday in a decision that struck down Vermont's limits on campaign contributions and spending. ... Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said the Senate campaign provides a strong indication that campaigns for governor and other statewide offices soon could become financial arms races as well. "It's a dangerous thing for our democracy if you're going to conclude that money equals speech, unless we all have equal access to money," Burns said. Supreme Court tosses out Vermont’s campaign finance law Vermont Guardian 6/26/06 In a fractured set of six opinions, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that Vermont's limits on contributions and spending in political campaigns were the equivalent of restricting speech and therefore unconstitutional. ... A spokesman for the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, which along with the National Voting Rights Institute helped to defend the law, decried the ruling. “Vermonters spoke out loudly and clearly for reducing the influence of money in politics, and the Supreme Court turned a deaf ear. Instead of allowing us to level the playing field, the justices have pushed average folks to the sidelines and preserved a clear path to power for wealthy donors,” said Paul Burns., VPIRG’s executive director. State buildings likely to get slightly stuffier Times Argus/Rutland Herald, WCAX 6/25/06 The Burlington Free Press 6/26/06 Scientists this week said the planet is the hottest it's been in 2,000 years. ... Paul Burns, VPIRG's executive director, said while air conditioners in his Montpelier building are switched off as often as possible, productivity suffers when his employees are too hot. Circ segment to be repaved The Burlington Free Press 6/23/06 After a wait of many years, work on the Circumferential Highway is expected to start this summer -- but on the existing part of the highway and not the planned sections tied up in court cases and environmental review. Paul Burns, Vermont Public Interest Research Group executive director, said the existing section of the Circ is one of many roads and bridges in the state that need repair. His group is among those lobbying for options to the proposed new sections of the Circ instead of spending money on a new highway. Embrace benefits of wind power Times Argus/Rutland Herald 6/21/06 Regarding the June 9 article "Town Signs Pact with Wind Farm Developer": Most people won't even think about a wind farm in their home town. But this is not the case in Sheffield. This small Vermont town is cutting edge when it comes to energy...Current events: Vermont considers a new power plant and other bright ideas Vermont Guardian 6/9/06 Howard Dean knew how to start a conversation. When the former governor decided it was time for the state to talk about energy, he suggested a coal-fired power plant in northwestern Vermont. ... But one member of the group, Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), complained unsuccessfully in a letter to Public Service Commissioner David O’Brien last year that “a group of ‘the usual suspects’ unwilling to challenge the status quo” would be unlikely to produce innovative and creative responses. Southern Vermonters point out that there is no one no one in the group, other than Entergy lobbyist Brian Cosgrove, who represents south-state interests. Sanders urges action on his energy bill WCAX, Boston Globe Online, The Bennington Banner, Times Argus/Rutland Herald 6/2/06 Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is pressuring the House leadership to let his bill promoting clean energy move to a vote, an initiative that he said would "revolutionize our energy policy." ... An estimated 3.3 million jobs would be created if the bill were adopted, he added. "This legislation offers real changes to revolutionize our energy policy," [Sanders] said. Vermont Public Interest Research Group Executive Director Paul Burns and Paul Comey, vice president of environmental affairs at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, joined Sanders at his news conference to endorse the approach. Study Demonstrates That Campaign Contribution Limits Do Not Harm Challengers Common Dreams.org, A-scribe, 6/1/06 The National Voting Rights Institute (NVRI) and the State PIRGs Democracy Program released a study today that found there is no support for the notion that campaign contribution limits hurt challengers. In fact, according to the study, contribution limits can work to reduce the financial bias that traditionally works in favor of incumbents.
