Spotlight on 

Vermont Gas Prices

In the middle of a severe recession, it is simply not fair that Vermont motorists are being required to pay more at the pump than they should be. On a drive from Burlington to Rutland earlier this summer, Bernie was struck by the fact that a number of gas stations owned by the same company sold a gallon of gas for nearly 25 cents more in Burlington than in towns as close by as Middlebury. That unusual pricing situation cost motorists in northwestern Vermont almost $5 more for a typical fill-up.

Bernie called for a federal investigation of the pricing discrepancies. He also held a Senate Energy Committee field hearing in Burlington to explore why gas prices were so much higher in Chittenden, Grand Isle and Franklin counties than elsewhere in the state or New England.

Bernie’s investigation revealed that over the past three years, Burlington area gas prices have exceeded the U.S. average 86 percent of the time - sometimes by as much as 29 cents per gallon. The investigation also found that profit margins in northwestern Vermont were double the national average this summer, making the Burlington market the most lucrative location to sell gas east of the Rocky Mountains. As a result of the spotlight Bernie shined on gas prices, the discrepancy between gas prices in northwestern Vermont and other parts of the state has faded.

Read Bernie’s remarks »
Read about Bernie’s Senate field hearing »
Federal Trade Commission findings »
Huge profit margins revealed »

EPA Chief Visits Vermont

At a time when virtually all the scientific community believes global warming is real, significantly caused by humans, and is already causing significant problems, Bernie invited EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to Vermont. She toured the Vermont National Guard’s 1.45 megawatt solar project – the second largest such Guard installation in the nation – and joined Bernie for a series of meetings with Vermont dairy farmers and environmentalists.

“This solar installation project is a great example of what can happen at military facilities,” Jackson said during her visit to the Vermont National Guard with Bernie. “We can foster healthier environments for the people on our bases, and drive innovation that is critical to our economic and environmental future." Bernie secured $8.5 million to build the Guard’s forward-looking solar project.

Read more about the EPA head’s visit »
Read Bernie’s remarks »

Fighting Senior Hunger

With millions of senior citizens struggling to survive economically, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee joined Bernie and close to 50 seniors for lunch last week at the Heineberg Senior Center in Burlington. “These programs are enormously important for seniors all over the country,” said Bernie, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging.  A few hours later, Bernie and Assistant Secretary Greenlee hosted a roundtable discussion on senior nutrition issues. "Senior hunger is on the rise in this country," Greenlee said. "This recession has been very hard on seniors."

Bernie’s subcommittee is responsible for the Older Americans Act, which authorizes and oversees congregate meals like those at Heineberg, Meals on Wheels and other vital programs that assist seniors. 

Watch Bernie speak with Vermont seniors »
Resources: What help is available for you? »