Protecting the LaPlatte River Marsh Wetlands
At VNRC, we have a long legacy of working to protect, enhance, and restore Vermont’s water resources. In 2017, we submitted a petition to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to designate Class I...
View ArticleForming and Supporting Energy Committees
VNRC founded the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN) in 2005. VECAN is a collaborative of statewide and member-based organizations whose goal is to start and strengthen town energy...
View ArticleGuiding Municipalities to Implement Act 171
VNRC played a key role in advocating for Act 171, which was enacted in 2016 to promote strategies to maintain intact forests in Vermont. It requires municipalities and regional planning commissions to...
View ArticleProtecting the Land and Views at Exit 4
In May 2015, Jesse “Sam” Sammis submitted an application to develop over one million square feet of office, residential, and industrial space on prime farmland at Exit 4 in Randolph, Vermont. Beyond...
View ArticleFighting PFAS and Toxic Contamination
The discovery of toxic PFAS-contaminated drinking water in Bennington County in 2016 highlighted systemic problems with toxic chemicals in Vermont. Since then, VNRC has advocated for policies that...
View ArticleSupporting and Strengthening Act 250
Enacted in 1970, Act 250 is Vermont’s landmark land use law, regulating development by reviewing larger scale projects for their potential impacts on the surrounding area. VNRC has been committed to...
View ArticleRemoving Derelict Dams
VNRC is a founding member of FreeVTRivers, a group of river and fish biologists, anglers, community members, freshwater advocates and conservation organizations who would like to see our rivers...
View ArticleAdvancing the Global Warming Solutions Act
In September 2020 the Vermont Legislature passed the Global Warming Solutions Act (H.688). It will require Vermont to lower its climate-damaging emissions while creating jobs, improving community...
View ArticleFurthering Environmental Justice
In 2022, Vermont enacted the state’s first comprehensive Environmental Justice (EJ) law. The EJ law was a high priority for the environmental community, and is a critical step forward in bringing...
View ArticleRemoving Lead Fixtures from Schools
VNRC was part of a multi-stakeholder effort in 2019 to address the problem of lead contamination in Vermont schools, resulting in a law requiring testing for lead contamination in drinking water in...
View ArticleCommitting to 100% Renewable Energy by 2035
In June 2024, the Vermont Legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto to modernize the Renewable Energy Standard and set Vermont utilities on track to deliver 100% renewable electricity by 2035 at the...
View ArticleMaking Big Oil Pay
The Climate Superfund Act, which became law in 2024, marks a first-in-the-nation effort to hold the world’s largest polluters responsible for the mess they have made. The law is modeled on the federal...
View ArticleImproving Flood Resilience
After the devastating floods of 2023, and climate projections indicating worsening and more frequent future flooding, Vermont lawmakers were compelled to act. The Flood Safety Act (passed in 2024) is...
View ArticleProtecting Pollinators from Harmful Pesticides
Pollinators are crucial to our broader ecosystem health and food security. In 2024, Vermont lawmakers took a significant step to better protect these important keystone species, with the passage of...
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