This Friday, across the planet and across Vermont, young people will be taking a stand, calling for long-overdue action to combat the growing climate crisis. As organizations who have long pushed for the State of Vermont to do its part on global warming, we honor, support and celebrate the courageous voices of youth who are […]
Now that the Governor has officially signed – or vetoed – VCV’s priority environmental bills, we wanted to share an update on where we landed. A number of notable environmental bills passed the Legislature and were signed by the Governor this year, including: Better protections for children from toxic chemicals in kids’ products; A new requirement to […]
Late yesterday, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed into law a bill (S.55) that he had previously blocked as both governor and lieutenant governor in its earlier iterations. The law is designed to better protect children from toxic chemicals in products that are made specifically for kids. The new law makes important changes to the Chemicals […]
Today Governor Scott vetoed a bill that would have helped victims of toxic contamination by allowing Vermonters to seek medical monitoring expenses from the polluter that released toxic chemicals. The bill also would have authorized the State of Vermont to sue companies that manufacture chemicals that contaminate the environment and cause harm to our air, land, […]
Bennington, VT — Today, lawmakers and Bennington residents impacted by toxic PFAS contamination called on Governor Phil Scott to sign legislation (S.37) to help Vermonters access medical monitoring for diseases linked to toxic exposure. View the video footage of the press conference here. S.37 holds polluters accountable for the harm caused by toxic chemical releases. […]
Montpelier, VT – Vermont legislators have raised the bar when it comes to regulating the scourge of single-use plastics, advocates say. A bill (S.113) with overwhelming legislative support was sent to Gov. Phil Scott today. It takes aim at plastic bags, straws, drink stirrers and expanded polystyrene. “Single-use plastics like bags, cups, containers and straws […]
Today, the Vermont Senate voted to help Vermonters exposed to toxic chemicals by approving legislation, S.37. This bill holds polluters accountable for medical monitoring costs that are due to toxic exposure. This bill would allow a Vermonter with high levels of a toxic chemical in their body, which is found be the fault of an […]
It’s been a busy week at the State House, with some exciting progress on our priorities. The Legislature will be back next week, aiming to wrap up their business for the year. Here are a few highlights: The House voted in strong support of a bill to help Vermonters impacted by toxic contamination to access […]
Contact: Jon Groveman, Vermont Natural Resources Council, jgroveman@vnrc.org, 802-249-7736 Lauren Hierl, Vermont Conservation Voters, (860) 670-2629, lhierl@vermontconservationvoters.org Montpelier, VT – Today, the Vermont House voted to protect Vermont families by supporting two bills – one to hold toxic polluters accountable (S.37) and another to reduce our children’s exposure to toxic chemicals in children’s products (S.55). […]
As you can probably tell from the action alerts this week, there was a lot of important activity on our priority environmental bills at the State House! Here are a few brief highlights: The House voted in strong support of new, dedicated clean water funding The House voted in strong support of a bill to […]
The Vermont House of Representatives has taken a major step towards establishing long-term funding for clean water. Long-term water funding is required by the Vermont Clean Water Act, Act 64 of 2015, and is needed to restore water quality in Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog, which are under orders issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), […]
The legislative session is starting to wind down, which means we need to work harder than ever to ensure our environmental priorities make it over the finish line! A lot of our bills are still in play — here are a few quick highlights from this week: hundreds of young people came together for the […]
The Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV), in partnership with the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), has an exciting opportunity for an outgoing person who wants to have a significant impact on the future of Vermont. We are looking for a motivated person to help advance policy initiatives related to protecting Vermont’s natural resources, the health of […]
Montpelier, VT – Today, the Vermont Senate passed a bill (S.37) that helps Vermonters who have been harmed by toxic chemical contamination and face increased medical expenses, reduced property value, and other harms as a result of chemical contamination. Last year, the Senate passed a similar bill and part of the bill was passed by […]
