MONTPELIER, Vt. -- More than 100 candidates for federal, state and local offices in Vermont have signed onto a plan by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group to reduce dependence on foreign oil and emphasize renewable sources of electricity. VPIRG asked 329 political candidates across the state to sign their pledge and 111 signed the document while 27 candidates provided position papers, which support similar goals.
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- More than 100 candidates for federal, state and local offices in Vermont have signed onto a plan by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group to reduce dependence on foreign oil and emphasize renewable sources of electricity. VPIRG asked 329 political candidates across the state to sign their pledge and 111 signed the document while 27 candidates provided position papers, which support similar goals.
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- More than 100 candidates for federal, state and local offices in Vermont have signed onto a plan by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group to reduce dependence on foreign oil and emphasize renewable sources of electricity.
VPIRG asked 329 political candidates across the state to sign their pledge and 111 signed the document while 27 candidates provided position papers, which support similar goals.
"With so many Vermonters speaking out and demanding action from our elected officials, it's no wonder most candidates say they support renewable energy," said VPIRG Energy Advocate James Moore. "But Vermonters want more than just talk about this issue, they want leadership. The 138 candidates that have responded so …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]MONTPELIER, Vt. -- More than 100 candidates for federal, state and local offices in Vermont have signed onto a plan by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group to reduce dependence on foreign oil and emphasize renewable sources of electricity.
VPIRG asked 329 political candidates across the state to sign their pledge and 111 signed the document while 27 candidates provided position papers, which support similar goals.
"With so many Vermonters speaking out and demanding action from our elected officials, it's no wonder most candidates say they support renewable energy," said VPIRG Energy Advocate James Moore. "But Vermonters want more than just talk about this issue, they want leadership. The 138 candidates that have responded so far have taken that next step by supporting concrete policy goals that will move Vermont towards a clean energy future."
The pledge was signed by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Scudder Parker. Gov. James Douglas gave VPIRG information about his energy platform.
U.S. Senate candidates Bernie Sanders and Craig Hill signed the pledge while Cris Ericson and Peter Moss sent position papers.
U.S. House candidates Peter Welch, a Democrat, and Republican Martha Rainville sent VPIRG position papers.
VPIRG's proposal calls on state candidates to push for the phasing out Vermont's reliance on coal, oil and nuclear power, generating a third of the state's electricity using renewable sources such as wind, biomass, solar and hydro by 2016.
The pledge also calls on meeting 25 percent of the state's energy needs by increased investment in conservation and efficiency by 2016.
Candidates for federal office were asked to support adopting national limits on global warming pollution, require that the country generate 25 percent of electricity with renewable sources by 2020 and repeal tax breaks for the energy industry.