Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

Vermont Senate Bill S0110 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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6	6	S.110 1
7	7	Introduced by Senators Williams, Brennan, Collamore, Douglass, Hart, 2
8	8	Heffernan, Ingalls, Mattos, Norris and Weeks 3
9	9	Referred to Committee on 4
10	10	Date: 5
11	11	Subject: Public service; energy; climate change; air pollution; renewable 6
12	12	energy; heating; fuel; thermal energy; greenhouse gas emissions; 7
13	13	Renewable Energy Standard 8
14	14	Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to repeal the 9
15	15	Affordable Heat Act, repeal the citizen suit provision of the Global Warming 10
16	16	Solutions Act, and change the State’s greenhouse gas reduction requirements 11
17	17	to goals. It would also change the Renewable Energy Standard to the Clean 12
18	18	Energy Standard. 13
19	19	An act relating to changes to Vermont’s air pollution and renewable energy 14
20	20	laws 15
21	21	It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 16
22	22	* * * Global Warming Solutions Act * * * 17
23	23	Sec. 1. REPEAL 18
24	24	10 V.S.A. § 594 is repealed. 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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29	29	Sec. 2. 10 V.S.A. § 578 is amended to read: 1
30	30	§ 578. GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION REQUIREMENTS 2
31	31	(a) Greenhouse gas reduction requirements. Vermont shall reduce achieve 3
32	32	net zero emissions of greenhouse gases from within the geographical 4
33	33	boundaries of the State and those emissions outside the boundaries of the State 5
34	34	that are caused by the use of energy in Vermont, as measured and inventoried 6
35	35	pursuant to section 582 of this title, by: on or before January 1, 2035. 7
36	36	(1) not less than 26 percent from 2005 greenhouse gas emissions by 8
37	37	January 1, 2025 pursuant to the State’s membership in the United States 9
38	38	Climate Alliance and commitment to implement policies to achieve the 10
39	39	objectives of the 2016 Paris Agreement; 11
40	40	(2) not less than 40 percent from 1990 greenhouse gas emissions by 12
41	41	January 1, 2030 pursuant to the State’s 2016 Comprehensive Energy Plan; and 13
42	42	(3) not less than 80 percent from 1990 greenhouse gas emissions by 14
43	43	January 1, 2050 pursuant to the State’s 2016 Comprehensive Energy Plan 15
44	44	Vermont shall continue to implement the policies to achieve the objectives of 16
45	45	the 2016 Paris Agreement and remain at net zero greenhouse gas emissions 17
46	46	across all sectors into the future. 18
47	47	* * * 19
48	48	Sec. 3. 10 V.S.A. § 590 is amended to read: 20
49	49	§ 590. DEFINITIONS 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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54	54	As used in this chapter: 1
55	55	(1) “Adaptation” means reducing vulnerability and advancing resilience 2
56	56	through planned and implemented enhancements to, or avoiding degradation 3
57	57	of, natural and built systems and structures. 4
58	58	(2) “Greenhouse gas” has the same meaning as in section 552 of this 5
59	59	title. 6
60	60	(3) “Mitigation” means reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas 7
61	61	emissions, and preservation and enhancement of natural systems to sequester 8
62	62	and store carbon, in order to stabilize and reduce greenhouse gases in the 9
63	63	atmosphere. 10
64	64	(4) “Net zero greenhouse gas emissions” means the total amount of 11
65	65	greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere after accounting for the amount 12
66	66	of greenhouse gases that are naturally absorbed or sequestered is at or less than 13
67	67	zero across all sectors. 14
68	68	(5) “Resilience” means the capacity of individuals, communities, and 15
69	69	natural and built systems to withstand and recover from climatic events, trends, 16
70	70	and disruptions. 17
71	71	Sec. 4. 10 V.S.A. § 591 is amended to read: 18
72	72	§ 591. VERMONT CLIMATE COUNCIL 19
73	73	(a) There is created the Vermont Climate Council (Council). The Council 20
74	74	shall be advisory and composed of the following members: 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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79	79	(1) the Secretary of Administration Natural Resources or designee, who 1
80	80	shall serve as the Chair of the Council; 2
81	81	(2) the Secretary of Natural Resources or designee State Climatologist 3
82	82	or designee; 4
83	83	(3) the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets or designee; 5