Many VCV priority bills remain in play at the State House. We’re getting closer to the “crossover” deadline when bills need to pass through either the House or Senate to stay alive for this year. We continue advocating for action on our top goals — including long-term clean water funding, climate action, better protections from […]
This week at the Vermont State House, testimony continued on numerous environmental initiatives. We continued advocating for our top goals this year — including long-term clean water funding, climate action, better protections from toxic chemicals, and modernizing Act 250. VCV released the 2019 Environmental Common Agenda at the Vermont State House this week. Click here to read the […]
As we wrap up the fourth week of the legislative session, testimony continues and bills are starting to take shape. We continue to educate lawmakers about our top goals for the year — including long-term clean water funding, climate action, better protections from toxic chemicals, and modernizing Act 250. Catch up with our Legislative Update from […]
It’s the third week of the legislative session. Committees are digging in on testimony about priority issues. We continue to educate lawmakers about our top goals for the year — including long-term clean water funding, climate action, better protections from toxic chemicals, and modernizing Act 250. Catch up with our Legislative Update from last week, and […]
Coalition of 25 Diverse Groups Unveils Shared Priorities and Recommendations for Climate Action in 2019
We’re in the second week of the legislative session. Committees are getting up to speed on the issues they’ll be wrestling with, and priorities are being set. We’re working hard to educate lawmakers about our priorities for the year — including clean water funding, climate action, better protections from toxic chemicals, and modernizing Act 250. Catch […]
The 2019 Vermont legislative session kicked off this week. The new legislators and statewide officers have been sworn in. Committees have been assigned. And we’re working hard to connect with lawmakers and share our priorities for the year – including clean water funding, climate action, better protections from toxic chemicals, and modernizing Act 250. With a strong group of returning […]
The 2019 Vermont legislative session gets underway this week, and we wanted to give you a preview of some of the top environmental issues we will be advocating for this year. These include legislation related to clean water, climate action, better protections from toxic chemicals, and modernizing Act 250. With a strong group of returning and new […]
We have a plan for taking action on climate in 2018-19. Find it here. Help us make sure Vermont takes these steps forward. Ask your lawmakers to #ActOnClimateVT! Sign up to receive the VNRC/VCV Climate Dispatch, our weekly Facebook Live video update, in your inbox. It’s a great way to stay informed about legislative action – […]
Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) is pleased to announce that in its priority electoral races, pro-environment candidates won 28 out of 33 hotly contested seats in the 2018 elections. Further, an overwhelming majority of Vermont Conservation Voters-endorsed candidates won their races, including 5 statewide officers, 20 state senators, and 93 state representatives. “On Election Day, Vermonters […]
Election Day is 2 weeks away! Are you ready? Here are all the ways you can get involved in VCV’s election efforts, from preparing at home to helping us get out the word. Study up: Who should you vote for? Last week, we shared our list of 2018 pro-environment legislative candidate endorsements, which you can review by clicking […]
Today, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) released its complete slate of pro-environment endorsements for candidates running for the Vermont State Legislature. Find out which local candidates were endorsed at: VermontConservationVoters.com/elections. “VCV is pleased to endorse so many candidates for the Vermont House and Senate who understand that a healthy environment is essential to a healthy economy and good quality of life,” said […]
Today, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) announced its endorsement of Vermont Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman for re-election. In his term as Lieutenant Governor, and during his nearly 20-year tenure in the Vermont House and Senate, David has demonstrated consistent leadership on environmental issues and a range of progressive policies. He has strongly advocated for renewable energy […]
Today, the Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) Board of Directors announced its endorsement of Christine Hallquist for Governor, following a candidate interview and detailed review of Hallquist’s positions on VCV’s priority environmental issues. Governor Phil Scott did not participate in VCV’s 2018 candidate interview process, despite being invited. However, his long record on environmental issues as […]
