Two things: We must consider the increasing severity of drought in Vermont, and its effect on the future availability of our water. And, Vermont has an opportunity to ensure accessible electric vehicles for consumers and the climate with two new, innovative programs, which we look forward to telling you more about. 

We Must Fight to Protect Vermont’s Water

Protecting Vermont’s waters is a key priority for VNRC, and one we’ll be continuing to amplify in the coming legislative session. This year, at the urging of VNRC and our partner groups, the VT Legislature passed Act 135 to address water withdrawals of Vermont’s surface waters, requiring that withdrawals over a certain threshold are reported. It also requires that the Agency of Natural Resources establish a program to address the impacts of these withdrawals statewide. In 2008, also based on the advocacy of VNRC, Vermont established a program to address groundwater withdrawals.

We encourage you to read an important commentary by farmer Stephen Leslie in VTDigger, which offers an important reflection on the importance of water in Vermont.

 Vermont has an Opportunity to Ensure Accessible Electric Vehicles

When it comes to getting where we all need to go – which often needs to be by car or truck in rural Vermont – the options for cleaner, more affordable vehicles are good. They are also about to get better with the advancement of two new, innovative programs.

Here’s how: Vermont first adopted a set of rules requiring auto manufacturers to provide Vermonters with more efficient cars than federal standards required in the early 2000s. Since then, this program, known as Advanced Clean Cars, has been a critical tool for manufacturer innovation, improved access to cleaner vehicles and emissions reduction. To meet climate commitments and the growing public demand for cleaner vehicles, two new programs are now available to deliver new requirements for zero-emission car sales – the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) rule and an Advanced Clean Trucks rule (ACT) – and Vermont is poised to join both by December of this year.