Energy (Renewable Energy)

H.767 proposes a temporary eight-year pause on several key climate change programs in Vermont, including the Renewable Energy Standard (requiring 100% renewable electricity by 2030), the Clean Heat Standard, and the Global Warming Solutions Act. The bill would halt enforcement of these laws, directly affecting Vermont residents (particularly low- and moderate-income households facing energy costs), utilities, and landowners subject to current regulations. Its key mechanism is a moratorium to evaluate the combined impacts of these programs on housing affordability, energy costs, and private property rights. The bill states this pause is necessary to balance environmental goals with economic realities before continuing implementation.

S.110 repeals Vermont's Affordable Heat Act and removes the citizen suit provision from the Global Warming Solutions Act. It changes the state's greenhouse gas reduction requirements from legally binding targets to goals while maintaining the same emission reduction targets: 26% below 2005 levels by 2025, 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. The bill also replaces the Renewable Energy Standard with a Clean Energy Standard, which may broaden the definition of eligible clean energy sources. These changes affect Vermont's regulatory approach to climate policy, impacting state agencies, energy providers, and public compliance with emissions goals.

H 159 proposes to repeal Vermont's Renewable Energy Standard (RES), which required electricity providers to source increasing percentages of renewable energy. If passed, this bill would eliminate the legal requirement for Vermont's electricity providers to meet specific renewable energy procurement targets. The repeal would remove provisions mandating that providers purchase renewable energy to meet the RES, effectively ending the state's mandatory renewable energy goals. This directly affects all Vermont electricity providers subject to the RES, though it does not address existing renewable energy projects or contracts.