by Liz Steel and Laura Zakaras
Later is too late. We must take sweeping action now to wean ourselves off fossil and other greenhouse gas emitting fuels.
The climate crisis is raining out our iconic Vermont winters, flooding our streets and homes, battering our vibrant local farms, and filling our air with smoke. These impacts, each with its own personal, social and economic costs, will only worsen if we continue to burn fossil fuels. Right now is our last window of opportunity to significantly mitigate the crisis and fortify our communities against the storms to come.
Later is too late. We must take sweeping action now to wean ourselves off fossil and other greenhouse gas emitting fuels and phase in clean, renewable, equitable energy solutions for Vermonters.
Three bills currently before the Legislature would move us toward these goals. Together, they could significantly reduce Vermont’s carbon pollution, make electrification affordable to low- and middle-income households, and reduce electricity and heating demand through the adoption of municipal thermal energy networks.
Gov. Phil Scott is continuing to impede climate mitigation by opposing H.289, the new Renewable Energy Standard. Not only is his objection based on a fabricated estimate of the cost of the bill, but he also conveniently ignores the costs of not passing the bill. Vermont’s Climate Action Plan estimated in 2022 that a $15 billion investment in effective climate action will save us $22 billion in the long run. Obstructing effective steps to mitigate carbon emissions now just saddles our children and grandchildren with an incredibly costly, even unlivable future.
We are calling on our representatives in the Vermont State Legislature to pass the following pieces of climate legislation, including an override of Scott’s veto if necessary:
Renewable Energy Standard Bill, H.289. This revision of our current Renewable Energy Standard would increase the amount of new, low-emissions sources of electricity (solar and wind) we use in Vermont. It makes significant progress toward reducing Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions from our use of electricity, and moves us closer to the goal of using 100% just and low-emissions renewable energy. Because the bill does not incentivize community solar and gets rid of the existing Group Net Metering program, we further ask that H.289 include an expanded study on community solar done by an independent contractor to ensure our electricity is clean, just and community-based.
Ratepayer Protection Bill, H.668. This bill would direct the Public Utility Commission to create draft legislation for a statewide low-income electric ratepayer protection program to be considered for legislation in 2025. Similar programs in other states cap the amount ratepayers pay per month for their electricity based on income. This is a necessary first step in helping protect low- and middle-income Vermonters from high electricity bills as we expand our use of electric power for heating, cooling, and transportation.
Thermal Energy Networks Bills, S.252 and H.669. Thermal Energy Networks reduce our reliance on fossil-fuel heating sources and reduce our electricity use. They combine highly efficient ground-source heat pumps with sources of excess heat like grocery store refrigeration units or wastewater. Heating and cooling needs are balanced on an underground thermal loop that can serve an entire neighborhood. This bill would allow municipalities to install thermal energy networks without going through a Public Utility Commission permitting process, thereby making it easier and more affordable to implement Thermal Energy Networks in our communities.
These bills represent practical, intelligent and achievable improvements to state energy policy as well as significant steps forward in Vermont’s response to the ever-increasing impacts of our climate crisis.
This commentary is by Liz Steel of Greensboro, a volunteer with 350Vermont, and Laura Zakaras of Burlington, a volunteer with Third Act Vermont.
