Vermont

Climate Matters: Big victories for greener energy in Vermont – Addison Independent

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2024

Climate Matters: Big victories for greener energy in Vermont – Addison Independent

GREG DENNIS

The Legislature last week achieved several milestones on the way to reducing climate pollution — even in the face of Gov. Phil Scott’s best efforts to keep Vermont stuck in the age of fossil fuels.

A greener Renewable Energy Standard — long a goal of 350Vermont and others — passed despite Gov. Scott’s veto. So did a set of improvements to Act 250 that will open some towns and cities to much needed residential development while better protecting the biodiversity of sensitive areas.

In the process, Scott’s anti-environmental vetoes have placed him even to the right of some of his natural allies. More on that below. First, a little background.

It used to be that veto overrides were as rare in Vermont as snowstorms in July. But in Montpelier these past two years, it’s been snowing all summer. Gov. Scott has been lobbing veto snowballs at the General Assembly, and legislators have responded with an avalanche of overrides.

Scott, a Republican in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, has had six vetoes overridden during each of the past two legislative sessions.

This year, the governor even went after the birds and the bees. He vetoed (and was overridden on) a bill banning neonicotinoid pesticides that contribute to the decline of vital pollinators. He declined to sign two bills that became law: VPIRG’s “make big oil pay” bill, and a bill to protect wetlands and floodplains from the more extreme weather of our deteriorating climate.

Now back to Scott’s rightward shift as the climate crisis worsens.

His vetoes of Act 250 changes and the Renewable Energy Standard (RES) came even though traditionally conservative power blocs supported the bills.

The RES, for example, was endorsed by virtually all the state’s utilities, which are normally political allies of the Republican governor. Much of the hard work to improve the RES was accomplished in a working group that included the utilities and was headed by Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury, and Addison County Sen. Chris Bray.

Under the new RES, Vermont is committed to achieving nearly 100% renewable electrical energy by 2030. The law also aims to double the amount of clean energy (mostly solar and wind) produced in the state and regionally. It will mean more green jobs and less burning of dirty oil and gas.

On revisions to Act 250, Scott also found himself to the right of political allies. The bill he vetoed drew support not just from environmental groups but also from the development industry and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. In a statement supporting its passage, the chamber said a portion of the bill was “a top priority for the Vermont business community.”

Perhaps overlooked in all this were two other achievements pushed by 350Vermont and others.

The grassroots group recognized the potential of thermal energy networks to generate cleaner community energy and use it more efficiently. That approach, which avoids the need for burdensome bureaucracy, gained approval this session. So, too, did a study committee to suggest ways to protect lower-income Vermonters from electricity rate hikes.

Vermonters have a lot to celebrate at the end of this biennium. Working as a tighter coalition, advocates pushed the General Assembly to approve substantial climate legislation — and to make those approvals stick during the difficult task of overriding multiple vetoes.

Joan Baez used to sing of “little victories and big defeats.” Too often that’s been the experience for the climate movement even here in the Green Mountain State. This year, though, Vermonters can sing a song of big victories.

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Vermont

Annual Vermont Empty Arms 5k Run and Walk commemorates lost little ones

Published

4 hours ago

June 29, 2024

Press Room

Annual Vermont Empty Arms 5k Run and Walk commemorates lost little ones

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Mothers, fathers and kids running. Saturday morning, rain or shine – to remember their little angels up in the sky.

“I have found that families who are experiencing misscarriage have a lot to connect about, and a lot to share,” said Burlington mom Margaret Talbot.

Margret Talbot is one of the many women running in the Second Annual Empty Arms Vermont 5k Run and Walk at Veterans Memorial Park.

She says she has experienced several miscarriages and she started participating in support groups with the non-profit in 2021.

She now has a son and says she doesn’t know where she would be without the empty arms community.

“I am so grateful for my son, and the journey that brought us to him. I don’t think that I could have gotten to this point without a community and family that has supported my partner and I,” Talbot explained.