Today, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) announced its endorsement of Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce for re-election. Treasurer Pearce has been a staunch advocate for investing in clean water, climate resilience, and energy improvements for Vermont’s changing infrastructure. In 2016, Treasurer Pearce conducted a keystone study on long-term funding for clean water, emphasizing the ways our economy […]
Today, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) announced its endorsement of Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan for re-election. “Attorney General Donovan has demonstrated strong leadership on environmental issues since taking office in 2017, and VCV is confident that he will continue to work to hold polluters accountable and ensure a healthy environment for all Vermonters,” said Lauren […]
Montpelier – The Vermont House gave final approval yesterday to a bill (S.103) that better protects children against dangerous toxic chemicals in children’s products and requires new drinking water wells to be tested for certain harmful contaminants. The bill was introduced last year, following the discovery of the cancer-causing chemical PFOA in drinking water in Bennington County, and elsewhere around the state. S.103 now […]
Montpelier, VT – In the absence of federal leadership, and building on a string of clean energy policy wins in states across the nation, Vermont Conservation Voters is joining with the national League of Conservation Voters and other state affiliates in the Conservation Voter Movement to double down on the progress that can be made […]
Montpelier, VT – Today, the Vermont Senate passed a bill (S.197) that helps Vermonters who have been harmed by toxic chemical contamination and face increased medical expenses, reduced property value, and other harms as a result of the chemical contamination. Current law is tipped significantly to favor corporations who can attempt to avoid responsibility […]
I would like to express my appreciation to Senators Dick Sears and Brian Campion for introducing and working for passage of legislation (S.197) that would provide legal recourse for Vermonters directly affected by the release of toxic contaminants into the environment. Our experience with perflourooctonaic acid (PFOA) contamination of domestic water supplies and the […]
This Town Meeting Week, we’re at the mid-point of the 2018 legislative session, and want to provide an update on where top priority VCV legislation stands: CLEAN WATER: #CleanWaterVT A bill related to how to fund long-term clean up of state waters (S.260) has passed through the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Finance committees. We […]
Montpelier, Vermont – Vermont Conservation Voters today released the Vermont delegation’s scores on the League of Conservation Voters’ (LCV) 2017 National Environmental Scorecard. The Scorecard is the primary yardstick for evaluating the environmental records of every member of Congress, and is available online at scorecard.lcv.org. “As the Trump administration launched attack after attack on […]
Five Ways You Can Make Your Voice Heard in Support of Clean Water: Contact your legislators via email, a handwritten note, or give them a quick call. Ask them to support long-term clean water funding, and share why you care about clean water. Find your legislators’ contact information at this link: https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/search/2018 Ask your friends to contact their lawmakers about […]
In the fifth week of the legislative session, lawmakers are continuing to take testimony and we’re starting to see some progress on several issues we are prioritizing. Many environmental initiatives continue to receive attention – and we continue to advocate for enacting long-term clean water funding, toxic chemical reforms, climate action, and healthy forests. CLEAN WATER: #CleanWaterVT […]
Focus on growing jobs, helping all participate in the clean energy transformation Montpelier, VT – Sen. Chris Pearson, Rep. Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Rep. David Deen, and advocates from the Energy Independent Vermont Coalition today announced Vermont’s participation in the Carbon Costs Coalition. This multi-state coalition is focused on reducing carbon emissions, ensuring equity in policy proposals, […]
We can no longer take clean water for granted. Pollution from farms, development, and wastewater has impaired many of our waterways, some of which no longer meet our basic water quality standards. Without adequate short and long-term funding, pollution will continue to undermine our public health, economic vitality, and cultural identity. But you can help […]
Recently, Facebook made changes to their News Feed that makes it more challenging for our friends and members to see our posts on Facebook. We frequently post articles here on our website, but also share original content and urgent updates on Facebook. If you’d like to keep seeing VCV posts, stories, events, and videos in […]
In the fourth week of the legislative session, lawmakers have been taking testimony and started voting on several bills we’re following. Environmental initiatives remain front and center – and we continue to work to build support for enacting clean water funding, toxic chemical reforms, climate action, and healthy forests. CLEAN WATER: #CleanWaterVT This week, the […]