Vermont health care reform becomes law The Burlington Free Press 5/26/06 Republicans, Democrats, medical professionals and consumer advocates gathered Thursday at Rutland Regional Medical Center to celebrate the signing of a pair of health care reform bills. ... "We are going to watchdog this process to ensure it has the administrative support that it needs," promised Paul Burns, executive director of Vermont Public Interest Research Group. Increase in energy efficiency spending debated WCAX, Boston Globe Online, The Burlington Free Press, Times Argus/Rutland Herald 5/19/06 The Douglas administration wants to spend 30 percent more on Vermont's main energy efficiency program by 2008. Environmental groups say that's not nearly enough. Circ costs, timetable expand again The Burlington Free Press 5/18/06 Anyone looking forward to a drive on the proposed Circumferential Highway faces another delay, thanks to an unexpectedly complicated environmental review that will cost at least $1 million more than first thought, the Vermont Agency of Transportation announced Wednesday. Douglas signs bill calling for more efficient appliances WCAX, Boston Globe Online, The Burlington Free Press5/17/06-5/18/06 New furnaces, industrial transformers, lamps and power supplies for things like laptop computers will have to become more energy-efficient, under a bill signed into law by Gov. James Douglas. Douglas signs state energy efficiency bill Times Argus/Rutland Herald 5/17/06 ... Some of the products, like more efficient power cords for cell phones, are expected to cost as little as 50 cents more — an expense purchasers likely will be able to make back within a year or less, according to the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG). The difference in expense for other items, such as the $30 to $480 difference in the cost of furnaces, will be more. Even in those cases, extra charges will be repaid in four years, said James Moore, energy advocate for VPIRG. Compromising positions: Session’s tumultuous end brings out the good, the bad, and the ugly Vermont Guardian 5/12/06 It was 2:30 p.m. on May 9 when the tense cloud that had been hanging over the Statehouse for weeks lifted. ... Although the centerpiece of the sessions’ energy package, the ambitiously titled Energy Security and Reliability Act, is “a good bill,” said James Moore, clean energy advocate with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), “it’s very modest. It takes small steps towards creating a cleaner energy future here in Vermont. But considering the fact that two-thirds of our power contracts in the state are going to expire within the next decade, this bill did not go anywhere near far enough. It’s really moving forward at an inadequate pace to meet our pressing needs.” Awards Showcase Service-Learning UVM News Service 5/10/06 The Office of Community-University Partnerships and Service Learning recently honored faculty members, community partners and students for their participation in courses that combine academic theory with practical experiences addressing community or human needs. An eye on advocacy: Eileen Burgin arranged partnerships with students in her “Advocacy in Congress: A Service-Learning Seminar” course and local nonprofit organizations with strong advocacy platforms such as the American Association of Retired Persons and Planned Parenthood. Burgin included elements of service-learning in the required “The American Political System” course facilitating partnerships with Vermont Public Interest Research Group. Health care comes down to the wire Times Argus/Rutland Herald 5/9/06 The House likely decides today whether to send the Legislature's health care reform measure to Gov. James Douglas, who has vowed not to let the current bill become law. ... Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, agreed. "If the governor had any interest in moving health care, he wouldn't be threatening a veto," he said. Lawmakers agree on health reform The Burlington Free Press 5/4/06 With handshakes across a negotiating table Wednesday afternoon, six Vermont lawmakers agreed on health care legislation they say ranks as one of the most comprehensive plans written in any state in the country. ... Paul Burns, executive director of Vermont Public Interest Research Group, offered a weak endorsement. "This bill is not the Promised Land for those of us who wanted real health care reform, but it is a compromise that takes some meaningful steps forward." Where does all the e-waste go? Times Argus 5/4/06 Do you have an old TV, computer, or monitor in your home? What about in your workplace – is there a closet full of dot matrix printers and archaic word processors? If the answer is yes, then you are not alone. ... For more information about the House and Senate bills, contact Drew Hudson at VPIRG at 223-5221, ext. 4787. Lake groups seek to fight milfoil with chemicals Times Argus/Rutland Herald 5/2/06 Three groups that help manage local water bodies want to renew the use of chemicals to kill an invasive weed that has grown back in parts of those lakes and ponds in the past two years. Any pesticide or herbicide pose a risk to species — native plants, for example — that are not intended to be killed, according to Paul Burns, executive director of Vermont Public Interest Research Group.
