Vermont named Greenest State in America, again

A new report by the website 24/7 Wall St ranks Vermont as the greenest state in American, Governor Jim Douglas announced today. The report considered energy consumption, pollution problems and state energy policies in evaluating the environmental standing of states.
‘This most recent report reaffirms the Green Mountain State’s reputation as the greenest state in America,’ said Governor Douglas. ‘Our strong record of environmental stewardship includes the nation’s smallest carbon footprint and the greenest energy portfolio. I’ve fought for tougher automobile emissions standards and against threats to our state’s air quality, and was the first Governor to sign onto the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). All Vermonters can be proud of our state’s deep commitment to a healthy environment.’
This is certainly not the first time Vermont has been singled out as America’s environmental leader. In 2007, Forbes Magazine named Vermont ‘America’s Greenest State.’ In 2009, Vermont was again named the ‘Greenest State,’ according to an Earthsense Eco-Insights Survey. And that same year Governor Douglas was named one of the top ten ‘Green Governors’ in the nation by Greenopia, an online directory of eco-friendly retailers, services, and organizations.
According the 24/7 Wall St: ‘The state releases the fewest carcinogenic toxins and has the smallest carbon footprint in the country. Vermont’s success as a green state isn’t limited to pollution, however: the ‘Green Mountain State’ ranks in the top 15 in 20 out of 28 ranked categories. Vermont has a number of policies to promote efficiency, alternative energy, and reduce pollution, and so far it has succeeded better than any other state.’
Data comprising 49 separate metrics were reflected in 28 ranked categories. The sources for the report included The Pew Center on Global Climate Change, The Energy Information Administration, The Department of Energy, The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Renewable Energy World, American Council For an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), The Environmental Protection Agency, The American Lung Association, Environment America’s Research and Policy Center, The Political Economy Research Institute, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Although other state factors like industry type and scale, GDP, population and natural resources were considered, they did not impact the rankings.
To read the full report, ‘The Environmental State of The Union: A Survey of Pollution, Energy Use and Policy in all 50 States,’ visit http://247wallst.com/2010/12/16/the-environmental-state-of-the-union-a-s....