Three things: Inviting you to tonight’s public hearing on Act 250 and tomorrow’s webinar on the Renewable Energy Standard, and sharing an update about our legal work around Combined Sewer Overflows in Rutland.
Stay informed, connected, and engaged—three things.
Attend a Virtual Public Meeting to Help Modernize Act 250 and Protect Vermont’s Environment
Tonight, December 14th, from 5:30-7:30pm, the Vermont Natural Resources Board (NRB) will hold a virtual public meeting on a draft report that recommends updates to Act 250, Vermont’s historic statewide land use program. Act 250 was designed to help protect Vermont’s natural resources, communities and working lands from poorly planned development over 50 years ago. Since its enactment, many new challenges have emerged and the latest report has important recommendations to better address the housing shortage in smart ways, while better protecting our natural resources and addressing threats posed by climate change. We hope that you can plan to participate in the virtual meeting to let the NRB know that the draft report must call for changes to Act 250 to meet the challenges Vermont faces today.
You’re Invited: The Opportunity in Modernizing Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard – Tomorrow at 12pm via Zoom
Join us tomorrow, Friday, December 15th at 12pm to learn about Vermont’s current Renewable Energy Standard (RES), and how its 2032 requirements are not going far enough to help reduce carbon pollution and combat climate change. This legislative session, we’re looking to help advance a more robust RES that requires 100% renewable energy and more in-state renewable energy generation here in Vermont. Along with VNRC, hear from panelists from Conservation Law Foundation and VPIRG as we dig into the details of proposed changes to the RES with plenty of time for questions. We hope to see you there!
VNRC is Taking Legal Action to Protect the Rutland Community from Combined Sewer Overflow Impacts
Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) occur when combined sewer systems – designed to collect and direct sewage and stormwater to wastewater treatment facilities – overflow during heavy rain, releasing raw or partially treated sewage into the environment. This poses risks to human and environmental health. Regulated under the federal Clean Water Act, cities and towns with CSOs need a permit to comply and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) issues these permits. In 2022, VNRC sued ANR and the City of Rutland, with the aim of ensuring CSOs are effectively controlled, ANR is held accountable, and the public has a voice in shaping control actions to protect water quality and communities. Last Wednesday, VNRC filed a legal motion asking that Rutland’s Wastewater Discharge Permit include specific actions that the city must take over the five year permit term to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and work towards eliminating them.