State to sell self-extinguishing cigarettes The Burlington Free Press, Times Argus/Rutland Herald 4/28/06 Vermont next week will become the second state to require cigarettes sold within its borders to be less likely to cause fires. House to streamline Vermont Yankee process Times Argus/Rutland Herald 4/28/06 The owners of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant will have to return to the Statehouse before operating past 2012 under a bill passed by the House Thursday. ..."Vermont Yankee is one of the oldest nuclear plants in the country. This unanimous vote was important to make sure a decision about any future operation of this plant here in Vermont is made by Vermonters and our elected officials," said James Moore, energy advocate for the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. "This plant was made to be shut down in 2012." Senate advances energy efficiency bill WCAX, Boston Globe Online, The Burlington Free Press 4/20/06-4/23/06 Electronic items ranging from furnaces to cell phone rechargers would be put on a lighter diet if an energy efficiency bill advanced by the Senate becomes law. ... James Moore, an environmental advocate with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said the bill would save Vermonters $130 million in power costs by 2020 if it becomes law. "If this goes into effect, it would generate enough in energy savings to equal the output of 26 wind turbines," Moore said. Making Vermont green Rutland Herald 4/22/06 ... Vermont also has an interest in fostering new technology, reducing greenhouse gases and promoting efficiency, both to develop industry for the future and to save money for Vermonters. VPIRG: U.S. needs 12-step program to end oil addiction The Vermont Guardian Online 4/21/06 A leading Vermont environmental organization in Vermont is calling on Pres. George Bush and Congress to enter into a 12-step program aimed at weaning the United States from its addiction to oil, and help stop global warming. “In his State of the Union address three months ago Pres. Bush reminded us that ‘America is addicted to oil.’ Since then, Washington has done little to seek treatment for this dangerous habit,” said James Moore, the clean energy advocate at the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG). Vt. moves toward efficiency standards Times Argus/Rutland Herald 4/20/06 Vermonters would be required to buy only energy-efficient versions of some appliances under a bill that won preliminary Senate approval Wednesday. Let's focus on clean, local energy Burlington Free Press 4/15/06 I was pleased to see the recent Free Press editorial and the opinion piece by John DiToro of IBM (March 31) addressing our looming energy crisis. Vermont is indeed at an energy crossroads, but both of these commentaries left out or undervalued the essential role that clean, local energy sources can play in Vermont's future. This is a fundamental oversight in a conversation where the wrong decision could leave future generations of Vermonters with higher electric bills, more pollution and the ongoing threat of a nuclear disaster. Looking for health-care compromise Burlington Free Press 4/14/06 ... Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, cheered the creation of Catamount Health, a program expected to extend health insurance to 40 percent of the state's uninsured in the next four years. He said he also likes the steps the bill takes to control health costs through better management of patients with chronic diseases.
Environmentalists find taking sides on wind is tricky Times Argus/Rutland Herald 3/30/06 ...Paul Burns, executive director of VPIRG, said it's nonsense to suggest that public opinion should be kept out of the board process, even if the public comment period of the case is over. Burning Issue The Boston Globe 3/26/06 FROM THE ROOFTOP of the International Paper mill in Ticonderoga, New York, the view to the east is postcard-pretty: Lake Champlain lies silver in the valley, rolling hills shape the near lands of Vermont, and in the distance stand some of the highest peaks of the Green Mountains. ...Yet some observers doubt that the company has reformed. "I'm not buying it," says Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, a consumer and environmental advocacy group. He cites the company's brief test of tire burning in 1997. Many Vermonters claim that IP hid those results, and they were outraged when the records were publicized six years later. We need to accept wind Burlington Free Press 3/20/06 I was born in Vermont, raised here, and took environmental studies classes at UVM back in the '70s. ... As to Janson’s comment that “this may be the right project, it is in the wrong place,” I can’t do any better than quote comments reported in the Free Press on Saturday, March 11. “If you can’t put it on a site with an aging, rotting, rusting Cold War radar station with a road that already goes to the top of the mountain, this recommendation clearly represents an argument that would say no wind anywhere where there’s a wind resource in Vermont.” (James Moore of VPIRG) House approves Election Day registration in 2008 Burlington Free Press 3/18/06 Stowe Town Clerk Alison Kaiser sat on a bench at the back of the House chamber for at least 20 hours over two days hoping lawmakers would put the brakes on a bill that would permit Vermonters to register to vote on Election Day. Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, was another spectator to the hours of debate on the bill and he departed disappointed. He preferred the Senate version. "The whole point of this is to get more people to participate in our democracy," Burns said. "The effort that is being put into maintaining an unnecessary barrier to voting is astonishing." Wind Power Issue Stirs Up Controversy The Caledonian Record 3/1/06 The issue of wind power has not died down in the Northeast Kingdom - at the very least not in Sutton. ... Tyler Edgar, a member of Clean Air Vermont and an employee of Vermont Public Interest Research Group, moderated the forum and as she read questions from the cards was interrupted a number of times.
Justices grill Sorrell on campaign limits Times Argus/Rutland Herald 3/1/06 The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments about Vermont's candidate spending limits in a case that could challenge the court's nearly 30-year assertion that such limits are an unconstitutional infringement on free speech. ... "In this case, the Supreme Court faces an extraordinary opportunity," said Stuart Comstock-Gay, executive director of the National Voting Rights Institute, a Boston-based advocacy group representing several organizations in favor of Vermont's law, including the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. Attorney general relishes his day in court Times Argus/Rutland Herald 3/1/06 The smile on William Sorrell's face as he bounded down the marble steps outside the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday morning was as wide as it was infectious. ... Advocates on both sides of the case also were there. Mary Hahn Beerworth of the Vermont Right-to-Life Committee — one of the groups that sued to block the law — watched the proceedings, as did Paul Burns, the executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, which supports the law. Campaign Finance Cases Weighed The Washington Post 3/1/06 The Supreme Court returned to the battle over campaign finance yesterday, hearing oral argument on a Vermont law that sharply limits how much money state candidates can raise and spend. ... Alito remained mostly quiet during the one-hour hearing. His only question suggested that he was considering the effects of a possible ruling that would uphold the contribution limits but not the spending limits. "Could candidates run effective campaigns" if the court did that? he asked Brenda Wright, an attorney for the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, which supports the law. That would be possible, Wright replied.
