Protecting the Environment

Doug has a 100% lifetime score from the Vermont League of Conservation Voters. Here are just a few of his recent accomplishments on environmental issues:

State Senator, 2007-2010

• As state senator during the last four years, Doug has fought to maintain Housing and Conservation Trust Fund money, fought against Jim Douglas’ attempts to weaken Act 250 standards and public participation, and worked with Senator Ginny Lyons, chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, on removing toxics from our environment and consumer products.
• Voted to retire Vermont Yankee in 2012 when its license expires (no vote on S.289)
• Voted to support Act 45 in 2009, which created a fund to promote renewable energy sources, encourages development of wind power, and requires Vermont electricity companies to purchase renewable energy credits.
• Scored 100% on the most recent Vermont League of Conservation Voters Scorecard, and received the League’s endorsement in 2008 for his State Senate race.
• Sponsored and helped pass Act 190 in 2007, which established a committee to guide the redevelopment and environmental cleanup of contaminated and abandoned former industrial sites.

Board Member, Vermont Natural Resources Council, 2004-2006

During Doug’s tenure on the board, the VNRC worked to:

• ensure that stormwater discharges in five watersheds in Chittenden County complied with the federal Clean Water Act.
• protect the White River Basin and preserve funding for the Fish and Wildlife Department.
• bring together stakeholders to address key issues such as forest conservation and groundwater withdrawals and worked to encourage economic development in Vermont’s downtowns.

Lieutenant Governor, 1997-1998

• Supported and helped to pass Act 151, the state’s mercury law, which ensured Vermonters basic right-to-know information about mercury risks and recycling.

State Senator, 1992

• Fought against attempts to weaken Act 200 by removing regional review of municipal plans as well as attempts to weaken Act 250.

State Senator, 1990

• Fought hard to protect a range of human services and environmental programs from deep budget cuts proposed in the face of certain projected deficits for the state government. Both the Human Services Agency and Natural Resources Agency were spared from dramatic cuts made throughout other government agencies and programs.

State Senator, 1988

• As Chair of Natural Resources Committee, helped draft and was instrumental in passing Act 200, Vermont’s Growth Bill, landmark growth management legislation. A priority of then Governor Madeline Kunin, Act 200 helped to strengthen the roles of regional planning commissions and required the drafting of regional plans focused on smart growth including provisions for affordable housing, and plans for energy consumption, infrastructure development, and land conservation. Towns were also encouraged to adopt municipal plans and the planning effort was paid for in part through an increase in the property transfer tax.

State Senator, 1987

• Appointed Chairman of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee, becoming the first Democrat to chair that committee after a long period of Republican chairmanship.
• As chair of Nat. Resources Committee, led effort to pass legislation regulating solid waste landfills in the state, requiring long term planning from solid waste districts regarding recycling and waste disposal.
• Passed three other major environmental laws out of the Nat. Resources Committee, including: use restrictions protecting the state’s scenic rivers, an increased tax on short term land sales helping to curb land speculation in Vermont, and legislation establishing the Housing and Conservation Trust Fund, established to preserve Vermont’s agricultural and forest land while providing assistance for low-income housing for Vermonters.

State Senator, 1986

• As a member of the Natural Resources Committee, led the successful effort to pass the Water Quality Bill, the toughest stream protection legislation in the nation.

State Senator, 1984

• Introduces and passes a bill allowing the use of industrial development bonds for downtown commercial revitalization, effectively making low interest financing available for businesses in distressed downtown areas. The goal here was to begin the process of revitalizing Vermont’s small downtowns.
• Played an active role in closing the Act 250 loophole exempting lots of 10 acres or less from review.

Read about Doug Racine’s plans for Conservation, Efficiency and Clean, Renewable Energy »

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