84	84	(4) the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development or 6
85	85	designee; 7
86	86	(5) the Secretary of Human Services or designee; 8
87	87	(6) the Secretary of Transportation or designee; 9
88	88	(7) the Commissioner of Public Safety or designee; 10
89	89	(8) the Commissioner of Public Service or designee; 11
90	90	(9) one member to represent municipal governments, appointed by the 12
91	91	Governor; 13
92	92	(10) one member to represent the rural communities, appointed by the 14
93	93	Governor; 15
94	94	(11) the following members who shall be appointed by the Speaker of 16
95	95	the House General Assembly: 17
96	96	(A) one member with expertise and professional experience in the 18
97	97	design and implementation of programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; 19
98	98	(B) one member to represent rural communities; 20
99	99	(C) one member to represent municipal governments; 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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104	104	(D) one member to represent distribution utilities; 1
105	105	(E)(B) one member to represent a statewide environmental 2
106	106	organization; 3
107	107	(F)(C) one member to represent the fuel sector; 4
108	108	(G) one member with expertise in climate change science; and 5
109	109	(H)(D) one member to represent Vermont manufacturers. 6
110	110	(10) the following members who shall be appointed by the Committee on 7
111	111	Committees: 8
112	112	(A) one member with expertise in the design and implementation of 9
113	113	programs to increase resilience to and respond to natural disasters resulting 10
114	114	from climate change; 11
115	115	(B)(E) one member to represent the clean energy sector; 12
116	116	(C)(F) one member to represent the small business community; 13
117	117	(D)(G) one member to represent the Vermont Community Action 14
118	118	Partnership; 15
119	119	(E)(H) one member to represent the farm and forest sector; and 16
120	120	(F)(I) one youth member; and 17
121	121	(G) one member of a Vermont-based organization with expertise in 18
122	122	energy and data analysis. 19
123	123	(b) The Council shall make recommendations to the Secretary of Natural 20
124	124	Resources and in formulating the recommendations the Council shall: 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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129	129	(1) Identify, analyze, and evaluate strategies and programs to reduce 1
130	130	greenhouse gas emissions; achieve the State’s reduction requirements pursuant 2
131	131	to section 578 of this title; and build resilience to prepare the State’s 3
132	132	communities, infrastructure, and economy to adapt to the current and 4
133	133	anticipated effects of climate change, including:. 5
134	134	(A) creating an inventory of all existing programs that impact 6
135	135	greenhouse gas emissions and their efficacy; 7
136	136	(B) evaluating and analyzing the technical feasibility and cost-8
137	137	effectiveness of existing strategies and programs and identifying, evaluating, 9
138	138	and analyzing new strategies and programs that are based upon emerging 10
139	139	scientific and technical information; 11
140	140	(C) analyzing each source or category of sources of greenhouse gas 12
141	141	emissions and identifying which strategies and programs will result in the 13
142	142	largest greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the most cost-effective manner; 14
143	143	(D) identifying, analyzing, and evaluating public and private 15
144	144	financing strategies to support the transition to a reduced greenhouse gas 16
145	145	emissions economy and a more resilient State; and 17
146	146	(E) evaluating and analyzing existing strategies and programs that 18
147	147	build resilience, and identifying, evaluating, and analyzing new strategies and 19
148	148	programs to prepare the State’s communities, infrastructure, and economy to 20
149	149	adapt to the current and anticipated effects of climate change. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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154	154	(2) On or before December 1, 2021, adopt Adopt the Vermont Climate 1
155	155	Action Plan (Plan) and update the Plan on or before July 1 every four years 2
156	156	thereafter, the first of which was adopted on December 1, 2021. On or before 3
157	157	December 15, 2026, the Secretary of Natural Resources, in collaboration with 4
158	158	the Department of Public Service and other relevant agencies and departments 5
159	159	of State government, shall deliver a companion implementation strategy and 6
