As the summer starts to wind down, VNRC is gearing up for a busy fall. We are looking forward to inspiring and fun events as well as important public forums  that will help shape a healthy future for Vermont.

This edition of E-News takes us from the courtroom to the cafeteria and from the highway to our community garden. Mark your calendars for VNRC's annual meeting, September 22 in Waitsfield!

Thank you to the thousands of VNRC members and activists who make our work possible! Your support and dedication mean a lot to us – and to Vermont.

QUICK LINKS

Hot Issues

Learn About VNRC

Upcoming Events

Become an Activist

Court Finds Due Process Violation in Wal-Mart Case

The Vermont Supreme Court recently gave a green light for the construction of a new Wal-Mart store in St. Albans. However, the court did rule that the participation of the chair of the St. Albans development review board in local hearings on the proposal violated VNRC’s right to due process because of his strong bias toward Wal-Mart.

“ . . . appellant VNRC could hardly expect a fair and impartial hearing from the DRB chair,” the court wrote in the decision. “We conclude that his participation violated due process.”

Of the court’s finding, Brian Shupe, VNRC’s deputy director said: “When Vermonters – whether they are citizens or business owners who are applying for permits for projects – go before boards and commissions, they expect and deserve to be treated fairly by unbiased members of those commissions. The court recognized that the bias at the local level in this case violated bedrock constitutional protections that Americans and Vermonters expect.”

The ruling as whole, which was handed down August 5, would appear to end a long-running David and Goliath battle between the massive Arkansas-based retailer and a group of citizens who fear that the store will drain commerce away from local, independent businesses in the area, including businesses in downtown St. Albans.  In a prior decision handed down in 1997, the Vermont Supreme Court sided with the citizens and VNRC and rejected a proposal for a Wal-Mart on the same site. 

A "one stop shop" system would make it easier for Vermonters to make energy efficiency improvements in their homes. And if Vermonters took advantage of energy efficiency investments, they could save between $800 and $1,100 a year while living more comfortably.  

Those are two of the messages contained in recent research conducted by the Vermont Law School, Efficiency Vermont, and the Regulatory Assistance Project. The research is included in three reports which were commissioned by the High Meadows Fund.

“When we began this work, we expected homeowners’ biggest barrier would be finding the money to pay the up-front costs of energy efficiency improvements,” said High Meadows Executive Director Gaye Symington. “Instead, we found the biggest barriers are the lack of understanding about the benefits and the multiple steps that trip people up before they get it done.”

VNRC has long supported policies to promote energy efficiency and conservation as a critical first step as we move away from dirty fossil fuels to a clean energy future.

The full reports are available on the High Meadows Fund webpage, here.

Several state, regional and local government bodies are getting together to figure out what to do now that the full build-out of the Chittenden County Circumferential Highway, or "Circ", is effectively dead.

The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, the Vermont Agency of Transportation and the “Circ Communities” of Colchester, Town of Essex, Village of Essex Junction and Williston, have been working to identify projects and planning activities that would help meet the original “purpose and need” of the Circ project without constructing the expensive, sprawl-inducing highway.

To facilitate this process, a Circ Alternatives Task Force has been convened. The task force includes VNRC, representatives from the Circ communities, VTrans, the Chittenden County Transportation Authority, Local Motion, the business community, and the Preservation Trust of Vermont and Conservation Law Foundation. The group will develop a prioritization process for identifying project and planning activies that should move forward in the coming year. Public information sessions will follow in the fall.  Information regarding the work of the task force is available here.   

Vermont’s transportation agenc, VTrans, recently announced a long awaited project to create a safe and accessible pedestrian connection between downtown Montpelier and the National Life complex and adjacent neighborhood.

“VTrans is committed to supporting innovative projects that encourage alternative modes of transportation for Vermonters, and encouraging pedestrian travel is one way that VTrans can help to discourage sprawl, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and encourage a healthy lifestyle,” VTrans said in a press release.

Until now, employees at the National Life complex including state employees at the Natural Resources Board, VTrans, and Agency of Commerce & Community Development, wanting to walk into Montpelier’s downtown had to choose between following a mile long route along the side of Northfield Street, or taking a makeshift path straight down the hill, fondly known as the “Goat Path.”

The new trail will transform this treacherous path into a woodchip covered trail and connect the city’s largest office building and the Northfield Street neighborhood with the downtown area.

Rural Vermont has begun a local food sovereignty campaign with the hopes of passing local food system resolutions next March on Town Meeting Day.  

The Montpelier-based non-profit organization, which is made up of family farmers, neighbors and citizens committed to supporting and cultivating a vital and healthy rural economy and community, is looking for people in towns across the state to start local campaigns on food sovereignty.

The food sovereignty resolutions will declare each community’s dedication to cultivating and supporting their rural history and local food systems by stating their vision to produce, process, sell, and purchase local food.  

Rural Vermont has developed materials to help interested Vermonters with this campaign and is offering support and help throughout the campaign.

For more information, contact Robb Kidd at robb@ruralvermont.org or call 802-223-7222.

Join in on the fun September 22 at one of Vermont’s renowned restaurants – American Flatbread – at the Lareau Farm Inn as VNRC holds its annual meeting, from 5 – 7:30 pm. Entertainment will be by local music talent 440Hertz.

A $20 donation is suggested.

Enjoy Flatbread and beverages, and hear from House Speaker Shap Smith who will discuss Vermont's achievements and opportunities to strengthen the environmental policies that are so vital to the health of our economy, communities and natural resources.

Enter the raffle to win ski passes to Mad River Glen. Honor VNRC’s Citizen of the Year. Approve new board members . . . and do it all in the good company of VNRC staff, members, activists and friends. We appreciate your support.

VNRC is excited to partner with Skirack and their new store Patagonia Burlington for this year's Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival. For the past three years this environmental and adventure-based film fest has been an event you don’t want to miss and our most successful membership event. Join us for Skinny Pancake-catered foods, drinks, a stellar silent auction and a fun and inspiring program of films. 

Here are the details:

When: Thursday, October 20, 5 – 9:00 pm.

Where: The Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington

Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vermont) recently offered an amendment to an appropriations bill that would have banned the use of Styrofoam in House cafeterias. The House voted against Welch’s amendment 234-179.

“Congress should be leading the way in making environmentally sound business decisions,” Welch said. “The decision to replace environmentally-friendly utensils with Styrofoam is a major step backwards. Using Styrofoam is outdated, environmentally harmful and hazardous to people’s health. McDonald’s saw the light 20 years ago and stopped using Styrofoam.”

The harmful effects of Styrofoam are well documented: cancer-causing chemicals are used during its manufacture, it is difficult to recycle and most Styrofoam containers end up in landfills or incinerators where toxic byproducts are released. A 1986 EPA report on solid waste identified the Styrofoam manufacturing process as the 5th largest creator of hazardous waste.

From the Garden to the Kitchen: VNRC’s Veggies Feeding Vermonters

VNRC recently harvested a couple of basketsful of vegetables from our community garden we planted near the office this year. Check out our staff hard at work in a video here.