S.337- AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY ENTITIES AND PROGRAMS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE THERMAL ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION SECTORS

PASSED
in the State Senate
on May 19, 2020, by a vote of
28-2

Purpose: The bill would give electric utilities like Efficiency Vermont the option to spend up to $2 million of their ratepayer-generated funds on transportation (electric cars) and heating efficiency projects, in addition to their electricity efficiency projects. This program would be allowed for limited time frame of 3 years.

Analysis: Those voting YES believe that the bill will help lower carbon emissions, by making utilities “free to innovate.” While Vermont produces a small fraction of carbon emissions, successful experiments with efficiency may be replicated across other governments, allowing Vermont’s climate programs to cause significant reduction in emissions.

Those voting NO believe this bill will increase ratepayers’ electric bills. Currently, electric utilities have a government mandated mission of reducing ratepayers’ electricity usage and the price of electricity. This bill would subvert this goal in the name of prioritizing a reduction of carbon emissions. Vermont’s utilities would be given permission to subsidize electric vehicles and raise electric rates as necessary to achieve lower emissions. Without this legislation, we could imagine a sunset on the funds taken from Vermonters and used for achieving greater efficiency. With this legislation, that sunset would disappear, leaving Vermonters with little choice but to perpetually subsidize all manner of energy projects, which will become progressively more expensive as we painstakingly shrink Vermont’s minimal carbon footprint.

As Recorded in the Senate Journal, Tuesday, May 19, 2020: “S. 337. An act relating to energy efficiency entities and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the thermal energy and transportation sectors. Was read the third time and passed, on a roll call, Yeas 28, Nays 2.” (Read the Journal, p. 4).

How They Voted

Timothy Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) – YES
Becca Balint (D-Windham) – YES
Philip Baruth (D-Chittenden) – YES
Joseph Benning (R-Caledonia) – YES
Christopher Bray (D-Addison) – YES
Randy Brock (R-Franklin) – NO
Brian Campion (D-Bennington) – YES
Alison Clarkson (D-Windsor) – YES
Brian Collamore (R-Rutland) – NO
Ann Cummings (D-Washington) – YES
Ruth Hardy (D-Addison) – YES
Cheryl Hooker (D-Rutland) – YES
Debbie Ingram (D-Chittenden) – YES
M. Jane Kitchel (D-Caledonia) – YES
Virginia Lyons (D-Chittenden) – YES
Mark MacDonald (D-Orange) – YES
Richard Mazza (D-Chittenden-Grand Isle) – YES
Richard McCormack (D-Windsor) – YES
James McNeil (R-Rutland) – YES
Alice Nitka (D-Windsor District) – YES
Corey Parent (R-Franklin) – YES
Chris Pearson (P-Chittenden) – YES
Andrew Perchlik (D-Washington) – YES
Anthony Pollina (P/D-Washington) – YES
John Rodgers (D-Essex-Orleans) – YES
Richard Sears (D-Bennington) – YES
Michael Sirotkin (D-Chittenden) – YES
Robert Starr (D-Essex-Orleans) – YES
Richard Westman (R-Lamoille) – YES
Jeanette White (D-Windham) – YES