Supreme Court wrestles with Vermont limits on campaign spending Associated Press 2/28/06 Supreme Court justices on Tuesday questioned whether a Vermont law that limits how much money can be spent on political campaigns unfairly curtails a candidate's ability to speak freely to voters. ... Paul Burns, executive director of Vermont Public Interest Research Group, which backed the law, said he hoped the state could make issues, not money, paramount in elections. "We want the freedom to make sure that Vermont has the cleanest and fairest elections of any place in this country," said Burns outside the court. "We believe simply that elections should be decided on the merits of the candidates' ideas and not on the size of the candidates' wallets." Vermont's campaign finance law goes to High Court Burlington Free Press 2/27/06 A sheet of paper with William Sorrell's opening and closing statements will be tucked into the front cover of a notebook as he walks into the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday morning. He was warned -- that's one piece of paper you don't want to lose in the shuffle. ... "The court hasn't really considered a state law that limits spending of candidates on elections for 30 years," said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, who will be in the audience rooting for Sorrell on Tuesday. "Regardless of what the court says, it's pretty substantial." House OKs energy bill, kills hold on wind power Times Argus/Rutland Herald 2/25/06 The House gave final approval Friday to an energy bill that clears the way for an expanded home-generated power program. The House gave preliminary approval Thursday to an energy bill that clears the way for an expanded home-generated power program. ...
James Moore, an energy advocate for Vermont Public Interest Research Group, agreed that more should be done. Sugarmaker concerned about global warming Vermont Public Radio 2/18/06 This winter, some sugar makers in Vermont began tapping their trees in January. Vermonters concerned about warming climate Times Argus/Rutland Herald 2/18/06 The possibility that global warming will gradually dry up the flow of maple sap worries Burr Morse, whose family members have been syrup makers for almost as many generations as they have been Vermonters, he said Friday. My Turn: Vermont must deal with air pollution Burlington Free Press 2/15/06 We all know not to breathe in the exhaust of a soot-belching diesel truck, but did you know that an hour of mowing your lawn produces noxious fumes equivalent to driving a car more than 50 miles? Or that California is the only state allowed to take action to clean up air pollution from these dirty little engines and that other states can clean up car pollution only after California has taken action? House panel offers revised health reform plan Burlington Free Press 2/11/06 The House Health Committee is poised to vote next week on its second plan to reform health care with a bill that would provide coverage for the uninsured and retool the way chronic diseases are treated. The power brokers: Invitation-only group undertakes state energy planning The Vermont Guardian 2/10/06 Two dozen energy experts and observers have been meeting quietly since September to forge a long-term plan for the state, but critics say the little-known process excludes citizen and environmental concerns, and once again marginalizes those who live where most of the state’s power is produced. ... In a letter to Public Service Commissioner David O’Brien, [VPIRG Executive Director Paul] Burns complained that “a group of ‘the usual suspects’ unwilling to challenge the status quo” would be unlikely to produce innovative and creative responses. Appliance efficiency bill gets support from House Times Argus/Rutland Herald 2/8/06 A bill guaranteeing that only energy-efficient versions of certain appliances are sold in Vermont won preliminary approval Tuesday from the House, despite questions about how the legislation will be enforced. ... "This bill will save Vermonters about $130 million on their energy bills by 2020," said James Moore, energy advocate for [VPIRG]. State, local officials benefit from system taxpayers can't afford Times Argus/Rutland Herald 2/5/06 Mention health care and taxes in the same sentence and most Vermonters get a queasy feeling in the pit of their stomachs. But while the thought of funding health care through our taxes may make some feel uncomfortable, the dirty little secret is that we already pay for a good chunk of health care through our taxes – and it's not just our federal and state income taxes, but our property levies as well. Appliance efficiency a win-win concept Burlington Free Press 2/3/06 In a January where 50-degree days, rain and sun are more typical than snow, it is important that Vermonters reduce our fuel consumption and limit our greenhouse gas emissions. The appliance efficiency bill (H 253) is one way we can do a lot of good in a little time. Energy future in our hands Times Argus/Rutland Herald 2/2/06 With rising oil costs, fluctuating gas prices and the governor still unwilling to work for renewable energy in Vermont, it becomes increasingly apparent that efficiency and conservation are essential if we want to have any control over our energy future. Advocates: GMO label law not enforced Times Argus/Rutland Herald 2/2/06 Advocates and some legislators who want clear labeling