Breaking: Feds won’t interfere in VY’s retirement
July 15, 2010
On Wednesday July 14th VPIRG Clean Energy Program Director James Moore met with the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the NRC - the arm of the federal government that regulates nuclear plants) and a number of our allies in the campaign to retire Vermont Yankee, and got some great news.
Chairman Gregory Jaczko said, in essence, that the NRC won’t be interfering with the Vermont legislature’s decision to retire Vermont Yankee on schedule.1
From the get go one of Entergy’s key scare tactics has been the idea that ultimately the feds might step in and force Vermont regulators to allow the plant to continue past its expiration date.. VY’s now-defunct message to Vermonters? Don’t waste your breath – it’s not up to you anyway.
The chairman of the NRC is the top federal official on nuclear plants in the country. The fact is, he just came to Vermont and indicated that he agrees with what VPIRG has been saying all along. We do have rights as a state to look out for our economic wellbeing, our environment and the future we want to leave our kids. The NRC deals only with issues where radiological health and safety are concerned. It now seems very likely that the NRC has no problem with the State Senate’s vote to retire Vermont Yankee in 2012.1
Your legislators aren’t in Montpelier during the summer, and might have missed this. Click here to make sure they know about it.
To read more about the meeting, check out the coverage at the Burlington Free Press:http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100715/NEWS02/7150313/NRC-c...
1 - “Right now, there’s certainly nothing that from the agency’s perspective we see would intrude upon our authority in public health and safety,” Chairman Jaczko. (http://rutlandherald.com/article/20100715/NEWS02/100719965/1003/NEWS02)
Exclusive leaked footage: toxic chemicals plotting
July 12, 2010
Our friends at the SAFER coalition (of which VPIRG is a proud member - www.saferchemicals.org) seem to have stumbled on a top secret meeting of some of the most dangerious chemicals out there. They even caught it on tape - I've put the video below.
The characters you will meet in the video are cartoons, but the plot is ripped straight from the headlines. Enjoy and please share it with your friends, co-workers and family!
Chemicals aren’t sitting still – and neither should we! Bisphenol A in baby bottles, water bottles, and food cans. Formaldehyde in furniture. Phthalates in air fresheners, soft plastics, and fragrances.
Click here to ask Sens. Leahy and Sanders & Rep. Welch to support federal chemical reform.
Scientists once thought these chemicals stayed put in their products, but now we know they leach out of their containers and into our bodies. These common chemicals have not been tested for safety, yet they are found in products we use every day — under your kitchen sink, in your bathrooms and bedrooms.
We've had big wins on toxic chemicals in Vermont recently - getting lead, phthalates, BPA and other chemicals out of a whole host products, but we need reform at the federal level too, so that all families are protected. We need Congress to act now, to make sure the products we reach for, sleep on, and eat from every day aren’t loaded with toxic chemicals. You can help Congress stay strong in the face of chemical industry push-back; but only if you speak out.
VPIRG believes that effective and comprehensive reform of the federal law that governs chemicals in consumer products (TSCA) will not only protect public health; it will also help American companies by spurring innovation and job creation dedicated to making the next generation of safer chemicals and products.
This is our time to make toxic chemicals history! Let’s tell Congress to strengthen and reform the law so that the most dangerous chemicals are taken off the market and that chemicals are safe for use before being added to products.
VY springs another new leak, narrowly avoids emergency shutdown
June 11, 2010
Earlier this week there was yet another new problem at the Vermont Yankee reactor, and this time it was related to the reactor core cooling system, which is critical to reactor safety.1, 2
The new leak was causing the reactor cooling system to lose 1.6 gallons of coolant per minute. It took Entergy nearly six hours to stop the leak and if they had not been able to, the reactor would have gone into automatic shutdown mode.
Entergy has said that it is going to get our legislature to reverse the decision to retire the reactor in 2012. In fact, multiple Senators have already suggested that they are open to changing their vote.
Entergy and their lobbyists are working overtime in this year's election to try and get their way. They will be funnelling money to candidates, going big with ads on TV, and trying to scare Vermonters with lies about their lights going out.
We cannot let this happen. Please don't let Entergy be the only one your legislators hear from this summer.
1 - http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2010/06/09/vt_nuclear_...
2 - http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2010/06/vermont-yankee-has-seven-days-to-fix-l...
VT passes e-waste recycling bill
March 25, 2010
Do you have an old TV or computer gathering dust in your garage? For years VPIRG has been fighting for Vermonters to be able to safely and conveniently recycle their electronic waste. Now you'll be able to - for free.
This week, the Vermont House of Representatives approved a broadly supported bill that would provide free recycling of e-waste to residents, small businesses, charities and schools in Vermont. The bill is now headed to the Governor's desk, where it's expected to be signed into law.