On Jan. 24, 2018, Vermont Conservation Voters and partners released the 2018 Vermont Environmental Common Agenda of legislative priorities at a reception in the Cedar Creek room of the Vermont State House. The Common Agenda is collectively shaped by a range of environmental organizations across Vermont working on initiatives affecting our shared natural resources, the […]
New policy will harm children’s health by delaying disclosure of toxics For Immediate Release (January 22, 2018) [Burlington, VT] — Parents, advocates, and concerned residents spoke out today in downtown Burlington to demand that Governor Scott stop delaying the disclosure of toxic chemicals in children’s products. The Scott Administration is changing current policy to […]
“The solutions Governor Scott proposed in his budget address for climate change and clean water fall dramatically short of what we need to take on the challenges Vermont faces,” said Lauren Hierl, Vermont Conservation Voters Political Director. “Retrofitting a handful of wood stoves, spending Volkswagen settlement money, and exploring how to package and sell our […]
In the third week of the legislative session, lawmakers have been taking testimony and started voting on several bills we’re following. Environmental initiatives remain front and center – and we continue to work to build support for enacting clean water funding, toxic chemical reforms, climate action, and healthy forests. CLEAN WATER: #CleanWaterVT This week, the Senate […]
Business, municipal, and environmental leaders came together today to express shared support for long-term clean water funding via a parcel fee, and the establishment of a Clean Water Authority to collect and distribute those funds to on-the-ground clean water projects. In a letter to the legislature, the groups voiced their strong support for core provisions […]
In the second week of the legislative session, legislators continue to set their priorities for the year. We already know that environmental initiatives will be in the forefront. VCV is continuing to work to ensure that clean water funding, toxic chemical reforms, climate action, and healthy forests are high on legislator’s priority lists. CLEAN WATER: […]
In his State of the State speech last week, Governor Phil Scott said that “Vermonters expect us to follow through on our promises.” And we do. Whether it’s providing long-term, stable funding for clean water, taking substantial action on climate, protecting Vermont families from toxic chemicals, or keeping the lungs of our state – our […]
It’s a new year and the start of the 2018 legislative session. This week, legislators are setting priorities for the year. Some arereporting it will be a contentious year, but one thing is already clear: environmental initiatives will be front and center. VCV is working to ensure that clean water funding, toxic chemical reforms, climate […]
From Lauren Hierl, VCV Political Director I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year! This week, legislators return to the State House for the 2018 legislative session. Since 1982, VCV has advocated for sound environmental and conservation policies, while working to elect pro-environment candidates to office. This year will be no […]
As 2017 comes to a close, I wanted to share with you a few reflections and resolutions for the new year. This past year has been hard. We’ve seen unprecedented rollbacks of protections for our water, air, and public lands, and proposals to decimate funding for critical programs. On top of the active dismantling of our nation’s […]
Submit comments to the Scott administration here. To the surprise of many, a recent Agency of Natural Resources report showed that Vermont’s statewide greenhouse gas pollution emissions are rising. Given all the impressive work we’ve done developing clean local renewable wind and solar energy, and the well-documented success of our cutting-edge energy efficiency programs, how […]
For Immediate Release: December 8, 2017 Contact: Paul Burns, VPIRG, 802-793-1985 Lauren Hierl, VCV, 860-670-2629 Scott administration rule change favors industry over kids Montpelier – In a surprise move late Thursday, the administration of Gov. Phil Scott proposed a significant change in policy for businesses that sell children’s products in Vermont that contain at least one of 66 […]
Across the country, people like you are stepping up and saying: enough is enough. We deserve better protections from toxic chemicals in our drinking water and products in our home. In Vermont, we’re lucky to have a broad base of support for toxic reform legislation (S.103) – including the Professional Firefighters of Vermont (PFFV). Watch […]
From Lauren Hierl, VCV Political Director If you’re like me, you probably dread opening up the latest newspaper or your favorite online news outlet. It’s hard to read about the most recent federal assault on clean air, or climate action, or undermining vulnerable communities’ access to clean water. At the same time, we’re seeing the […]
