Vermont Public Interest Research Group Inc

FOUNDED IN 1972, THE VERMONT PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP (VPIRG) IS THE LARGEST NONPROFIT CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN VERMONT. SEE PAGE 2 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP SERVICES - AS THE LARGEST MEMBERSHIP-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE, VPIRG PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES ON OUR CAMPAIGNS AND RELATED ISSUES TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS ANNUALLY. *** FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR, IT WAS A SUMMER UNLIKE ANY OTHER AT VPIRG AS WE COMPLETED OUR FIRST EVER "HYBRID CANVASS." OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, WE MADE THE DECISION TO KICK OFF OUR 2021 CANVASS VIRTUALLY, ON THE PHONES, WITH OVER A DOZEN NEW CANVASSERS CONTACTING THOUSANDS OF VPIRG MEMBERS REMOTELY. EVENTUALLY, WE WERE ABLE TO RETURN TO DOING WHAT WE DO BEST: GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR, RENEWING MEMBERSHIPS AND RALLYING GRASSROOTS SUPPORT - ALL OF WHICH GAVE A BIG BOOST TO OUR CAMPAIGN TO MODERNIZE VERMONT'S MOST SUCCESSFUL RECYCLING PROGRAM: THE BOTTLE BILL. *** VPIRG CONTINUES TO SERVE AS THE GO-TO RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO LEARN ABOUT PUBLIC INTEREST POLICY ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD ON ISSUES AT CRITICAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

CLIMATE & ENERGY - OUR CLIMATE & ENERGY WORK IS DRIVEN BY THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE MUST FULLY 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. *** IN 2021, VPIRG PRESSED FOR NEARLY $300 MILLION IN STATE SPENDING AIMED AT CUTTING VERMONT'S CLIMATE POLLUTION. THE LEGISLATURE ALSO INCLUDED A VPIRG- SUPPORTED TRANSPORTATION MODERNIZATION PACKAGE IN THE TRANSPORTATION BILL THAT INCLUDED ALMOST $12 MILLION FOR PROGRAMS RANGING FROM ELECTRIC VEHICLE INCENTIVES, TO BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE, TO ZERO-FARE PUBLIC TRANSIT AND EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE. VPIRG ALSO SUPPORTED ADOPTION OF THE STATE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN THAT LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR VERMONT TO FINALLY TREAT THE CLIMATE CRISIS WITH THE SERIOUSNESS IT DEMANDS AND GETS ON TRACK TO MEET OUR CLIMATE REQUIREMENTS.

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 2021, VPIRG, OUR MEMBERS, AND ALLIES MADE MAJOR PROGRESS ON MODERNIZING VERMONT'S POPULAR AND EFFECTIVE BOTTLE BILL. IN APRIL, THE VERMONT HOUSE PASSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXPAND THE BOTTLE BILL PROGRAM TO INCLUDE WINE AND NON-CARBONATED DRINKS LIKE WATER, ICED TEA, AND SPORTS DRINKS. LATER IN THE YEAR, CANVASSERS FROM VPIRG'S SUMMER CAMPAIGN DELIVERED MORE THAN 10,000 SIGNED PETITIONS TO SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM BECCA BALINT, URGING THE VERMONT SENATE TO TAKE UP AND PASS LEGISLATION TO UPDATE VERMONT'S BOTTLE BILL.

OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE DEMOCRACY, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, CONSUMER PROTECTION AND HEALTH CARE REFORM. SEE SCHEDULE O (ABOVE) FOR A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THESE PROGRAMS.