The Rutland Herald reports that "Vermont Public Radio has been honored with a 2008 national Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in broadcast journalism" under "the category of Continuing Coverage for its comprehensive reporting on climate change in 2007." Indeed, "thirteen representative stories were chosen for the entry out of more than 50 stories, interviews, programs and commentaries, including the week-long series, 'The Changing Climate.' They included initiatives in the Vermont Legislature, coverage of the greenhouse gas emissions trial, a Vermont Edition program on carbon offsets, reports on the possible effects of climate change on Vermont's ski and maple industries, an interview with author Bill McKibben and even a story on 'Climate Change, the Musical.'"

Link to article

The Brattleboro Reformer reports that in 2002, "Brattleboro joined the Cities for Climate Protection program, a nonprofit organization that works with municipalities to develop local solutions to global climate change. As a member, Brattleboro was required to take certain actions," one of which was to create a Brattleboro Area Climate Protection Local Action Plan. In addition, "the town performed a greenhouse gas emissions analysis in 2002 and in 2003" and set two greenhouse gas reduction targets. "The first was to reduce emissions by 10 percent below 2000 levels by 2010 for the town as a whole, and the second was to reduce emissions by 20 percent in municipal buildings and schools and in the town's various operations." According to town energy coordinator Paul Cameron, Brattleboro is "on target to meet or exceed those goals." Cameron added that "a big part of the reason the town is on target is because Fibermark, which at one time was responsible for 19 percent of the town's greenhouse gases, made changes to its industrial process which virtually eliminated its emissions." The town also made a "switch to biofuels for the town's vehicles" and launched a building efficiency program to improve efficiency in 14 town and school buildings. Now, the Brattleboro Selectboard may establish an energy committee to "oversee [the town's] efforts to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions" and possibly to update the action plan.

Link to article

The Burlington Free Press reports that "Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss celebrated Earth Day on Tuesday by urging city residents to form 'eco-teams' with their friends and neighbors to reduce each family's carbon emissions by 5,000 pounds a year." The eco-teams are part of a "citywide campaign called the Kitchen Table Collaborative, a program in which teams of five to eight households meet periodically to brainstorm practical ways to reduce carbon emissions." Kiss explained that he has started his own eco-team in his Germain street Neighborhood and that the team's meetings have "raised his consciousness about unnecessary use of fossil fuels." Kiss added that his family is now "discussing an investment in new, tighter windows to reduce heating costs and emissions" and "are using their electric clothes dryer less and a drying rack in the basement more." Ultimately, "Kiss said his goal is to enlist 80 percent of the city's households to join eco-teams as part of the city's effort to reduce the residential carbon footprint of the city 25 percent by 2012."

Link to article 

The Burlington Free Press reports that "the Bush administration has urged a federal appeals court to set aside a ruling by a federal judge that said states have the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles." Indeed, "the Justice Department, in a friend-of-the-court brief filed late Wednesday, said the ruling in Vermont should be dismissed because the case was dependent upon California's receiving a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions." In response, Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell said that "there's a long way the Bush administration has to go before they're going to uphold the validity of the denial of the waiver. We look forward to that fight." Notably, if enacted, the ruling would require "a 30 percent cut in carbon dioxide emissions from cars and trucks by 2016."

Link to article

Vermont Public Radio reports that "Attorneys general from 17 states, including Vermont, and several environmental groups are taking the EPA back to court to try to force it comply with a Supreme Court ruling that rebuked the Bush administration for inaction on global warming." Indeed one year ago the Supreme Court ruled that "carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act, and ordered the EPA to take action." According to the states' court filing, the "EPA has not issued a decision on regulation." The states "seek to compel the EPA to act within 60 days."

Link to article