Keep Vermont Green

It’s a fact: Vermont is gorgeous. But it’s not by accident.

Yes, we have wonderful rolling hills and impressive mountains. Lake Champlain blesses our state, along with the many beautiful stands of maple trees. But we also take care of our land. The fact that we don’t have billboards adds to our pristine quality.

So I was naturally disappointed to learn that the Governor opposed federal legislation that would have expanded the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont and extended stronger environmental protections to areas within the forest.

We need to safeguard Vermont’s natural gifts. That happens with proper environmental regulation, as well as controlling pollution through energy efficiency and alternative, sustainable, clean energy sources like wind, solar, and biomass.

If our country continues to depend on energy sources that damage our environment, we all suffer. Here in Vermont, we have an opportunity to lead the way to a better world. We can enact an aggressive energy policy that promotes energy independence and produces good paying jobs. We must invest in wind power and help break our addiction to dangerous and unclean forms of energy.

I believe that most Vermonters believe in clean, renewable energy and in protecting our environment. That’s why I support not only a forward-looking energy policy, but also legislation that helps our farmers be good stewards of their land while minimizing pollution, and safeguards our landscape from uncontrolled sprawl and unneeded commercial development.

Vermont is not a blue or red state, we’re a green state. Let’s keep it that way.