Democracy Dispatch

The Past, Present, and Future of Vermont’s River Communities

This week's episode examines how climate change is reshaping the meaning of home in communities facing increasing floods and environmental disruption. It challenges the idea that people can simply relocate, highlighting the deep cultural, historical, and emotional ties that bind communities to place. Grounded in Vermont’s recent flooding, it explores how river towns are grappling with both immediate recovery and long-term uncertainty. Sereena Knight, our 2026 legislative intern, guest hosts. The discussion centers lived experiences and invites a more thoughtful, justice-centered vision for community resilience and the future.

The 2026 Democratic Candidates for Lieutenant Governor

With your host away for the week, this week’s episode is an audio recording of the Lieutenant Governor’s forum held two weeks ago in Rutland. This is your chance to hear how the three candidates for the Democratic Primary - Esther Charlestin, Ryan McLaren, and Molly Gray - answered a range of questions on critical issues such as the cost of living, civil rights, and democracy. At the end of the panel, moderated by VPIRG’s executive director, Paul Burns, the candidates take questions submitted by the audience. 

When The Trees Came Back: The Great Battle to Save Vermont's Forests

In the late 1800s, Vermont was a very different place. Its hills were largely cleared, its soils exhausted, and its economy struggling under the weight of overused land. In When the Trees Came Back: The Great Battle to Save Vermont’s Forests, retired judge and historian Bob Mello tells the story of how Vermonters confronted that crisis and how the state’s forests slowly returned.
In this episode, we explore what that history can teach us today. From the tension between economic survival and environmental protection to the long-running debate over how land should be used, many of the challenges Vermonters faced 150 years ago feel strikingly familiar.
As current conversations around development, conservation, and rural land use continue to unfold, Mello reflects on the hard lessons learned from Vermont’s past, and what they might mean for the choices we’re making now.

Toxics Reform Round-up: Artificial Turf and Metals in Baby Food

In this episode, we bring you two timely conversations with Vermont lawmakers on the state’s ongoing work to address toxic chemicals, and how those policies are playing out on the ground.
First, we speak with Representative Phil Pouech to discuss the proposed installation of an artificial turf field at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg. The conversation explores community concerns, environmental tradeoffs, and how Vermont’s new law banning PFAS in artificial turf is shaping the debate.
Then, we’re joined by Representative Mary Katherine Stone to discuss legislation aimed at reducing harmful contaminants in baby food, including heavy metals that can pose serious risks to infant health. She walks us through how these contaminants enter the food supply, what the bill would do, and why Vermont continues to lead on toxics reform.
Together, these conversations offer a snapshot of toxics policy in Vermont, highlighting both statewide legislative efforts and the real-world decisions communities are facing as those policies take effect.

Why Vermont’s Wind Energy Development has Withered

Vermont was once a leader in wind power, with projects like Deerfield, Kingdom Community Wind, and Georgia Mountain helping supply clean, in-state energy. Today, that progress has largely stalled.
In this episode, Peter Sterling of Renewable Energy Vermont breaks down the rise - and halt - of wind development in the state. We explore the backlash over ridgeline projects, the nation’s strictest sound regulations, and how policy decisions have shaped a de facto moratorium on new wind.
We also look ahead: what Vermont’s participation in regional offshore wind efforts means, and whether wind can still play a role in meeting the state’s climate and affordability goals.

Act 181 and Vermont's Land Use Policy

In this episode, we’re joined by Lauren Hierl, Executive Director of the Vermont Natural Resources Council, to break down one of the most significant overhauls of Vermont’s land use system in decades. We explore the foundations of Act 250, the goals behind Act 181, and what lawmakers are aiming to address with S.325.
Lauren walks us through how these policies are designed to balance housing needs with long-standing conservation priorities, and what implementation looks like on the ground. We also dig into the growing backlash from rural Vermonters, recent protests at the Statehouse, and the key concerns shaping this evolving debate.

Checking in with Sen. Anne Watson on Climate, Water, and Land Use Policy

We check in with friend of the podcast, Sen. Anne Watson, Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee, for a conversation about the policies shaping Vermont’s future.
We dig into Act 181 and what it means for land use reform, housing, and conservation, along with efforts to reduce road salt pollution and protect water quality. We also take a step back to look at the broader work of the committee - from climate and energy policy to affordability - and what’s ahead as legislation "crosses over" from the House.
It’s a wide-ranging conversation about how Vermont is balancing growth, environmental protection, and the needs of its communities.

2026 Halftime Report

It's crossover, which means our annual Halftime Report episode. VCV's Justin Marsh and Dan Fingas discuss the current legislative session in Vermont, and give updates on environmental and democracy policies, clean energy initiatives, and housing legislation. They highlight key bills, including those addressing toxics, clean water, and voter protections, while also looking ahead to future legislative actions to be expected.

Back to the Atom? Vermont Reconsiders Nuclear Energy

In this episode, we begin with a conversation about nuclear energy and why it’s back on the policy agenda in Vermont. As electricity demand grows and climate deadlines loom, I’m joined by Rep. Kath James (D-Manchester) to explore whether nuclear power is truly “clean,” what the environmental and cost impacts could be, and how Vermont’s experience with Vermont Yankee shapes today’s debate. Then, in a separate segment, we revisit one of the podcast’s earliest conversations, a democracy discussion with Susan Clark, reflecting on Vermont’s unique tradition of local democracy and how communities navigate big, complex decisions together.

Pause or Prepare? Two Paths on Data Center Policy

Artificial intelligence is booming. Cloud computing is expanding. And across the country, massive data centers are being proposed and built at a rapid pace - facilities that can consume as much electricity as small cities and require significant water, land, and grid infrastructure.
Vermont doesn’t currently have a large-scale data center proposal on the table. But lawmakers are asking a proactive question: What happens if one comes? And more importantly, are we ready?
Today we’re talking about two different legislative approaches aimed at preparing Vermont for that possibility. One would establish a regulatory framework for siting and reviewing data centers before they arrive. The other would place a temporary pause - a moratorium - to give the state time to study the impacts and craft long-term policy.
At the heart of this debate are some big questions: How do we balance economic opportunity with environmental responsibility? How do large energy users affect grid reliability and ratepayers? And how does data center development align, or clash, with Vermont’s climate and clean energy goals?
We’ll also dig into testimony from utilities like Green Mountain Power, which suggested that bringing a heavy energy load onto the system could potentially lower rates by spreading fixed costs across more customers. Is that a benefit? A risk? Or both?
Joining us to break this down are Senator Rebecca White and Representative Laura Sibilia, who are leading these efforts in the Legislature.