FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 09, 2023
CONTACT:
Ashley Moore
amoore@leg.state.vt.us
Senator Chris Bray
cbray@leg.state.vt.us
Senator Anne Watson
awatson@leg.state.vt.us
Senator Becca White
rwhite@leg.state.vt.us
VERMONT SENATE OVERRIDES GOV. SCOTT’S VETO OF S.5, A BILL TO SUPPORT A TRANSITION TO CLEANER, MORE AFFORDABLE HEATING OPTIONS FOR ALL VERMONTERS
Montpelier, VT - Today, with a vote of 20-10, the Vermont Senate overrode Governor Scott’s veto of S.5, a bill that would support the design of a transition to cleaner, more affordable heating options for all Vermonters. The bill enables the creation of a blueprint for a Clean Heat Standard that, if and when approved by the legislature, would help Vermonters transition from high-cost, price-volatile, and polluting fossil heating fuels to cleaner, cost-saving options.
“Governor Scott and the Republican Party have made it clear that they have no intention to address the climate crisis and will limit their involvement to delaying and criticizing our climate legislation,” said Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth. "Future generations are counting on us to act on climate. Today’s override represents our commitment to them and to all Vermonters. We don’t have time for more delays.”
“Vermonters are seeing the impacts of climate change and they have called on the legislature to act,” said Senator Becca White, member of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy and co-chair of the Vermont climate caucus. “S.5 would move Vermont toward a more equitable, affordable and sustainable energy future. I want Vermonters to have a smooth landing as we transition off of fossil fuels, by design rather than disaster, and this is our best opportunity to do that.”
S.5 gives the Public Utility Commission (PUC) the authority to develop a marketplace, orders and rules for implementing a Clean Heat Standard through a public process. It establishes a “check back” provision that guarantees that no clean heat standard program will be implemented without the legislature’s approval through the passage of a bill and the subsequent enactment of that bill.
“Vermonters are facing both a climate emergency and a heating emergency,” said Senator Bray, chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee. “We’re seeing heating fuels at record high prices, and Vermonters need and deserve cleaner, money-saving options. I’m grateful to the Vermont Senate for listening to Vermonters and taking careful, responsible action today.”
“The status quo is not sustainable for Vermonters,” said Senator Anne Watson, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. “The upfront cost of switching to cleaner heating options or weatherizing has been a barrier for many Vermont families. This bill is designed to start the process of designing a transition that would bring down those upfront costs to a rate that is accessible for all.”
S.5 will design a transition for Vermonters to reduce their dependence on high-cost, price-volatile, and polluting fossil heating fuels. A Clean Heat Standard would reduce pollution over time, in line with science-based pollution-reduction requirements of the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) of 2020.
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