Protecting the Environment
"Climate change is real and has serious consequences for our economy, our livelihoods, and our health. You don't have to go any further than communities across Vermont to hear about its early impacts. Just ask the businesses and families wiped out by Tropical Storm Irene. Ask ski lift operators worried about losing their jobs as the season shortens. Or ask sugar makers who are coping with uncertainty over when the season will start and how long it will last. This is a problem that can be solved. If we ignore the costs of carbon pollution, we will lose to other countries America’s advantage in developing the clean energy technologies of the future."
Spotlight on the Environment
Rep. Welch is a leader in the House on initiatives to tackle climate change and protect our environment. As a member of the Safe Climate Caucus and House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, he has taken on climate change skeptics and helped defeat efforts to handcuff the Environmental Protection Agency and gut landmark environmental laws and initiatives such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. He is the House leader on energy efficiency, a vocal opponent of the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline, and a strong supporter of a cap and trade system to check carbon emissions.
More on Protecting the Environment
WASHINGTON – Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) is calling for the immediate resignation of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt.
Welch has co-sponsored a House ‘no confidence’ resolution (H.Res. 834) in response to Pruitt’s reported ethics violations, misuse of taxpayer funds, and policy actions that have undermined the agency’s core mission at expense of the environment, public health and science.
A destructive, invasive beetle first confirmed in the state earlier this month, has now been spotted in three other locations according to state officials.
The emerald ash borer, which is responsible for the death of millions of ash trees around the country has now been discovered in Barre, Groton, and Plainfield. It was first detected in Orange. The news has many public and industry officials around the state preparing for what's to come.
RANDOLPH, Vt. – At a press conference this afternoon in Randolph, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) outlined three actions he is taking to assist the effort to contain the spread of the destructive emerald ash borer in Vermont. The beetle, first discovered in the United States in 2002, targets and kills ash trees by depriving them of their nutrition sources.
Welch was joined at the press conference by Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts and state forestry leaders.
Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) issued the following statement following his vote in favor of the fiscal year 2018 omnibus appropriations bill, which passed the House on a vote of 256-167:
“I voted for this bill because, on balance, it is good for Vermont and good for the country.
WASHINGTON — Vermont’s sole member of the House of Representatives is leading an effort to curb the production and related environmental impacts of corn ethanol.
Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., introduced legislation Thursday with Sen. Tom Udall, D-NM, aiming to reform national policies that incentivize the production of corn ethanol. It would instead increase incentives for more environmentally friendly biofuels.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) introduced companion bills in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by mitigating harmful environmental impacts and advancing the next generation of biofuels.
The GREENER Fuels Act (Growing Renewable Energy through Existing and New Environmentally Responsible Fuels Act) is the first bill in Congress to reform the RFS.
WASHINGTON, October 3 – Vermont’s congressional delegation – Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), and Representative Peter Welch (D) – announced Tuesday that the City of St. Albans was awarded a $10.6 million grant and loan package from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to make major improvements to its wastewater treatment plant. The improvements will reduce the inflow of phosphorous pollution to Lake Champlain, increase plant reliability, and improve the plant’s energy efficiency performance.
Washington, DC – Last evening, the House of Representatives approved a bipartisan amendment authored by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) that restores $4.4 million in fiscal year 2018 federal funding for the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP). The amendment, cosponsored by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), rejects the recommendations of President Trump and the House Appropriations Committee to eliminate funding for the program.
BURLINGTON, Vt., June 6 -- Vermont’s congressional delegation announced Tuesday that Williston and Richmond have received a combined $656,000 in U.S. Forest Service grants to create town forests.
In a joint statement, Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said, “We are pleased these federal funds will allow the towns of Williston and Richmond to conserve key tracts of forest, increase public access and improve recreational opportunities for local residents.”
BURLINGTON — Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced Thursday that three southern Vermont organizations will share a total of $700,000 in Brownfields Program assessment and cleanup grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Brownfields grants allow communities to assess and clean up contaminated properties to facilitate their redevelopment and reuse.