As voters in many parts of the country head to the polls today, we will be anxiously awaiting the results – and what those results will mean for the future of our country. A strong democracy depends on engaged citizens who vote, and who are willing to advocate for the wellbeing of their communities and our […]
Our partners the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), a non-profit environmental advocacy organization founded in 1963, is seeking a part-time Office Associate to join our team in Montpelier. This half-time position will provide general office support with broad duties including coordinating travel and meeting arrangements, assisting with membership appeals, copying and filing and other assignments as needed. They […]
From Lauren Hierl, Vermont Conservation Voters’ political director The health of our children is at stake. That may sound hyperbolic, but the evidence is clear – despite many advancements in the field of children’s environmental health, today’s children face an epidemic of illness and chronic diseases linked to environmental exposures and our changing climate. As […]
Montpelier – Governor Phil Scott, along with numerous elected officials across the country, declared October 12th Children’s Environmental Health Day. Environmental health organizations, medical professionals, business leaders, and members of the public gathered today at the Vermont State House to highlight the day, and to call for stronger protections for Vermont children from harmful chemicals. […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Clean Water Will Take New Investments and More Protective Regulations By Lauren Hierl, Political Director, Vermont Conservation Voters Governor Scott and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources have declared this “Clean Water Week” in Vermont. While I believe it is important to highlight the value of clean water, we have a lot of work to do to achieve clean water for all […]
Montpelier, VT – Today, Vermont Conservation Voters called on Governor Scott to sign the budget that passed both the Vermont House and Senate with overwhelming support earlier this year. VCV is concerned about a veto’s potential negative impacts on environmental and climate action efforts, as well as the troubling precedent of vetoing a budget over a […]
Please join us for Clean Water Day on Wednesday, March 29th at the Vermont State House. We are bringing people together from across the state to celebrate our waters, and to call on our lawmakers to invest in this invaluable resource. RSVP for Clean Water Day! At 8:30 a.m. we will start gathering at the Pavilion […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 23, 2017 Contact: Lauren Hierl, Vermont Conservation Voters, lhierl@vermontconservationvoters.org Vermont Conservation Voters Announces Federal Delegation Scores from LCV’s 2016 National Environmental Scorecard Vermont delegation once again among the greenest in the country, beating back ongoing assaults on safeguards for air, water, climate, and public health Montpelier, Vermont – Vermont Conservation Voters today […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2017 Contact: Lauren Hierl, Vermont Conservation Voters, lhierl@vermontconservationvoters.org Shaina Kasper, Toxics Action Center, shaina@toxicsaction.org Lawmakers Respond to PFOA Contamination by Working to Better Safeguard Public from Toxic Chemical Exposure On the one-year anniversary of the discovery of PFOA contamination in private drinking water supplies in Bennington, lawmakers are working […]
News Release — Vermont Conservation Voters February 3, 2017 Contact: Lauren Hierl, Vermont Conservation Voters Political Director, lhierl@vermontconservationvoters.org Montpelier, VT – State Senator Brian Campion and Representative Amy Sheldon received the Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) Environmental Rising Star Award at a reception at the Vermont State House this week. Both legislators were awarded this honor […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 31, 2017 Contact: Lauren Hierl, Vermont Conservation Voters Political Director, lhierl@vermontconservationvoters.org Vermont Conservation Voters to Release Environmental Common Agenda of 2017 Legislative Priorities VCV and partners to release guide of top environmental priorities and proposed legislative solutions for lawmakers in 2017 Montpelier, VT – Today, Vermont Conservation Voters will release its […]
Friends, As we wrap our heads around the implications of the national election results for our environment and our country, I wanted to take a moment to update you on the results of Vermont’s elections, and where we go from here. At the federal level, we continue to have a strong pro-environment delegation, with Senator […]
At times, this election season has seemed like it would never end – but we’re almost there, and now is the most important part! Tomorrow is Election Day, and voter turnout is expected to be high, so make sure you have your plan in place to vote. Depending on where you live, polls across Vermont […]