This is a huge victory for consumers. Instead of storing old computers in their basements or waiting in long lines at events available only once or twice a year to recycle TVs, Vermonters will now be able to conveniently and responsibly recycle their e-waste for free at locations all around the state. What's more, the bill makes sure electronics manufacturers pay their fair share of the cost of this terrific program.
Though this bill passed with tri-partisan support, the road to achieving this victory has been years in the making. VPIRG has pushed for the passage of a strong producer responsibility e-waste bill since 2005. We're proud to have worked with our allies and leaders in the legislature to make this happen.
Health Care Passes Congress
March 22, 2010
We just witnessed history being made.
For the first time ever, a comprehensive health care bill has passed both Houses of Congress. The bill will give health care to 32 million Americans and help to save over 30,000 lives per year. And it will finally put an end to some of the worst insurance industry abuses so that never again will they deny you care for pre-existing conditions, charge you more if you're sick, put limits on your benefits, or increase rates with impunity.
It was close, but the House pulled together the votes in the face of vicious opposition. Vermont's own Rep. Peter Welch helped to make that happen, so it's important that we thank him for having the courage to stand with us and stand up to the powerful special interests that lined up against reform.
The bill is far from perfect. But it is one of the most significant pieces of legislation passed by Congress in decades. Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will soon be gone forever.
And we'll finally start reducing the cost of care -- creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.
We've got much to do and that starts with thanking those who helped to make this victory possible. Your work and that of our allies around the country brought this bill back when most declared it dead. This is a system we can build on - starting right here in Vermont.
The Supreme Court ruled against you
January 26, 2010
Last week the U.S. Supreme Court threw out six decades of established law by granting corporations the right to use their incredible wealth and power to influence elections -- thereby diminishing the power of your vote.
Imagine ExxonMobil, AIG or Entergy-Louisiana for that matter, throwing huge sums of money directly into Congressional or Legislative attack ads. And this on top of the already unbelievable the amount of influence corporations have on elections.
The tortured legal argument is this: We the People are infringing on corporations' "rights" by preventing them from using all of the special advantages they have over real human beings (like unlimited life, limited liability, and lots of other ways of amassing great wealth) to influence political elections.
Congress must act now to protect democracy.
Hold manufacturers accountable for recycling mercury-containing bulbs
January 22, 2010
The benefits of using energy-efficient lamps such as CFLs are tremendous, but not everyone is aware that these bulbs contain mercury and can’t be thrown out with the trash. Right now, Vermonters can bring their bulbs to participating retail stores for easy recycling. However, this program does not have a sustainable funding source.
Collecting and properly disposing of mercury, a hazardous waste, is an expensive endeavor. Currently, the costs of recycling mercury-containing lamps fall squarely on the shoulders of the state, municipalities, and tax payers. Instead, manufacturers should be required to share in the costs and responsibility of properly disposing of their discarded products.
Please take a moment and contact your legislators and encourage them to support a fair and sustainable funding source for mercury-bulb recycling!
BREAKING: VY Is Finally Being Held to Task, Now’s the Time to Shut it Down
January 14, 2010
In a letter just sent to the Vermont Public Service Board, Vermont regulators are directing Yankee’s out-of-state corporate owners to come clean on the leaking radiation amid threats of fines.
Click here to read the letter.
Earlier today, Congressman Markey demanded a federal investigation into leaking nukes.
http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3829&Itemi...
Yesterday, Yankee’s owners admitted lying to legislators on the matter.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/14/business/AP-US-Vermont-Yankee...
Last week, the aging plant disclosed radioactivity leaking into the groundwater.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100108/NEWS02/1080316/Radio...
Legislators are fuming now that it’s clear Louisiana-based Entergy lied to them.
Now’s the time to contact your legislator and urge them to shut-down Vermont Yankee.
Take the New Junkyard Survey
December 2, 2009
VPIRG is currently working with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC) to identify all junkyards in the state. While Vermont has many successful salvage yards that are being properly operated and maintained, we also have junkyards that are polluting our waterways and endangering the health of nearby neighborhoods. Many of these yards are not registered with the state or complying with existing laws. We need help locating all salvage yards in Vermont, including any in your community!
VPIRG is working to protect our rivers, streams, and lands from polluting junkyards. In order to put good policies in place and enforce existing ones, we need to know where these junkyards are located. The information filled out in the survey will be used in the VT DEC's efforts to ensure that all salvage yards are licensed and operated according to the law.
In case you missed check out a recent Seven Days story on Milton's Junkyard by clicking here.
Repower Vermont and Support Clean Energy
August 27, 2009
Please ask your legislator to read VPIRG's new energy report. Repowering Vermont provides the analysis and road map needed to replace Vermont Yankee with local, clean energy. Your lawmakers need to read this report so that its research and the clean energy vision for Vermont can help guide their decision.
