Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                         S.59
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                                       S.59
 Introduced by Senators Perchlik, Baruth, Bray, Campion, Chittenden,
                Clarkson, Cummings, Gulick, Hardy, Harrison, Lyons,
                MacDonald, McCormack, Ram Hinsdale, Watson, White and
                Wrenner
 Referred to Committee on
 Date:
 Subject: State buildings; energy; renewable heating system
 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the
 Department of Buildings and General Services, the Department of Forests,
 Parks, and Recreation, and the Agency of Transportation to, subject to an
 exemption, install in any building owned or controlled by the State: (1) a
 renewable space or water heating system when any space heating system is
 replaced or when a new space or water heating system is installed, and (2) a
 non-fossil fuel cooking appliance when any fossil fuel cooking appliance is
 replaced.
    An act relating to the replacement of heating systems owned or controlled
    by the State VT LEG #366308 v.3
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                           S.59
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 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
 Sec. 1. FINDINGS
   The General Assembly finds that:
       (1) the State has options to use non-fossil fuel space heating for
 buildings that are owned or controlled by the State that provide an equivalent
 or better heating and cooling source;
       (2) in the State of Vermont, there are non-fossil fuel space heating
 options that use local fuel, including wood fuels such as cord wood, wood
 chips, and wood pellets;
       (3) with 80 percent of funds spent on wood heating coming from the
 local Vermont economy as compared to only 20 percent when heating oil is
 used, the use of advanced wood heating systems supports the State’s economy
 at large and specifically the forest products industry;
       (4) support for the State’s forest products industry is particularly needed
 due to the slump in the demand for low-grade wood in the Northeast;
       (5) the installation of wood heating systems will help to build an
 advanced wood heating industry sector in Vermont and the Northeast;
       (6) the installation of non-fossil fuel space heating systems will likely
 save the State money on heating costs as compared to fossil fuels; and VT LEG #366308 v.3
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                            S.59
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       (7) the installation of non-fossil fuel space heating systems will help to
 meet the State’s renewable energy goals and greenhouse gas reduction
 requirements, as required by 10 V.S.A. § 578 and 30 V.S.A. § 202b.
 Sec. 2. FISCAL YEAR 2024; DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS AND
         GENERAL SERVICES; HEATING SYSTEMS; COOKING
         APPLIANCES; NON-FOSSIL FUELS; REPLACEMENT
         SCHEDULE; BACKUP HEATING
    (a) Definitions. As used in this section:
       (1) “Fossil fuel cooking appliance” means any major cooking appliance
 that is used as a major cooking appliance to cook or heat different types of
 food that is not a non-fossil fuel cooking appliance.
       (2) “Fossil fuel heating system” means any space heating system or hot
 water heating system that is not a non-fossil fuel space heating system.
       (3) “Non-fossil fuel cooking appliance” means any cooking appliance
 that is used as a major cooking appliance to cook or heat different types of
 food that is not designed to utilize fossil fuels.
       (4) “Non-fossil fuel heating system” means a space heating system or a
 hot water heating system that is not designed to utilize fossil fuels or that
 exclusively utilizes renewable liquid fuel.
    (b) Replacement system. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this
 section, beginning in fiscal year 2024, the Department of Buildings and VT LEG #366308 v.3
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                           S.59
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 General Services shall only:
       (1) install non-fossil fuel heating systems as the primary heating source
 for space or water in buildings owned or controlled by the Department; and
       (2) install non-fossil fuel cooking appliances in buildings owned or
 controlled by the Department.
    (c) Exemption. The Commissioner of Buildings and General Services may
 provide a written exemption to the replacements required in subsection (b) of
 this section if the Commissioner determines that it is financially impracticable
 to install a non-fossil fuel heating system as a primary heating source or install
 a non-fossil fuel cooking appliance.
    (d) Backup systems. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, after a
 non-fossil fuel heating system is installed as a primary heating source, if a non-
 fossil fuel backup heating system is not available, the Commissioner may
 continue to use fossil fuel heating systems as backup heating or as
 supplemental heating during peak heating periods in buildings owned or
 controlled by the Commissioner.
    (e) Report. On or before January 15 of each year, the Commissioner shall
 submit a report to the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions and
 the Senate Committee on Institutions with the basis of each exemption
 provided pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and any fossil fuel heating
 systems installed, in the previous calendar year. The provisions of 2 V.S.A.
                                                                        VT LEG #366308 v.3
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                            S.59
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 § 20(d) (expiration of required reports) shall not apply to the report to be made
 under this subsection.
