Vermont S 110: An act relating to extending eligibility for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation

Bill Text

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VT LEG #378873 v.5
S.110 1
Introduced by Senators Williams, Brennan, Collamore, Douglass, Hart, 2
Heffernan, Ingalls, Mattos, Norris and Weeks 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Public service; energy; climate change; air pollution; renewable 6
energy; heating; fuel; thermal energy; greenhouse gas emissions; 7
Renewable Energy Standard 8
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to repeal the 9
Affordable Heat Act, repeal the citizen suit provision of the Global Warming 10
Solutions Act, and change the State’s greenhouse gas reduction requirements 11
to goals. It would also change the Renewable Energy Standard to the Clean 12
Energy Standard. 13
An act relating to changes to Vermont’s air pollution and renewable energy 14
laws 15
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 16
* * * Global Warming Solutions Act * * * 17
Sec. 1. REPEAL 18
10 V.S.A. § 594 is repealed. 19

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Sec. 2. 10 V.S.A. § 578 is amended to read: 1
§ 578. GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION REQUIREMENTS 2
(a) Greenhouse gas reduction requirements. Vermont shall reduce achieve 3
net zero emissions of greenhouse gases from within the geographical 4
boundaries of the State and those emissions outside the boundaries of the State 5
that are caused by the use of energy in Vermont, as measured and inventoried 6
pursuant to section 582 of this title, by: on or before January 1, 2035. 7
(1) not less than 26 percent from 2005 greenhouse gas emissions by 8
January 1, 2025 pursuant to the State’s membership in the United States 9
Climate Alliance and commitment to implement policies to achieve the 10
objectives of the 2016 Paris Agreement; 11
(2) not less than 40 percent from 1990 greenhouse gas emissions by 12
January 1, 2030 pursuant to the State’s 2016 Comprehensive Energy Plan; and 13
(3) not less than 80 percent from 1990 greenhouse gas emissions by 14
January 1, 2050 pursuant to the State’s 2016 Comprehensive Energy Plan 15
Vermont shall continue to implement the policies to achieve the objectives of 16
the 2016 Paris Agreement and remain at net zero greenhouse gas emissions 17
across all sectors into the future. 18
* * * 19
Sec. 3. 10 V.S.A. § 590 is amended to read: 20
§ 590. DEFINITIONS 21

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VT LEG #378873 v.5
As used in this chapter: 1
(1) “Adaptation” means reducing vulnerability and advancing resilience 2
through planned and implemented enhancements to, or avoiding degradation 3
of, natural and built systems and structures. 4
(2) “Greenhouse gas” has the same meaning as in section 552 of this 5
title. 6
(3) “Mitigation” means reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas 7
emissions, and preservation and enhancement of natural systems to sequester 8
and store carbon, in order to stabilize and reduce greenhouse gases in the 9
atmosphere. 10
(4) “Net zero greenhouse gas emissions” means the total amount of 11
greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere after accounting for the amount 12
of greenhouse gases that are naturally absorbed or sequestered is at or less than 13
zero across all sectors. 14
(5) “Resilience” means the capacity of individuals, communities, and 15
natural and built systems to withstand and recover from climatic events, trends, 16
and disruptions. 17
Sec. 4. 10 V.S.A. § 591 is amended to read: 18
§ 591. VERMONT CLIMATE COUNCIL 19
(a) There is created the Vermont Climate Council (Council). The Council 20
shall be advisory and composed of the following members: 21

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VT LEG #378873 v.5
(1) the Secretary of Administration Natural Resources or designee, who 1
shall serve as the Chair of the Council; 2
(2) the Secretary of Natural Resources or designee State Climatologist 3
or designee; 4
(3) the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets or designee; 5
(4) the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development or 6
designee; 7
(5) the Secretary of Human Services or designee; 8
(6) the Secretary of Transportation or designee; 9
(7) the Commissioner of Public Safety or designee; 10
(8) the Commissioner of Public Service or designee; 11
(9) one member to represent municipal governments, appointed by the 12
Governor; 13
(10) one member to represent the rural communities, appointed by the 14
Governor; 15
(11) the following members who shall be appointed by the Speaker of 16
the House General Assembly: 17
(A) one member with expertise and professional experience in the 18
design and implementation of programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; 19
(B) one member to represent rural communities; 20
(C) one member to represent municipal governments; 21

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(D) one member to represent distribution utilities; 1
(E)(B) one member to represent a statewide environmental 2
organization; 3
(F)(C) one member to represent the fuel sector; 4
(G) one member w