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Vermont

Protesters Tell Vermont Governor: Career Is Toast Over Healthcare

December 18, 2014 Morgan True, www.vtdigger.org , ,
Protesters from across the state descended on Montpelier Thursday to voice their anger with Gov. Peter Shumlin’s decision to drop his pursuit of single payer health care. More than 60 people stood in front of the Statehouse chanting slogans and singing protest songs. “All people, all care, make the rich pay their share,” they shouted, “The system, let’s stop it, our health is not for profit.” Many shared personal stories of struggles to afford health insurance or medical services, highlighting barriers to care such as high deductibles, copayments and other forms of cost sharing. Several burned medical bills they said they would never be able to pay off. Protesters focused their ire on Shumlin. The governor acknowledged the disappointment of his supporters in remarks Wednesday, but said the economics of single payer wouldn’t allow the program to move forward anytime soon. He called it “the biggest disappointment of my public service so far.” But protesters were unappeased Thursday, asserting that Shumlin supported single payer while it was politically advantageous, but turned his back on the interests of the working class when he encountered resistance from business leaders. They marched up to his ceremonial office in the Statehouse to deliver a platter of toast with the message, “Dear Shumlin, your career is toast.”

Charges Dropped For 64 Arrested At Governor’s Office Sit-In

December 6, 2014 Rising Tide Vermont, www.popularresistance.org , , ,
Vermont State Police today announced that all charges have been dropped against the 64 Vermonters who occupied Governor Peter Shumlin's office on October 27, to demand an end to the fracked gas pipeline and a ban on fossil fuel infrastructure. The Governor was the focus of the sit-in due to his continued support of the pipeline, which would transport dirty, climate-disrupting fracked gas from Alberta Canada through Addison County, underneath Lake Champlain to the International Paper mill in Ticonderoga, Ny., and eventually to Rutland. The pipeline, opposed by thousands of people across the state, would continue Vermont's reliance on greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels that cause climate change.

Landowners Expose Vermont Gas’ False Claims

December 2, 2014 Melanie Peyser, www.popularresistance.org , , , ,
The ten landowners who have been working with Governor Shumlin to address Vermont Gas System's predatory practices in securing easements and rights-of-way, were astonished to learn through a VGS press release today that VGS claimed to have opened direct dialogue with them. The Governor’s office sent a letter to VGS a few days ago requesting that the company institute a pause or moratorium on eminent domain filings and interaction between VGS and landowners to provide the space needed to rebuild trust between landowners and the state and thereafter with VGS. In response, the company chose to issue a press release claiming the opening of direct dialogue. “Once again VGS is using a negotiating platform as some twisted press advantage instead of dealing forthrightly with the issue,” said Maren Vasatka of Monkton.

Jury Finds Vermont Fracking Protester Not Guilty

November 20, 2014 Staff, www.risingtidevermont.org , ,
The trial of Henry Harris, charged with trespassing at Vermont Gas Systems’ (VGS) headquarters in South Burlington on May 27th, ended today with a not guilty verdict. Harris and other members of Rising Tide Vermont blockaded the main entrance of VGS and dropped a massive banner from the roof, demanding the company immediately cancel its plans to build the fracked gas pipeline. Harris, a volunteer organizer with Rising Tide Vermont, said, “Today, the court ruled in my favor because the jury recognized Vermont Gas and the state of Vermont had no basis in their charges against me. The state's prosecutor, with pressure from VGS and the Shumlin administration, was attempting to stifle future protests against the fracked gas pipeline and Shumlin's hypocritical climate and energy policies." Since the May 27th protest, hundreds of Vermonters have taken part in rallies, blockades, and an occupation of the Governor’s office to demand an end to the pipeline project. The 64 activists who were arrested at the occupation on October 27th are also facing charges of trespass.

100% Of Power For Vermont City Now Renewable

September 16, 2014 Wilson Ring, www.bostonglobe.com , ,
BURLINGTON, Vt. — Vermont’s largest city has a new success to add to its list of socially conscious achievements: 100 percent of its electricity now comes from renewable sources such as wind, water, and biomass. With little fanfare, the Burlington Electric Department crossed the threshold this month with the purchase of the 7.4-megawatt Winooski 1 hydroelectric project on the Winooski River at the city’s edge. When it did, Burlington joined the Washington Electric Co-operative, which has about 11,000 customers across central and northern Vermont and which reached 100 percent earlier this year. ‘‘It shows that we’re able to do it, and we’re able to do it cost effectively in a way that makes Vermonters really positioned well for the future,’’ said Christopher Recchia, the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service.
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