of genetically engineered seeds claim the state is not adhering to the intent of a labeling law passed by the Legislature in 2004. The state Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets has required no changes in labeling since the law went into effect, contending that existing language describing seed traits is enough to let farmers know when they are buying genetically modified products. The Vermont Public Interest Research Group is using petitions and correspondence with agency Secretary Stephen Kerr to pressure him to initiate a legislative rulemaking process. ... "To implement the law you need a clear label - just describing the seeds traits is not enough. If it doesn't say 'genetically engineered' it doesn't mean 'genetically engineered,'" [Drew Hudson, VPIRG field Director] said . Mayors urge state health care reform Times Argus/Rutland Herald, Burlington Free Press, the Boston Globe, WCAX 2/1/06 Mayors of Vermont's cities urged the Legislature on Tuesday to adopt meaningful health care reform that they said would reduce some of the pressures on their municipal budgets, although they declined to offer a specific solution. The chief executives of Burlington, Barre and Montpelier delivered the plea at a Statehouse news conference, and messages were delivered on behalf of the Vergennes and St. Albans mayors, also.
Panel pushes to produce efficiency standards Burlington Free Press 1/28/06 Vermonters would save money on their fuel and electric bills and the state would see a 7-megawatt reduction in electric consumption as a result of tough energy efficiency standards recommended Friday by the House Natural Resources Committee. ...
"There are very real consequences -- high energy prices and potentiality reliability problems in the future -- because we waste so much energy," said James Moore of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. Other issues before the Legislature Times Argus/Rutland Herald 1/1/06 Other issues are sure to come up before the final gavel falls on the 68th biennium. ... Vermonters will be able to register to vote on the same day elections are held if the House and Senate can come to terms on a bill that languished during the closing days of the 2005 Legislature .... Same-day registration is supported by Democratic Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group and the nonpartisan League of Women Voters. House slows adoption of same-day voting registration Times Argus/Rutland Herald 1/4/06 Vermont town clerks Tuesday successfully lobbied House leaders to postpone debate regarding same-day voter registration until after March Town Meeting. ... "There is a time when justice delayed can become justice denied," said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, which supports same-day registration. "I hope this does not become that kind of situation." New coalition attacks Douglas on health care reform proposal Times Argus/Rutland Herald 1/11/06 A new coalition of liberal-leaning organizations came out swinging on health care reform Tuesday and blasted the Republican governor for proposing low-cost but high-deductible insurance policies as a way to cover the state's 65,000 uninsured. Governor's budget address will dominate legislative week The Boston Globe 1/16/06 Gov. James Douglas' annual budget address will dominate attention at the Statehouse this week, but a wide range of issues also are on the agendas of committees in both the House and Senate. ... That speech will be important to creating the state budget, but other committees will be working on the other priorities of the session. The House Natural Resources Committee, for example, plans to tackle efficiency standards for a variety of appliance, including industrial and commercial light fixtures, residential furnaces and boilers, and certain industrial transformers. The Vermont Public Interest Research Group says the standards would save the state $135 million, "money that would stay in the Vermont economy and not flow to an out-of-state power generator." Bills would broaden bottle laws Times Argus/Rutland Herald 1/4/06 Each May, John Kennedy volunteers in his hometown of Pittsfield to clean up roadside debris as part of Green Up Day. ... Legislation has been proposed to help keep bottles and cans off the roadsides and out of landfills by increasing deposit fees from 5 cents to 10 cents or more, and to broaden the kinds of containers accepted by redemption centers to include plastic water, juice, iced tea and sports drink containers, which now make up about a quarter of the beverage market. ... Vermont's return rate is estimated at 85 percent. Paul Burns, executive director of Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said an expanded bill would capture more recycling and discourage littering. Clean Sweep 7-Days 1/25/06 Clad in hockey gear and down jackets, a team-sized contingent of Middlebury College students arrived at the Statehouse on Monday to present Governor Jim Douglas with a "Golden Broom." Why? To "challenge him to do more to combat global warming," says Jamie Henn, a history major and one of the event's organizers. ... According to the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, snowfall in Vermont has decreased by 15 percent since the 1950s. And everyone is affected, says Henn, not just broomball players.
News and Press Coverage about VPIRG Issues and Activities from 2005 |
