Public Policy: Energy, Transportation & Telecommunications

When making decisions about energy and transportation, we also need to think about the long-term health and welfare of our society and our environment.  Ultimate success requires that we:

• move away from a carbon-fueled energy and transportation economy,
  
• move toward renewable and local sources of energy,
  
• take aggressive action regarding climate change, and
  
• commit to being the first climate-neutral state in the country. 

Current Action

During the summer and fall of 2008, the VBSR Energy Supply Team will be taking up the issue of Vermont’s Future Energy Supply- The Role of Nuclear Energy and Vermont Yankee.  The team will be formulating recommendations for consideration by the Public Policy Committee and ultimately the VBSR Board.  The next committee meeting will be on Friday, October 10th, 9:00 a.m, in Burlington.

September 8th 2008 Meeting Summary

August 15th 2008 Meeting Summary

July 25, 2008 Meeting Summary

July 25th 2008 meeting agenda and committee charge. 

 Legislative Activity

During the 2008 Legislative Session, VBSR worked in support of  bold policy action to promote energy conservation and efficiency, and the development of renewable energy.  Details on energy related legislation are contained in our 2008 end of session report. The 2007 VBSR ENergy, Transportation and Environment Action Team recommendations, as adopted by the VBSR Board and VBSR's 2007 Energy and Transportation Policy guided our 2008 advocacy.  See below for related VBSR policy positions and testimony and the  2007 VBSR energy page for additional information related to the 2007 veto over-ride session.     

For More Information

 Rocky Mountain Institute Article "Forget Nuclear" 

Vermont Statute re: Public Engagement Process for Nuclear Power Facility 

MIT Study re: Nuclear Energy 

Clean Energy Development Fund- April 2008 Awards

Rueters Article re: TransCanada's Maine Wind Farm Wins State Approval 

Burlington Free Press-My Turn.   Yankee: Accident Waiting to Happen

Green Mountain Power Energy Plan

The Case For and Against Nuclear Power- Wall Street Journal

Vermont Governor's Commission on Climate Change-Final Report

Vermont Department of Public Service- 2008 Draft Energy Plan

Efficiency VermoNT

Renewable Energy Vermont

VPIRG- A Decade of Change ReporT

Apollo Alliance

Vermont Clean Cities Coalition

The Center for Sustainable Transportation

Vermont Peak Oil

Policy Action on Climate--Feed-in tariff laws

Energy, Transportation & Telecommunications Position Papers