A group of eight influential environmental organizations released its top five energy and climate change priorities for the 2013 legislative session.
The Vermont Public Interest Research Group, the Conservation Law Foundation, Renewable Energy Vermont and the Vermont Energy Investment Corp. were among the groups in support of the proposed agenda.
Topping off the group’s priorities was a call for increased investment in weatherization upgrades, as recommended in a recently released report by the state’s Thermal Efficiency Task Force — which was made up of representatives from the aforementioned organizations.
The aim of the report is to meet the statutory goal of improving the energy efficiency of 80,000, or one-quarter, of Vermont’s homes by 2020. Every dollar of public funding invested in efficiency would result in more than $6 of return, according to the report.
But the hitch for many legislators is how to finance the task force’s public funding proposal for $276 million in weatherization recommendations. To do that, the report proposes an excise tax on all fossil fuels used for heating and calls for an end to a 6 percent sales tax exemption on fuel for residential purposes.
The group’s second priority is to support legislation that would prevent the flow of tar sands oil through Vermont. While Enbridge Oil told VTDigger it has no plans to transport tar sands oil across Vermont, legislators are already taking aim at regulating a potential application. So far, no legislation has been proposed that would prevent the flow of tar sands oil through Vermont.
The group also hopes the Legislature will continue to support the proliferation of renewable energy developments, including wind turbines of all sizes. A bipartisan effort in the Senate, however, is aiming to place a wind moratorium on projects above 500 kilowatts. In addition the moratorium bill, another group of senators has introduced a bill that would give municipalities greater authority over the permitting of wind turbines above 1,500 feet.
Gabrielle Stebbins, director of Renewable Energy Vermont, articulated the group’s fourth goal: to fully fund the Clean Energy Development Fund. Previously Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant operator Entergy Corp. paid into that fund. The company’s agreement with the state ended last year.
The state was counting on Entergy to contribute about $12.5 million annually via an electric generation tax that was imposed this year, but the Louisiana-based company sued the state over the tax on constitutional grounds. The case was dismissed in federal court, but Entergy is appealing it.
Although Entergy hasn’t yet paid the tax, Stebbins said the fund has enough liquidity to keep running through 2013. After the press conference, several legislators said the governor’s budget would likely include an appropriation for the fund.
The group’s fifth and final priority is to encourage the Legislature to adopt statutes that would lay the groundwork for electric-powered transportation in Vermont. The group provided few details on this final goal, and there is no current legislation that has been introduced surrounding electric transportation.
Organizations supporting these priorities:
• Conservation Law Foundation
• Vermont Pubic Interest Research Group
• Vermont Natural Resources Council
• 350 Vermont
• Building Performance Professionals Association
• Renewable Energy Vermont
• Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club
• Vermont Energy Investment Corp.
