Vermont H 740: An act relating to the greenhouse gas inventory and registry

Bill Text

BILLAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.740
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H.740
Introduced by Representative James of Manchester
Referred to Committee on
Date:
Subject: Conservation and development; air pollution; greenhouse gases;
greenhouse gas inventory and registry
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to give the
Agency of Natural Resources additional authority to collect data for the
greenhouse gas inventory and registry.
An act relating to the greenhouse gas inventory and registry
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. 10 V.S.A. § 582 is amended to read:
§ 582. GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES; REGISTRY
* * *
(e) Rules.
(1) The Secretary may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this
section and shall review existing and proposed international, federal, and State
greenhouse gas emission reporting programs and make reasonable efforts to
promote consistency among the programs established pursuant to this section
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and other programs, and to streamline reporting requirements on greenhouse
gas emission sources. Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section,
nothing in this section shall limit a State agency from adopting any rule within
its authority.
(2) The Secretary shall adopt rules that create a comprehensive
greenhouse gas emission reporting program that covers all sources of
emissions, including fuel suppliers. Suppliers of transportation and heating
fuels covered by the rules shall comply with requests from the Secretary for
information. The information collected shall at a minimum include the types
and volume of fuels sold, by sector for the transportation, residential,
commercial, and industrial sectors, by county.
* * *
Sec. 2. RULEMAKING
On or before March 1, 2027, the Secretary of Natural Resources shall
submit to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules proposed final
rules for greenhouse gas reporting as required under 10 V.S.A. § 582(e)(2).
Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION
In fiscal year 2027, the sum of $800,000.00 is appropriated from the
General Fund to the Secretary of Natural Resources to be used to draft the
greenhouse gas emission reporting rules, to develop a greenhouse gas emission
source database, and to fund staff time on emission source data collection.
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Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE
This act shall take effect on passage.
Sec. 1. 10 V.S.A. § 582 is amended to read:
§ 582. GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES; REGISTRY
* * *
(e) Rules.
(1) The Secretary may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this
section and shall review existing and proposed international, federal, and State
greenhouse gas emission reporting programs and make reasonable efforts to
promote consistency among the programs established pursuant to this section
and other programs, and to streamline reporting requirements on greenhouse
gas emission sources. Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section,
nothing in this section shall limit a State agency from adopting any rule within
its authority.
(2) The Secretary has authority to adopt rules that create a
comprehensive greenhouse gas emission reporting program that covers all
sources of emissions, including fuel suppliers. Suppliers of transportation and
heating fuels covered by the rules shall comply with requests from the
Secretary for information. The Secretary shall adopt a rule that at a minimum
includes the types and volume of fossil fuels sold by sector for the
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transportation, residential, commercial, and industrial sectors and by zip code,
municipality, or the smallest geographic level practicable.
* * *
Sec. 2. RULEMAKING
On or before July 1, 2027, the Secretary of Natural Resources shall adopt
final rules for greenhouse gas reporting as required under 10 V.S.A.
§ 582(e)(2).
Sec. 2. RULEMAKING
Contingent upon an appropriation of funds in fiscal year 2027, for this
purpose, on or before July 1, 2027, the Secretary of Natural Resources shall
adopt final rules for greenhouse gas reporting as required under 10 V.S.A.
§ 582(e)(2). The duty to create a database for the reporting of data is also
contingent upon an appropriation of funds.
Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION AND POSITIONS
(a) Funding. In addition to other funds appropriated to the Agency of
Natural Resources, the sum of $500,000.00 shall be appropriated from the
General Fund as a base appropriation, which will be used to draft the
greenhouse gas emission reporting rules, to develop a greenhouse gas emission
source database, and to support staff and on-going efforts required to
implement emission source data collection.

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(b) Positions. In fiscal year 2027, the establishment of two new permanent
classified Environmental Analyst V positions in the Agency of Natural
Resource