Editor’s note: This commentary is by Lauren Hierl, who is political director of the Vermont Conservation Voters.
[F]ollowing the governor’s veto of the renewable energy siting bill, and the scramble to enact a clarified bill in a special legislative session, much of the media focus has been on the political jockeying in an unusual year when elected officials in virtually every major office (including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, speaker of the House and Senate president pro tempore) announced they would be retiring from their current positions at the end of this year.
Now that the dust is beginning to settle, it’s a good time to take stock of the notable steps the Legislature took to better protect Vermont’s environment this year. Below are highlights from a number of environmental bills that were enacted this year.
Renewable energy siting (S.260) legislation was enacted that increases opportunities for Vermonters both at the local and regional level to participate in energy siting planning, and does so in a way that ensures the state meets its climate and renewable energy goals. Importantly, the bill creates a pilot project for locating solar projects on parking lots, gravel pits and other “built” environment locations, areas where it makes good environmental sense to build.
For the first time in many years, the Legislature increased the charge on fossil fuels that funds low-income weatherization programs. That means more Vermonters will be able to save energy and save money by weatherizing their homes.
Please join us at a gubernatorial candidate debate on environmental issues on June 22, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Chapel at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier.
Though carbon pollution tax legislation did not pass this year, the House Committee on Natural Resources & Energy took testimony from businesses, fuel dealers, low-income advocates, faith leaders and others on how the state could effectively put a price on carbon pollution in order to decrease Vermonters’ reliance on fossil fuels. The Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan and Vermont Council on Rural Development’s Vermont Climate Change Economy Council both highlighted carbon pricing as a key policy the state should examine. Collectively, momentum is building for the state to develop a carbon pollution tax reform policy that will work for Vermont, the region, and that could be a model for the nation.
Forest integrity (H.857) legislation was enacted to protect our forests and support Vermont’s vital forest economy. Highlights of this comprehensive bill include making it easier for landowners to donate land for conservation purposes, promoting strategies for landowners to pass their family forests to their next generation, requiring greater consideration of forest values in local and regional planning, supporting the local forest products economy, and examining ways to help landowners promote good forestry and maintain water quality.
A bill (H.570) was signed into law that included updates to the state’s endangered and threatened species program, including authorizing for the first time the ability of the state to designate critical habitat for our most vulnerable plants and animals.
Significantly, the Legislature took steps to address water contamination in (H.595), which was enacted in response to the toxic chemical PFOA contamination in water supplies in the Bennington area. The bill gives the state stronger tools to gather information on potential hazardous chemical contamination and to hold polluters accountable for harm caused to our air, land, water and wildlife by these chemicals. The state can now assess damages to restore public trust resources like groundwater and surface water. In addition, to help prevent a Flint, Michigan-like episode here in Vermont, the bill establishes a working group to recommend changes to state law to help communities stop, detect, and respond to water contamination.
The Vermont Legislature passed, and the governor signed into law, a number of important bills this year that will improve our ability to pass on to our children a thriving Vermont – one with intact forests, healthy wildlife populations, clean and safe drinking water, and energy independence.
We have a long way to go on all of these issues, and heading into election season, it’s a critical time for Vermonters to examine candidates’ environmental records, and elect lawmakers who are committed to Vermont’s long tradition of protecting our natural resources and working lands. To help ensure this happens, Vermont Conservation Voters will be working to hold candidates’ feet to the fire, and to educate voters on where their candidates stand. One upcoming opportunity – please join us at a gubernatorial candidate debate on environmental issues that the Vermont Conservation Voters and Vermont Natural Resource Council are co-hosting on Wednesday, June 22, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Chapel at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier.