By Bill McKibben I’ve been in Pennsylvania and Ohio the last few weeks, following Bernie’s advice by giving speeches and registering young voters in an effort to beat Donald Trump. Thinking about national politics all day has been toxic—by now it’s clear that America is not actually having a political campaign where we think about […]
Digital Scorecard gives voters easy access to legislators’ voting records on climate change, water quality, and other key environmental issues addressed by the 2015-2016 Legislature Montpelier, VT – Today, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) released a new, interactive 2016 Environmental Scorecard. The digital Scorecard is a tool developed by VCV to help Vermonters track legislators’ voting records on key […]
Montpelier, VT – Today, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) released its complete slate of pro-environment endorsements for candidates running for the Vermont State Legislature. The incumbent candidates endorsed by VCV have strong environmental voting records, both in the 2015-2016 legislative session and throughout their tenure as elected officials. VCV tracks environmental voting records in its Environmental Scorecard. A […]
Vermont Conservation Voters Endorses TJ Donovan, Jim Condos, and Doug Hoffer Montpelier, VT – Today, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) announced its endorsement of TJ Donovan for Attorney General, Jim Condos for Secretary of State, and Doug Hoffer for Auditor. “Vermont Conservation Voters is pleased to endorse a slate of statewide candidates with strong environmental values, […]
Montpelier, VT – Vermont Conservation Voters today announced its endorsement of David Zuckerman for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. “David Zuckerman has been a long-time champion working to protect Vermont’s air, water and land,” said Lauren Hierl, Political Director for Vermont Conservation Voters. “In his years serving in both the Vermont House and Senate, he advocated […]
Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) is pleased to announce its endorsement of Sue Minter for Governor of Vermont. Of the two major gubernatorial candidates, Minter has the strongest position on climate change and has a long track record of safeguarding Vermont’s natural resources and building strong communities. The decision to endorse Minter was unanimously supported by […]
VCV-endorsed candidates won big yesterday. Sue Minter secured the democratic nomination for Governor, and 14 out of 15 House and Senate candidates endorsed by VCV won their primary races. In the high-profile Governor’s race, Vermont Conservation Voters played a key role in Sue Minter’s strong performance yesterday. We endorsed her candidacy as the clean energy […]
Check out our video supporting Sue Minter for Governor.
If you need any help finding your polling place, click here to find everything you need – polling locations, hours, and so on. VCV has endorsed a short initial list of pro-environment candidates: Sue Minter as Democratic Nominee for Governor SENATE Christopher Pearson (Chittenden) Ginny Lyons (Chittenden) Michael Sirotkin (Chittenden) Tim Ashe (Chittenden) Dawn Ellis […]
Contact: Lauren Hierl, Political Director, Vermont Conservation Voters, lauren@vermontconservationvoters.org Montpelier, VT – Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) announced its endorsement of Sue Minter for Democratic nominee for Governor of Vermont. The decision to endorse Minter was unanimously supported by VCV’s Board of Directors. The endorsement marks a reversal of an initial decision to not endorse a candidate […]
Read the full letter here: Letter on VPIC Divestment Subcommittee
Montpelier, VT – Today, leading environmental groups came together to release the 2016 Environmental Common Agenda of legislative priorities for 2016. Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) developed the Environmental Common Agenda, which represents the priorities of a range of organizations across Vermont working on matters affecting our shared natural resources, the character of our communities, and the health of Vermonters. In addition to VCV, participating groups […]
Today, a key committee approved a rule that will require companies to report to the state if they’re using certain toxic chemicals in children’s products they sell in Vermont. The rule was proposed by the Department of Health, and implements a key provision in the Toxic-Free Families Act (Act 188) enacted in 2014. The rule […]
Montpelier, VT– Vermont’s Congressional delegation received high marks today from the National League of Conservation Voters for their pro-environment voting records in LCV’s 2014 National Environmental Scorecard. The delegation’s voting record stands in sharp contrast to a national trend of anti-environmental voting, particularly in the House of Representatives, according to Lauren Hierl, the political director at the Vermont Conservation […]