Updating Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard 


Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard, an energy policy passed in 2015, put Vermont’s electric utilities on the path to cleaner electricity from renewable sources like hydro, solar, and wind. Since then, the state has committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels, joining the global call to action to reduce carbon emissions and protect our future. Now, with historic federal funding available for clean energy, Vermont is set to make major progress over the next decade.


H.289 (An act relating to the Renewable Energy Standard) reflects a remarkable collaboration among Vermont’s electric utilities and environmental groups to bring more renewable energy into our grid faster. The updated Renewable Energy Standard raises electric utility requirements for renewable energy to 100% by 2030 for most utilities, with a longer timeframe (2035) for smaller, rural utilities. The bill doubles the amount of new renewable energy built in the state, which will bring good-paying clean energy jobs and better protection from rising fossil fuel energy prices. 


To make sure all Vermonters have access to the benefits of renewable energy, the bill also includes a study on current and needed programs for affordable housing developments and customers with lower incomes. 



Modernizing Act 250 


With the housing crisis and threats from a changing climate becoming dire, the legislature launched an examination of how to better protect our communities, air, water, wildlife, forests, and working lands. Since 1970, our statewide land use law, Act 250, has helped support compact development in downtowns and village centers while protecting forests and open lands. Last summer, a working group, convened by the Natural Resources Board, collaborated on needed updates to Act 250 to facilitate building in the right places and to better protect natural resources. After months of work, consensus emerged on several important updates. 


H.687 (An act relating to community resilience and biodiversity protection through land use) is a comprehensive bill that weaves together recommendations from the Act 250 working group with related regional planning and statewide designation program updates. The bill seeks a balanced approach to improving the effectiveness and consistency of the Natural Resources Board in issuing Act 250 permits and handling appeals. It proposes a new location-based oversight that defines three tiers: downtowns and village centers (tier 1), rural areas (tier 2), and the most ecologically sensitive areas (tier 3). The House Environment and Energy Committee is hearing from many witnesses as it fine-tunes these areas and incorporates ideas from related bills.