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1 H.671
2 Introduced by Representatives Wilson of Lyndon, Brennan of Colchester,
3 Burditt of West Rutland, Clifford of Rutland City, Lipsky of
4 Stowe, Parsons of Newbury, Peterson of Clarendon, Sammis of
5 Castleton, and Smith of Derby
6 Referred to Committee on
7 Date:
8 Subject: Climate change; air pollution; renewable energy; heating; fuel
9 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to repeal the
10 Affordable Heat Act and the Global Warming Solutions Act.
11 An act relating to repealing the Affordable Heat Act and Global Warming
12 Solutions Act
13 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
14 Sec. 1. PURPOSE
15 The purpose of this act is to repeal the Affordable Heat Act and the Global
16 Warming Solutions Act, two pieces of legislation intended to mitigate climate
17 change. Those laws burden Vermonters while there is disagreement within the
18 scientific community concerning the cause of climate change and whether the
19 Earth is warming.
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1 * * * Affordable Heat Act * * *
2 Sec. 2. AFFORDABLE HEAT ACT REPEALS
3 The following are repealed on passage:
4 (1) 30 V.S.A. chapter 94 (Clean Heat Standard);
5 (2) 2023 Acts and Resolves No. 18, Sec. 1 (short title);
6 (3) 2023 Acts and Resolves No. 18, Sec. 2 (findings);
7 (4) 2023 Acts and Resolves No. 18, Sec. 5 (confidentiality of fuel tax
8 returns; 2024);
9 (5) 2023 Acts and Resolves No. 18, Sec. 6 (Public Utility Commission
10 implementation); and
11 (6) 2023 Acts and Resolves No. 18, Sec. 7 (Public Utility Commission
12 and Department of Public Service Positions; Appropriation).
13 Sec. 3. 10 V.S.A. § 582 is amended to read:
14 § 582. GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES; REGISTRY
15 (a) Inventory and forecasting. The Secretary shall work, in conjunction
16 with other states or a regional consortium, to establish a periodic and consistent
17 inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. The Secretary shall publish the
18 Vermont Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory and Forecast by not later than
19 June 1, 2010, and updates shall be published annually until 2028, until a
20 regional or national inventory and registry program is established in which
21 Vermont participates, or until the federal National Emissions Inventory VT LEG #372537 v.1
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1 includes mandatory greenhouse gas reporting. The Secretary of Natural
2 Resources shall include a supplemental accounting in the Vermont Greenhouse
3 Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast that measures the upstream and
4 lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of liquid, gaseous, solid geologic and
5 biogenic fuels combusted in Vermont.
6 ***
7 * * * Global Warming Solutions Act * * *
8 Sec. 4. GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS ACT REPEALS
9 10 V.S.A. chapter 24 (Vermont Climate Council And Climate Action Plan)
10 is repealed.
11 Sec. 5. 10 V.S.A. § 578 is amended to read:
12 § 578. GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION REQUIREMENTS GOALS
13 (a) Greenhouse gas reduction requirements goals. It is the goal of Vermont
14 shall to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from within the geographical
15 boundaries of the State and those emissions outside the boundaries of the State
16 that are caused by the use of energy in Vermont, as measured and inventoried
17 pursuant to section 582 of this title, by:
18 ***
19 (c) Implementation of State programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
20 In order to facilitate the State’s compliance with the goals established in this
21 section, all State agencies shall consider, whenever practicable, any increase or
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1 decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in their decision-making procedures with
2 respect to the purchase and use of equipment and goods; the siting,
3 construction, and maintenance of buildings; the assignment of personnel; and
4 the planning, design, and operation of programs, services, and infrastructure.
5 ***
6 Sec. 6. 30 V.S.A. § 202a is amended to read:
7 § 202a. STATE ENERGY POLICY
8 It is the general policy of the State of Vermont:
9 ***
10 (3) To meet Vermont’s energy service needs in a manner that will
11 achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reductions requirements goals pursuant
12 to 10 V.S.A § 578 and is consistent with the Vermont Climate Action Plan
13 adopted and updated pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 592.
14 Sec. 7. 30 V.S.A. § 202b is amended to read:
15 § 202b. STATE COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY PLAN
16 (a) The Department of Public Service, in conjunction with other State
17 agencies designated by the Governor, shall prepare a State Comprehensive
18 Energy Plan covering at least a 20-year period. The Plan shall seek to
19 implement the State energy policy set forth in section 202a of this title,
20 including meeting the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions
21 requirements goals pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 578, and shall be consistent with VT LEG #372537 v.1
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1 the relevant goals of 24 V.S.A. § 4302 and with the Vermont Climate Action
2 Plan adopted and updated pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 592. The State
3 Comprehensive Energy Plan shall include:
4 ***
5 * * * Effective Date * * *
6 Sec. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE
7 This act shall take effect on passage.
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Statutes affected: As Introduced: 10-582, 10-578, 30-202a, 30-202b