Vermont Public Interest Research Group Inc

Climate and energy:our climate & energy work is driven by the understanding that we must decarbonize both vermont and the nation, and that everyone deserves access to clean and affordable energy and transportation. Breaking down barriers contributing to rural, bipoc, and low-income communities being left behind in this transition is a core part of our efforts.continued on schedule oin 2024, vpirg pressed to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for the damage it has caused to vermont residents, businesses, and communities through climate change. Vpirg also supported efforts to update vermont's clean electricity requirements with one of the strongest renewable energy standards in the nation.

Democracy:vpirg actively supports efforts to make our democracy more open and transparent. We seek to ensure that elections are fair and accessible, and we are committed to reducing the undue influence of money in our political process.continued on schedule oin 2024, vpirg supported efforts statewide that would reduce the influence of corporations in our elections, increase transparency from political action committees, protect the rights of traditionally disenfranchised individuals, and improve the presidential primary process in the state by adopting ranked choice voting.

Environmental healthvpirg works to protect public health and our environment from the hidden dangers of toxic chemicals that vermonters are often exposed to in our everyday lives. In 2024, vpirg successfully helped to enact legislation to protect pollinators in vermont by phasing out the use of toxic neonic pesticides. We also pressed successfully for new legislation to protect vermonters from pfas toxins in a wide range of products including cosmetics, menstrual products, textiles, and more.

Zero waste vpirg works to advance policies and solutions that hold manufacturers accountable for the products they put into our environment and move us closer to zero waste in vermont. In 2024, vpirg continued to support the modernization of vermont's popular bottle bill program. We also focused significant attention on the problem of plastic pollution, aimed primarily at reducing the quantity and toxicity of plastics, particularly single-use plastics.

Health care reform and miscellaneous programsvpirg works to reform our health care system so that it provides all vermonters access to quality, affordable health care when they need it. We remain committed to advancing policies that ensure no vermonter ever has to decide between receiving a paycheck or caring for a loved one.

Consumer protectionvpirg serves as a watchdog, protecting the public interest when corporations attempt to put profits over people, and ensures that the policies and laws that we do pass to protect the public interest are, in fact, enforced. In recent years, vpirg's consumer protection program has placed a specific emphasis on working for policies that protect consumers in the digital space. In 2024, vpirg supported comprehensive consumer data privacy legislation that would have given vermont consumers greater control over if and how companies use their sensitive personal information. We also supported fair repair legislation that would have required agricultural equipment manufacturers to provide farmers and independent repair providerson fair and reasonable termsaccess to the parts, tools and information necessary to fix their equipment.