Global Climate Change

There is no longer a dispute that the earth is warming and that the implications of a changing climate will have far-reaching consequences for the world’s economies, cultures, and quality of life. Anticipated temperature increases of 2 degrees centigrade over the next century, experts say, will be enough to trigger erratic weather patterns, widespread drought, crop failure, and rising sea levels. Impacts on water and food supplies, increased pestilence and disease, and the changing composition of the world’s communities and forests promises to result in serious changes to life as we know it.

This Is It: Push Congress to Pass Comprehensive Climate Bill

There Is No Better Time for a Shift in Energy Policy

The Gulf Coast oil catastrophe is the epitome of what’s wrong with our national energy policy. For many, it’s also become the most prominent and deeply devastating ‘wake-up call’ for kicking our addiction to oil now.

Ironically, the most damaging oil disaster in U.S. history is taking place while Congress finally contemplates comprehensive energy and climate legislation; an effort to cut our dependence on fossil fuels, reduce carbon pollution and transition our country to clean, homegrown power.

Op-Ed: A Perfect Storm for Clean Energy Innovation

How are we going to meet our energy needs, both now and far into the future? Nations, communities and individuals are pondering this question with an increasing sense of urgency. Fortunately a perfect storm is brewing across Vermont ― one that holds promise of a new, green, clean and locally-based renewable energy future for the Green Mountain State. Vermont’s perfect storm has three basic aspects...

Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network

The Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network — VECAN — is a collaborative of statewide nonprofit and membership-based organizations, including VNRC, who's goal is to start and strengthen town energy committees.

VNRC Supports Anti-Idling Efforts

Anti-idling initiatives have been gathering steam across the U.S. - as well as in Vermont - yet the Green Mountain State remains the last New England state without an idling ordinance on the books. In January, VNRC testified in support of H.97 - an anti-idling bill that "has the potential to take Vermont one more small but important step forward to help save energy and meet our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals." Read VNRC's initial testimony on this bill and find out more.

Opinion: The Climate Change Conundrum and the Power of Vermonters

In the November 1, 2009 Sunday edition of the Burlington Free Press VNRC's Energy Program Co-Director Johanna Miller penned an 'I Believe' piece that offers a perspective on the power of people to affect change. Miller points to the growing number of town energy committees - 90 at the time of publishing - as a powerful example of what's possible when people lead.

New Energy Bill Opens Door for Renewable Energy Projects and More

This year, with the help of VNRC and a broad network of organizations, businesses and concerned citizens, the Legislature passed a far-reaching energy bill. If properly enacted, this bill could be the single most powerful mechanism to date to drive the development of community-scale green power projects in Vermont.

An Assessment of ACES - the Federal Climate Bill - by NWF

The National Wildlife Federation, of which VNRC is the state affiliate, compiled a comprehensive analysis of the 'American Clean Energy and Security Act' - the federal climate bill now under consideration in Congress.

Waxman-Markey Draft Climate Bill

On March 31, 2009, United States House Energy and Environment Subcommittee Representatives released their long-awaited climate bill draft. Find out more about this much-needed piece of federal climate legislation and what VNRC's national affiliate - NWF - is saying about it.