160	160	aggressive-yet-achievable timeline for achieving net zero emissions across all 7
161	161	sectors by 2035. The companion implementation strategy shall include long-8
162	162	term funding mechanisms that prioritizes use of existing resources. On or 9
163	163	before July 1 every five years thereafter, the Secretary of Natural Resources 10
164	164	shall consider the recommendations of the Council and shall update the Plan. 11
165	165	The Council shall finalize its recommendations on or before January 1 of the 12
166	166	year that the Plan is due. The Plan shall set forth recommend the specific 13
167	167	affordable and practicable initiatives, programs, and strategies that the State 14
168	168	shall pursue will consider implementing to reduce greenhouse gas meet net 15
169	169	zero emissions reductions; achieve the State’s 2035 reduction requirements 16
170	170	target pursuant to section 578 of this title; and build resilience to prepare the 17
171	171	State’s communities, infrastructure, and economy to adapt to the current and 18
172	172	anticipated effects of climate change. 19
173	173	(3) Identify the means to accurately measure: 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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178	178	(A) the State’s greenhouse gas emissions and progress towards 1
179	179	meeting the reduction requirements pursuant to section 578 of this title, 2
180	180	including publishing emissions data in a timely manner; 3
181	181	(B) the effectiveness of the specific initiatives, programs, and 4
182	182	strategies set forth in the Plan and updates to the Plan in reducing greenhouse 5
183	183	gas emissions; 6
184	184	(C) the effect of climate change on the State’s climate, wildlife, and 7
185	185	natural resources; and 8
186	186	(D) the existing resilience of the State’s communities, infrastructure, 9
187	187	and economy and progress towards improving resilience to adapt to the current 10
188	188	and anticipated effects of climate change. 11
189	189	(4) Provide guidance to the Secretary of Natural Resources concerning 12
190	190	the form, content, and subject matter of rules to be adopted recommended for 13
191	191	adoption pursuant to section 593 of this chapter. 14
192	192	(c) The Council shall create the subcommittees listed in this subsection and 15
193	193	may also create other subcommittees to advise the Council, and assist in 16
194	194	preparing the Plan, and carry out other duties. The Council may appoint 17
195	195	members of the Council to serve as members of subcommittees and may also 18
196	196	appoint individuals who are not members of the Council to serve as members 19
197	197	of subcommittees. 20
198	198	* * * 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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203	203	(3) Just Transitions Subcommittee. This subcommittee shall focus on 1
204	204	ensuring that strategies to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions and to build 2
205	205	resilience to adapt to the effects of climate change benefit and support all 3
206	206	residents of the State fairly and equitably. This subcommittee shall ensure that 4
207	207	strategies consider the disproportionate impact of climate change on rural, low-5
208	208	income, and marginalized communities and that programs and incentives for 6
209	209	building resilience are designed to be accessible to all Vermonters and do not 7
210	210	unfairly burden any groups, communities, geographic locations, or economic 8
211	211	sectors. This subcommittee may adopt a measurement tool to assess the 9
212	212	equitability of programs and strategies considered by the Council. 10
213	213	* * * 11
214	214	(d) The Council shall recommend necessary legislation to the General 12
215	215	Assembly concerning: 13
216	216	(1) adopting market-based or alternative compliance mechanisms as part 14
217	217	of the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies; 15
218	218	(2) changes to land use and development, including to chapter 151 of this 16
219	219	title and 30 V.S.A. § 248, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote 17
220	220	resilience in response to climate change; 18
221	221	(3) statutory authority necessary to implement the Plan; and 19
222	222	(4) any other matter the Council deems appropriate. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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227	227	(e) The Council shall have the administrative, and technical, and legal 1
228	228	assistance of the Agency of Natural Resources and the Department of Public 2