 Sec. 3. FISCAL YEAR 2024; AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION;
         HEATING SYSTEMS; COOKING APPLIANCES; NON-FOSSIL
         FUELS; REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE; BACKUP HEATING
    (a) Definitions. As used in this section:
       (1) “Fossil fuel cooking appliance” means any cooking appliance that is
 used as a major cooking appliance to cook or heat different types of food that
 is not a non-fossil fuel cooking appliance.
       (2) “Fossil fuel heating system” means any space heating system or hot
 water heating system that is not a non-fossil fuel space heating system.
       (3) “Non-fossil fuel cooking appliance” means any cooking appliance
 that is used as a major cooking appliance to cook or heat different types of
 food that is not designed to utilize fossil fuels.
       (4) “Non-fossil fuel heating system” means a space heating system or a
 hot water heating system that is not designed to utilize fossil fuels or that
 exclusively utilizes renewable liquid fuel.
    (b) Replacement system. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this
 section, beginning in fiscal year 2024, the Agency of Transportation shall only:
       (1) install non-fossil fuel heating systems as the primary heating source
 for space or water in buildings owned or controlled by the Agency; and VT LEG #366308 v.3
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                            S.59
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       (2) install non-fossil fuel cooking appliances in buildings owned or
 controlled by the Agency.
    (c) Exemption. The Secretary of Transportation may provide a written
 exemption to the replacements required in subsection (b) of this section if the
 Secretary determines that it is financially impracticable to install a non-fossil
 fuel heating system as a primary heating source or install a non-fossil fuel
 cooking appliance.
    (d) Backup systems. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, after a
 non-fossil fuel space heating system is installed as a primary heating source, if
 a non-fossil fuel backup space heating system is not available, the Agency may
 continue to use fossil fuel space heating systems as backup heating or as
 supplemental heating during peak heating periods in buildings owned or
 controlled by the Agency.
    (e) Report. On or before January 15 of each year, the Secretary shall
 submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on Transportation with
 the basis of each exemption provided pursuant to subsection (c) of this section
 and any fossil fuel heating systems installed in the previous calendar year. The
 provisions of 2 V.S.A. § 20(d) (expiration of required reports) shall not apply
 to the report to be made under this subsection.
                                                                         VT LEG #366308 v.3
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                            S.59
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 Sec. 4. FISCAL YEAR 2024; DEPARTMENT OF FORESTS, PARKS AND
         RECREATION; HEATING SYSTEMS; COOKING APPLIANCES;
         NON-FOSSIL FUELS; REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE; BACKUP
         HEATING
    (a) Definitions. As used in this section:
       (1) “Fossil fuel cooking appliance” means any cooking appliance that is
 used as a major cooking appliance to cook or heat different types of food that
 is not a non-fossil fuel cooking appliance.
       (2) “Fossil fuel heating system” means any space heating system or hot
 water heating system that is not a non-fossil fuel space heating system.
       (3) “Non-fossil fuel cooking appliance” means any cooking appliance
 that is used as a major cooking appliance to cook or heat different types of
 food that is not designed to utilize fossil fuels.
       (4) “Non-fossil fuel heating system” means a space heating system or a
 hot water heating system that is not designed to utilize fossil fuels or that
 exclusively utilizes renewable liquid fuel.
    (b) Replacement system. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this
 section, beginning in fiscal year 2024, the Department of Forests, Parks and
 Recreation shall only:
       (1) install non-fossil fuel heating systems as the primary heating source
 for space or water in buildings owned or controlled by the Department; and VT LEG #366308 v.3
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                           S.59
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       (2) install non-fossil fuel cooking appliances in buildings owned or
 controlled by the Department.
    (c) Exemption. The Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation may
 provide a written exemption to the replacements required in subsection (b) of
 this section if the Commissioner determines that it is financially impracticable
 to install a non-fossil fuel heating system as a primary heating source or install
 a non-fossil fuel cooking appliance.
    (d) Backup systems. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, after a
 non-fossil fuel heating system is installed as a primary heating source, if a non-
 fossil fuel backup heating system is not available, the Department may
 continue to use fossil fuel heating systems as backup heating or as
 supplemental heating during peak heating periods in buildings owned or
 controlled by the Department.
    (e) Report. On or before January 15 of each year, the Commissioner shall
 submit a report to the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions and
 the Senate Committee on Corrections and Institutions with the basis of each
 exemption provided pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and any fossil
 fuel heating systems installed, in the previous calendar year. The provisions of
 2 V.S.A. § 20(d) (expiration of required reports) shall not apply to the report to
 be made under this subsection.
                                                                        VT LEG #366308 v.3
    BILL AS INTRODUCED                                   S.59
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 Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE
   This act shall take effect on passage.
                                               VT LEG #366308 v.3