Tuesday, after a nearly three year fight to stop the Addison County fracked gas pipeline, Vermont Gas Systems announced it will not proceed with its proposal to build Phase 2 of the pipeline expansion.

We’ve known all along that this pipeline was a bad investment for Vermont’s energy future. I’m glad Vermont Gas finally agrees, at least on Phase 2 of the project, which would have run from Middlebury underneath Lake Champlain and all the way to Ticonderoga, NY to fuel International Paper’s massive papermill there. We hope the next step is to abandon Phase 1 of the project so we can invest in clean energy and shift away from polluting fossil fuels.

As usual, the fight isn’t over. I’ve been honored to work with Vermonters from all around the state, including groups like Citizens for the Public Good, Just Power, and Hands Across the Valley. I know together, we’ll keep fighting this until the end.

But I hope today, we can all take a little time to celebrate.

Thanks, as always,

Shaina Kasper

Vermont Community Organizer