229	229	Service and may request the assistance of any Executive Branch Agency 3
230	230	agency and Department department. 4
231	231	(f)(e) A majority of the sitting members of the Council shall constitute a 5
232	232	quorum, and action taken by the Council may be authorized by a majority of 6
233	233	the members present and voting at any meeting at which a quorum is present. 7
234	234	The Council may permit any or all members to participate in a meeting by, or 8
235	235	conduct the meeting through the use of, any means of communication, 9
236	236	including electronic, telecommunications, and video- or audio-conferencing 10
237	237	technology, by which all members participating may simultaneously or 11
238	238	sequentially communicate with each other during the meeting. A member 12
239	239	participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at 13
240	240	the meeting. The Council shall meet at the call of the Chair or a majority of 14
241	241	the members of the Council, and the Council may elect officers and adopt any 15
242	242	other procedural rules as it shall determine necessary and appropriate to 16
243	243	perform its work. 17
244	244	(g)(f) Members of the Council and members of subcommittees who are not 18
245	245	State employees shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement 19
246	246	of expenses for each day spent in the performance of their duties, as permitted 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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251	251	under 32 V.S.A. § 1010. These payments shall be made from monies 1
252	252	appropriated to the Agency of Natural Resources. 2
253	253	(h)(g) The members of the Council appointed pursuant to subdivision (a) 3
254	254	(9)(11) of this section shall be appointed to initial terms of two years, and 4
255	255	members appointed pursuant to subdivision (a)(10) of this section shall be 5
256	256	appointed to initial terms of three years. Thereafter, each appointed member 6
257	257	shall serve a term of three years or until his or her a member’s earlier 7
258	258	resignation or removal. A vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority 8
259	259	for the remainder of the unexpired term. An appointed member shall not serve 9
260	260	more than three two full consecutive three-year terms. 10
261	261	(i)(h) On or before January 15, 2021 and every January 15 thereafter, the 11
262	262	Council shall submit a written report to the General Assembly concerning the 12
263	263	Council’s activities and the State’s progress towards meeting the 2035 net 13
264	264	greenhouse gas reduction requirements pursuant to section 578 of this title. On 14
265	265	or before November 1, 2021 and every second November 1 thereafter, the 15
266	266	Director of Vermont Emergency Management shall file a report with the 16
267	267	Council concerning Vermont’s overall municipal resilience to increased 17
268	268	hazards presented by climate change that shall include hazard mitigation plans, 18
269	269	local emergency management plans, and survey results as deemed appropriate 19
270	270	by the Director. Subsequent reports shall include updates to document 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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275	275	progress in local resilience. The report shall inform Council recommendations 1
276	276	on policies to address gaps in local resilience. 2
277	277	Sec. 5. 10 V.S.A. § 592 is amended to read: 3
278	278	§ 592. THE VERMONT CLIMATE ACTION PLAN 4
279	279	(a) On or before December 1, 2021, the Vermont Climate Council 5
280	280	(Council) shall adopt adopted the Vermont Climate Action Plan (Plan) and. 6
281	281	The Secretary of Natural Resources shall update the Plan on or before July 1 7
282	282	every four five years thereafter. 8
283	283	(b) The Plan shall set forth recommend the specific affordable and 9
284	284	practicable initiatives, programs, and strategies, including regulatory and 10
285	285	legislative changes, necessary to achieve the State’s net zero greenhouse gas 11
286	286	emissions reduction requirements across all sectors pursuant to section 578 of 12
287	287	this title and build resilience to prepare the State’s communities, infrastructure, 13
288	288	and economy to adapt to the current and anticipated effects of climate change. 14
289	289	The Plan shall include those specific affordable and practicable initiatives, 15
290	290	programs, and strategies that will: 16
291	291	* * * 17
292	292	(c) The analysis, development, and selection of the specific initiatives, 18
293	293	programs, and strategies contained in the Plan and updates to the Plan shall be 19
