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Vermont is a naturally beautiful state with its green mountains, open fields and, for the most part, compact villages. It is a living example of how to balance development and a healthy environment. Vermont is also a leader in the adoption of progressive environmental laws, from its “no billboards law” to its nationally-renowned Act 250, which ensures that citizens and communities have a strong voice in land use decisions that affect the environment.
But Vermont is at a crossroads. Sprawling development threatens to pave rural landscapes and endangers our quality of life. Polluted runoff from agricultural lands and poorly planned suburban development dumps excessive levels of phosphorus and toxic substances into our waters, including Vermont’s “great lake,” Lake Champlain. More driving and electricity use spur climate change and acid rain, threatening Vermont’s skiing and maple syrup industries. These powerful challenges require innovative solutions.
With your support, CLF has been working to keep Vermont green by forging innovative solutions to environmental problems.
When ski areas were draining mountain streams for snowmaking, CLF convinced major ski companies to build ponds that protected the streams and strengthened the industry’s bottom line as well. In the 1990s, with Vermont’s energy costs skyrocketing, we helped Vermont create the most rigorous energy conservation program in the country.
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