Empty Arms Vermont is a fairly new organization aimed to support families whose babies have died through miscarriage, stillbirth, early infant death, or termination for medical reasons.

The event attracted close to 500 people this year. Labor and delivery nurses at the event say this is an important cause. As they see about three miscarriages, stillbirths, or other related cases each month.

“It’s often an invisible loss. So I think sometimes a lot of people who aren’t face to face with it every day don’t know. We are just here to raise awareness and have some fun,” said UVM Labor and Delivery Nurse Anna Garbolski.

Despite some sadness, people say they are having a good time.

“It was really good, a lot of uphill, but that’s okay, we pushed through. All three of us, this is our second year actually, and I have another on the way, so I guess yeah. We have a lot of participation in our family,” said mother Sara Mckenzie.

“It went well, my goal was to run the whole thing. I did, I pretty much jogged, ran the whole way. So I am pretty happy about that, this is only my third 5K,” said mom, Olivia Heroy.

People wrapped up the run with a little ice cream at the end.

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Vermont

Unlawful trespass reported at Vermont State University – Newport Dispatch

Published

11 hours ago

June 29, 2024

Press Room

Unlawful trespass reported at Vermont State University – Newport Dispatch

RANDOLPH — Vermont State Police responded to a report of unlawful trespass at Vermont State University’s Randolph campus on June 28 at 10:56 a.m.

University staff alerted authorities to the presence of an individual who had previously been banned from the property.

Following an investigation, police identified the suspect as Casey F. O’Brien, 24.

Officers confirmed that an active trespass notice against O’Brien was still in effect.

O’Brien was located and issued a citation to appear in Orange County Superior Court – Criminal Division on Aug. 14 at 8:30 a.m. to face charges of unlawful trespass.

The incident occurred on Furnace Street in Randolph Center, where the university campus is located.

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Vermont

Firework Laws in Vermont: What you should know if you plan to light some fireworks at home

Published

18 hours ago

June 29, 2024

Press Room

Firework Laws in Vermont: What you should know if you plan to light some fireworks at home

Fourth of July fireworks safety tips

Have a fun and safe Fourth of July by following these tips

houmatoday.com and dailycomet.com

For many, fireworks are the literal highlight of July 4 celebrations. Ending a day of cook outs, music and summer fun celebrating the birth of our nation with a literal bang.

We all know the hassle of getting to the site early to grab the best seats, wrangling a number of friends and family into the car, and waiting in the summer heat for several hours. Knowing all this, you may wonder, why not just have your own fireworks show in your backyard?

If you’re asking that question, it means it’s time for another July 4 tradition, folks – the annual reminder that fireworks are illegal in the state of Vermont without a permit.

What fireworks are legal in Vermont

Unlike Massachusetts, this is not a complete ban on pyrotechnics. As far as Vermont law is concerned, sparklers and other novelty devices are not considered fireworks and are therefore permitted.

However, sparklers must be less than 14 inches long with no more than 20 grams of pyrotechnic mixture. Novelty sparkling items are limited to snakes, party poppers, glow worms, smoke devices, string poppers, snappers, or drop pops with no more than 0.25 grains of explosive mixture.

Anything over these limits on explosive material are illegal for sale and use in Vermont.

What is the potential penalty for illegal fireworks in Vermont?

According to the Vermont Legislature, Title 20, Chapter 177, sale, possession, or use of fireworks without proper permit is considered a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $100 and up to 30 days in jail.

A permit for a public display is also required by the local chief of police and fire departments of the town or city in which the display is being held.

Applications for a permit must be made at least 15 days in advance of the fireworks display. The use, possession, sale and distribution of fireworks is legal only after the permit is granted.

Holding a firework display without a permit as required is also a misdemeanor but carries a heavier penalty, with a fine of up to $5,000 and up to a year of imprisonment.

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