294	294	based upon: 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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299	299	(1) the Council’s analysis and evaluation of strategies and programs 1
300	300	pursuant to subdivision 591(b)(1) of this chapter; 2
301	301	(2) reports, plans, and information pertaining to greenhouse gas 3
302	302	emissions reduction and climate resilience strategies from the Agency of 4
303	303	Natural Resources, the Department of Public Service, other State agencies and 5
304	304	departments, and, where appropriate, the State Comprehensive Energy Plan 6
305	305	prepared pursuant to 30 V.S.A. § 202b and the 2018 Vermont Climate Action 7
306	306	Commission Report to the Governor; and 8
307	307	(3) other reports, plans, and information. 9
308	308	(d) The specific initiatives, programs, and strategies contained in To the 10
309	309	extent practicable and affordable, the Plan and updates to the Plan shall further 11
310	310	the following objectives: 12
311	311	(1) to prioritize the most cost-effective, technologically feasible, and 13
312	312	equitable greenhouse gas emissions reduction pathways and adaptation and 14
313	313	preparedness strategies informed by scientific and technical expertise; 15
314	314	(2) to provide for net zero greenhouse gas emissions reductions that 16
315	315	reflect the relative contribution of each source or category of source of 17
316	316	emissions; 18
317	317	* * * 19
318	318	(e) The Plan updated Plans shall form the basis for the recommend rules 20
319	319	adopted for consideration by the Secretary of Natural Resources pursuant to 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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324	324	section 593 of this chapter. If the Council fails to adopt the Plan or update the 1
325	325	Plan as required by this chapter, the The Secretary shall proceed with adopting 2
326	326	and implementing rules pursuant to subsection 593(j) of this chapter that, in the 3
327	327	Secretary’s discretion, are cost effective, practicable, and designed to achieve 4
328	328	the net zero greenhouse gas emissions reductions requirements pursuant to 5
329	329	section 578 of this title. 6
330	330	Sec. 6. 10 V.S.A. § 593 is amended to read: 7
331	331	§ 593. RULES 8
332	332	(a) The Secretary of Natural Resources shall consider and adopt rules 9
333	333	pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, which are, in the Secretary’s discretion, cost 10
334	334	effective, affordable, practicable, and designed to achieve the net zero 11
335	335	greenhouse gas emissions reductions requirements pursuant to section 578 of 12
336	336	this title and are consistent with the Vermont Climate Action Plan (Plan). In 13
337	337	adopting rules pursuant to this section, the Secretary shall: 14
338	338	(1) Ensure that Consider whether the rules are consistent with the 15
339	339	specific initiatives, programs, and strategies set forth in the Plan and updates to 16
340	340	the Plan; follow consider the Vermont Climate Council’s guidance provided 17
341	341	pursuant to subdivision 591(b)(4) of this chapter; and further the objectives 18
342	342	pursuant to subsection 592(d) of this chapter. 19
343	343	(2) Develop a detailed record containing facts; data; and legal, scientific, 20
344	344	and technical information sufficient to establish a reasonable basis to believe 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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349	349	that the rules shall achieve the State’s net zero greenhouse gas emissions 1
350	350	reductions requirements pursuant to section 578 of this title. This detailed 2
351	351	record shall be included with the rule and filed with the Secretary of State 3
352	352	pursuant to 3 V.S.A. § 838. 4
353	353	* * * 5
354	354	(e) On or before July 1, 2026 2027, the Secretary shall consider and adopt 6
355	355	and implement rules, which are, in the Secretary’s discretion, cost effective, 7
356	356	affordable, practicable, and designed to achieve the 2035 net greenhouse gas 8
357	357	emissions reductions requirements pursuant to section 578 of this title and are 9
358	358	consistent with the specific initiatives, programs, and strategies set forth in the 10
359	359	Plan and updates to the Plan and achieve the 2030 2035 net zero greenhouse 11
360	360	gas emissions reduction across all sectors requirement pursuant to section 578 12
361	361	of this title. The Secretary shall observe the requirements of subsection (c) of 13
362	362	this section. 14
