I’m one of those people who believes that climate change is the biggest challenge facing the planet, but I was baffled about how to react when I saw the Polar Bear ad for the Nissan Leaf®.  At first I thought it must be an ad by one of the national environmental groups, and I was shocked that they could afford the spot on the opening night of Thursday Night Football®.  When I realized it was an ad for an electric car, I couldn’t decide whether to be thrilled or concerned.  On one hand, I am thankful to see a multi-national corporation embracing the problem of climate change and investing in solutions.  Nissan’s commitment is virtually heroic when compared to the oil and coal industries’ multi-million dollar campaigns to confuse the read more…

The following are excerpts from Wendell Berry’s essay “Thoughts in the Presence of Fear,” published in 2001 in reaction to the tragedy of 9/11 and its aftermath.  Nine years later, his “thoughts” still ring true. XXIV.  Starting with the economies of food and farming, we should promote at home and encourage abroad the ideal of local self-sufficiency.  We should recognize that this is the surest, the safest, and the cheapest way for the world to live.  We should not countenance the loss or destruction of any local capacity to produce necessary goods. XXV.  We should reconsider and renew and extend our efforts to protect the natural foundations of the human economy: soil, water, and air.  We should protect every intact ecosystem and watershed that we have left, and begin restoration read more…

(Updated 9/15/2010) In a recent issue of the New Yorker staff writer Jane Meyer leads us all on a guided tour of the machinery, machinations and massive expenditures that the billionaire Koch brothers have poured into organizations like the Orwellian named “Americans for Prosperity” that, among other things, are dedicated to stopping progress in the war to protect our climate. Not satisfied with having played a role in derailing (hopefully temporarily) sensible energy and climate policy in Washington DC these guardians of fossil fuel industry profits are seeking to halt good efforts in the states.  While their efforts in California have been the most noticed they are also busy laying astroturf in places like New Jersey where a “campaign” to roll back the mild, moderate and successful Regional Greenhouse Gas read more…

When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.  Unfortunately, Vermont’s transportation agency keeps digging.  Vermont continues to push forward the unnecessary Circ Highway project – a new multi-million dollar ring road around Burlington, Vermont.   A federal court decision halted this project in 2004.  The mismanagement continues.  As a result, Vermonters suffer more traffic and more pollution.  CLF has again shown cleaner, safer and lower cost transportation solutions are available.  With crumbling bridges and roads, budget-breaking deficits and increasing pollution, it is time to stop the madness.  Let’s not continue to push 1950s-era highway projects in the 21st century.  We can fix the roads we have, improve public transporation and rail and make safer routes for kids and others to get around.

Today, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decided to uphold the comprehensive permit for Cape Wind’s transmission lines issued by the state’s Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB)–a welcome and much-anticipated milestone for the nation’s first major offshore wind energy project. CLF has been actively involved in moving the ball forward on Cape Wind throughout its nine-year review and permitting process, and we’re thrilled that Cape Wind will finally have an opportunity to to move forward and provide Massachusetts with clean, renewable power. Here’s what CLF Staff Attorney Shanna Cleveland had to say on the subject: “The Court thoroughly reviewed the extensive record in this case and correctly concluded that the state siting board rigorously scrutinized the project and fulfilled its obligation to safeguard the public trust. Cape Wind will provide electricity read more…

As the new school year approaches, students across New England reflect upon a summer’s worth of fun, events, and relaxation.  For many kids who live in or visit Vermont, Lake Champlain is central to summertime pleasure.  There are many ways to enjoy Champlain, thus plenty of reasons to keep it clean.  This was the idea behind the CLF drawing contest held at the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival.  The assignment read, “design a card that shows what you love about Lake Champlain and how to keep it clean”.  It was both exciting and heartening to see artistic young minds reflect upon what they valued about Lake Champlain and the environment.  A simple drawing contest such as this can go a long way, ensuring the next generation is engaged in environmental stewardship. read more…

The ace web/online/blog/communications folks at CLF have installed the WordPress plug-in version of Online Leaf on this blog so if you are reading it and don’t do anything for a minute your screen will go black, reducing the electricity consumption of your computer. Not a big deal but an important reminder of all the many little , medium, large and very large things we will need to do to fight global warming – and how the things we can do to aid that cause can also save us a bit of money at the same time.

News of an “unusual event” at a nuclear power facility is not comforting.  It is particularly troubling when no details are given, and the source is the same entity that has provided false and incomplete information in the past. What is clear is that there are continuing problems at the Vermont Yankee nuclear facility. CLF has called for the plant to be shut down now.  Leaks since January are continuing to pollute our environment and harm our economy. CLF recently submitted detailed legal analysis showing that Vermont regulators have the authority and the obligation to take action in response to the leaks.  Let’s STOP the “unusual events.”  Enough is enough.

By now, you’ve probably heard a thing or two about the Circ, a proposed frivolous $60 million dollar highway project that threatens to rip through some of our state’s most pristine farmlands and wetlands. It’s unnecessary and destructive—and there are cheaper and cleaner alternatives. What you may not have heard is that fewer than 20 people (according to the Burlington Free Press) have submitted comments voicing their opinion. No, that’s not a typo. Fewer than 20 people have spoken up about the Circ. We need to change that, and we need to change it now. Here’s what we need you to do: Submit a comment online against the proposed highway before the Friday, August 27 deadline. Share this blog post via Twitter and Facebook with your family, friends and neighbors, read more…

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” That opening line from Dickens’ classic A Tale of Two Cities ran through my head last week as I had two very different experiences of Lake Champlain, the 6th largest freshwater lake in the lower 48. On Saturday, CLF participated in Burlington, Vt’s Lake Champlain Maritime Festival.  Visitors from Canada, outlying towns in Vermont, and many of the 50 states descended on the waterfront for fun in the sun along New England’s “west coast.” Festival goers had a chance to take sailing lessons and inspect old-style guide boats and other watergoing vessels from the Lake’s past.  By day, the sun shone on the broad blue Lake with its breathtaking vistas of the Adirondack Mountains in New York.  And by night read more…