Vermont H 62: An act relating to the interstate Counseling Compact

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.62
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VT LEG #379037 v.1
H.62 1
Introduced by Representatives Higley of Lowell, Bailey of Hyde Park, Burditt 2
of West Rutland, Burtt of Cabot, Casey of Hubbardton, Coffin 3
of Cavendish, Demar of Enosburgh, Dickinson of St. Albans 4
Town, Dobrovich of Williamstown, Feltus of Lyndon, Howland 5
of Rutland Town, Keyser of Rutland City, Labor of Morgan, 6
Luneau of St. Albans City, McFaun of Barre Town, Morgan, L. 7
of Milton, Morgan, M. of Milton, Morrissey of Bennington, 8
Nelson of Derby, Nielsen of Brandon, Oliver of Sheldon, Page 9
of Newport City, Parsons of Newbury, Powers of Waterford, 10
Quimby of Lyndon, Southworth of Walden, Tagliavia of 11
Corinth, Taylor of Milton, and Toof of St. Albans Town 12
Referred to Committee on 13
Date: 14
Subject: Conservation and development; air pollution; climate change; 15
Vermont Climate Council 16
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to change the 17
State’s greenhouse gas reduction requirements to goals and repeal the Vermont 18
Climate Council. 19
An act relating to repealing the Global Warming Solutions Act 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.62
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VT LEG #379037 v.1
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 1
Sec. 1. REPEAL 2
10 V.S.A. chapter 24 (Vermont Climate Council and Climate Action Plan) 3
is repealed. 4
Sec. 2. 10 V.S.A. § 578 is amended to read: 5
§ 578. GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION REQUIREMENTS GOALS 6
(a) Greenhouse gas reduction requirements goals. It is the goal of Vermont 7
shall to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from within the geographical 8
boundaries of the State and those emissions outside the boundaries of the State 9
that are caused by the use of energy in Vermont, as measured and inventoried 10
pursuant to section 582 of this title, by: 11
* * * 12
(c) Implementation of State programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 13
In order to facilitate the State’s compliance with the goals established in this 14
section, all State agencies shall consider, whenever practicable, any increase or 15
decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in their decision-making procedures with 16
respect to the purchase and use of equipment and goods; the siting, 17
construction, and maintenance of buildings; the assignment of personnel; and 18
the planning, design, and operation of programs, services, and infrastructure. 19
* * * 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.62
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VT LEG #379037 v.1
Sec. 3. 30 V.S.A. § 202a is amended to read: 1
§ 202a. STATE ENERGY POLICY 2
It is the general policy of the State of Vermont: 3
* * * 4
(3) To meet Vermont’s energy service needs in a manner that will 5
achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reductions requirements goals pursuant 6
to 10 V.S.A § 578 and is consistent with the Vermont Climate Action Plan 7
adopted and updated pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 592. 8
Sec. 4. 30 V.S.A. § 202b is amended to read: 9
§ 202b. STATE COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY PLAN 10
(a) The Department of Public Service, in conjunction with other State 11
agencies designated by the Governor, shall prepare a State Comprehensive 12
Energy Plan covering at least a 20-year period. The Plan shall seek to 13
implement the State energy policy set forth in section 202a of this title, 14
including meeting the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions 15
requirements goals pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 578, and shall be consistent with 16
the relevant goals of 24 V.S.A. § 4302 and with the Vermont Climate Action 17
Plan adopted and updated pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 592. The State 18
Comprehensive Energy Plan shall include: 19
* * * 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.62
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VT LEG #379037 v.1
Sec. 5. RULE REPEAL 1
Department of Environmental Conservation, Chapter 40: Vermont Low 2
Emission Vehicle and Zero Emission Vehicle Rules (CVR 12-30-40) is 3
repealed. 4
Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE 5
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 6