Speak Up!
After the summer of 2023, when devastating floods overran our riverbanks and wildfire smoke filled our skies, the Vermont Legislature stepped up and passed the Climate Superfund Act.
The idea is simple: given the staggering costs that Vermonters have already spent to repair roads and bridges, rebuild water treatment sites and much more, it is only fair that fossil fuel companies - whose products caused the damage - pay their fair share of those damages. This is a fair, commonsense approach to protecting our state’s financial stability and the health of our communities. This is taxpayer relief.
You can find an excellent op-ed in VTDigger about the Superfund idea written by two VTCHA members here.
The first step the Legislature required in the law is for the Vermont Treasurer’s office to carry out a rigorous assessment of the cost to Vermont of climate-related damages and investments in climate resilience and response.
For the Climate Superfund idea to move forward, funding for that work has to be included in the state budget. Whether or not that will happen is being debated right now in the VT State House. In particular, please contact your House Representatives today and urge them to fund that work. See a simple and fast approach for doing that below. When Vermont lawmakers get 20, 30, 40 messages about an issue from voters, they pay attention!
The Message
“I am a voter in your district, and I am asking you to ensure the that the work required under the Climate Superfund law is funded in this year’s budget.”
Finding House Representatives'Contact Info
As Margaret Mead said, “Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”