Vermont Business Magazine Today is Earth Day and members of the Vermont environmental community, including Vermont Natural Resources Council, Vermont Conservation Voters, VPIRG, Sierra Club of Vermont, Third Act, Renewable Energy Vermont, and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, gathered for a press conference alongside Vermont elected leaders to speak out against the unprecedented dismantling of federal environmental protections - and what Vermont leaders are doing to protect our air, water, land, climate, and democracy.
The event was held at the State House and featured Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski, Senator Anne Watson, Chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Energy, Rep. Amy Sheldon, Chair of the House Environment Committee, and Rep. Kathleen James, Chair of the House Energy & Digital Infrastructure Committee.
“Vermonters are fiercely protective of our environment – and as their Attorney General, I am proud to stand up for our environment and our future,” said Attorney General Clark. "That’s why I have stood up against the federal government’s many violations of the Constitution and federal law, and why I have defended Vermont’s Climate Superfund Act in court.”
One year ago, on Earth Day 2025, Vermont’s elected leaders and environmental advocates gathered at the State House to sound the alarm about the Trump administration’s unprecedented assault on federal environmental protections. At the time, what was already underway was alarming, but none of us understood how much worse the next twelve months would get. The rollbacks to bedrock environmental laws like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act have accelerated, legal attacks have intensified, and the tools Vermonters rely on to protect our air, water, climate, and democracy have been deeply eroded. The urgency of acting to protect our health and communities has only deepened.
Currently, Vermonters are facing attacks from a federal government hell-bent on dismantling environmental protections we have relied on for generations. Big corporations are polluting with impunity and raking in profits at the public’s expense. Fortunately, we have many state leaders who are continuing to fight every day for clean air, clean water, a livable climate, and a healthy democracy. On this Earth Day, we are standing up for a healthy environment and democracy: our future depends on it." — Lauren Hierl, Executive Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council
The current federal administration has moved aggressively to roll back environmental safeguards at a pace and scale not seen since those protections were first enacted. The EPA has announced plans to eliminate more than two dozen air and water regulations, gut enforcement of pollution rules for energy facilities, and slash the agency’s budget and workforce. Most alarming, the administration has moved to repeal the Endangerment Finding for greenhouse gases — the legal cornerstone of virtually all federal climate policy — in a way that experts warn could take decades to restore if ever.
“The greatest threat to our Earth today is greed, grift, and corruption. The situation is dire, but we still have the means to fight back so it’s time to step up and get active,” – Paul Burns, Executive Director, VPIRG
Vermonters have attempted to fight back on their own terms. The Vermont Climate Superfund Act, passed in 2024, seeks to hold major fossil fuel companies financially accountable for the costs of climate-related damage to the state, from the catastrophic flooding of 2023 and 2024 that washed out roads, bridges, and entire downtowns, to the mounting costs of infrastructure maintenance in the face of large-scale and unpredictable climate events and disaster recovery. The Trump administration has filed suit in federal court seeking to void the law entirely. More recently, Congressional Republicans have introduced laws in both the U.S. House and Senate to preempt state laws like Vermont’s Climate Superfund. Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark’s office is among those actively defending Vermont’s Climate Superfund law, and key aspects are being implemented by Treasurer Mike Pieciak and the Agency of Natural Resources.
"When we invest in our planet, we're investing in ourselves, our economy, and our future. As FEMA leaves Vermonters on their own to weather the climate crisis and pick up the tab for the damages—our office will continue to step up and invest in resilience to protect our most vulnerable communities." – Mike Pieciak, State Treasurer
Closer to home, Vermont’s own path forward on climate has also been narrowed. The Scott Administration proposed changes that could make it more expensive for Vermonters to afford clean energy systems. The Governor’s budget zeroed out electric vehicle incentive programs - at the same time that our public transit system is cutting routes.
Taken together, federal rollbacks, legal attacks on Vermont’s own climate laws, and the retreat from proactive clean energy solutions represent a compounding threat to Vermont’s environmental future. These are not abstract policy debates. They are decisions being made right now that will shape the air our children breathe, the water we drink, and the climate our grandchildren will inherit. The longer we wait to act, the longer the damage from these rollbacks will take to reverse.
State leadership is more essential than ever to chart a different path, and Vermont must lean into our deep environmental values to maintain a healthy and vibrant state. Vermont’s Attorney General Charity Clark is defending Vermonters’ right to a healthy environment in court. Treasurer Mike Pieciak is finding creative ways to invest state resources in sustainable communities. Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas is protecting our voter data and fighting to defend our free and fair elections. Lawmakers are advancing policies to help people install small-scale solar, phase out toxic Paraquat, reduce harmful chloride pollution, regulate data centers, and continue to strengthen voter protections.
“I am proud to live in Vermont where our democracy is strong. Voting is free, fair and accessible so that We the People can tell Vermont's leaders what we need them to do. This means that if any state in the country can solve big problems like Climate Change, Vermont can. I work hard every day to make sure our democracy stays strong, vibrant, and accessible so Vermont can continue to tackle tough issues.” — Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Vermont Secretary of State
Partner Quotes
“We’ve seen attack after attack from the federal government over the past 15 months. They have made Vermont more expensive, less safe, and less healthy. We need leaders in Vermont to continue to protect Vermonters by resisting these federal changes and pass legislation that promotes renewable energy and protects our water, land, and air.” – Dan Fingas, Executive Director of Vermont Conservation Voters.
"Instead of responding with a Vermont solution to the Trump Administration’s assault on renewables, the Scott Administration is making the problem even worse by recommending a cut in the bill credits school districts, municipalities, and over 20,000 Vermonters who have invested in home and community solar arrays receive to lower their monthly electric bills." – Peter Sterling, REV
"On Earth Day, the Sierra Club is actively engaged in thousands of actions and events throughout the nation. As we celebrate, we are mindful that never before have we had such an assault on our natural resources and rollback of environmental policies as by this president. The anti-environmental threat is so strong that it has poisoned the political debate in Vermont, and environmental policy is no longer a priority for the state government or legislature. With our allies and millions of members, the Sierra Club will rebuild and reinvigorate the movement to protect the Earth and here in Vermont." – Robb Kidd, Sierra Club Vermont Chapter Director
“At a time when heating and transportation costs are skyrocketing for Vermonters, it’s more important than ever that our leaders work to address inequity in accessing affordable, climate resilient, renewables. While the Trump administration guts the federal agencies responsible for supporting communities when they are most in need, Vermont businesses, and their employees, continue to face the impacts of increasing climate disasters. At VBSR we support small businesses in building climate resilience to support themselves, their employees, and their communities. We urge our state leaders to continue to do the same.” – Johanna de Graffenreid, Public Policy Manager Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility.
"As a community of elders, Third Act Vermont cares deeply about the world we are leaving for our children, grandchildren, and all the generations to come. We stand firmly with our state legislators who are fighting to address the climate crisis and seeking to hold responsible the fossil fuel industry that is the cause of this crisis." – David McColgin, Third Act Vermont.
About VNRC
VNRC’s mission is to promote a healthy environment and resilient communities for all Vermonters today and into the future.
4.22.2026. Vermont Natural Resources Council
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