363	363	(f) The Secretary shall, at his or her discretion, but not less frequently than 15
364	364	once every two years between 2026 and 2030, review and, if necessary, update 16
365	365	the rules required by subsection (e) of this section in order to ensure that the 17
366	366	2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirement pursuant to section 578 18
367	367	of this title is achieved. In performing this review and update, the Secretary 19
368	368	shall observe the requirements of subsection (c) of this section. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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373	373	(g) On or before July 1, 2040, the Secretary shall consider and adopt and 1
374	374	implement rules, which are, in the Secretary’s discretion, cost effective, 2
375	375	affordable, practicable, and designed to maintain the net zero or less 3
376	376	greenhouse gas emissions and are consistent with the specific initiatives, 4
377	377	programs, and strategies set forth in the Plan and updates to the Plan and 5
378	378	achieve the 2050 net zero greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirement 6
379	379	pursuant to section 578 of this title across all sectors. 7
380	380	(h) The Secretary shall, at his or her discretion, but not less frequently than 8
381	381	once every two years between 2040 and 2050, review and, if necessary, update 9
382	382	the rules required by subsection (g) of this section in order to ensure that the 10
383	383	2050 greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirement pursuant to section 578 11
384	384	of this title is achieved. In performing this review and update, the Secretary 12
385	385	shall observe the requirements of subsection (c) of this section. 13
386	386	(i)(g) The Secretary may establish alternative reduction mechanisms to be 14
387	387	used by sources of greenhouse gas emissions, if necessary, to achieve net zero 15
388	388	emissions after 2050 on or before 2035. 16
389	389	(1) The use of alternative reduction mechanisms shall account for not 17
390	390	more than 20 percent of statewide greenhouse gas emissions estimated as a 18
391	391	percentage of 1990 emissions. The use of a mechanism must offset a quantity 19
392	392	of greenhouse gas emissions equal to or greater than the amount of greenhouse 20
393	393	gasses emitted. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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398	398	(2) The Secretary shall verify that any greenhouse gas emissions offset 1
399	399	projects authorized as alternative reduction mechanisms represent equivalent 2
400	400	emissions reductions or carbon sequestration that are real, additional, 3
401	401	verifiable, enforceable, and permanent. 4
402	402	(j) If the Council fails to adopt the Plan or update the Plan as required by 5
403	403	section 592 of this chapter, the Secretary shall adopt and implement rules 6
404	404	pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 to achieve the greenhouse gas emissions 7
405	405	reductions requirements pursuant to section 578 of this title. 8
406	406	(k)(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the existing 9
407	407	authority of a State agency, department, or entity to regulate greenhouse gas 10
408	408	emissions or establish strategies or adopt rules to mitigate climate risk and 11
409	409	build resilience to climate change. 12
410	410	(l) The General Assembly may repeal, revise, or modify any rule or 13
411	411	amendment to any rule, and its action shall not be abridged, enlarged, or 14
412	412	modified by subsequent rule. 15
413	413	* * * Clean Energy Standard * * * 16
414	414	Sec. 7. 30 V.S.A. § 202a is amended to read: 17
415	415	§ 202a. STATE ENERGY POLICY 18
416	416	It is the general policy of the State of Vermont: 19
417	417	* * * 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
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422	422	(3) To meet Vermont’s energy service needs in a manner that will 1
423	423	achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reductions requirements goals pursuant 2
424	424	to 10 V.S.A § 578 and is consistent with the Vermont Climate Action Plan 3
425	425	adopted and updated pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 592. 4
426	426	Sec. 8. 30 V.S.A. § 202b is amended to read: 5
427	427	§ 202b. STATE COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY PLAN 6
428	428	(a) The Department of Public Service, in conjunction with other State 7
429	429	agencies designated by the Governor, shall prepare a State Comprehensive 8
430	430	Energy Plan covering at least a 20-year period. The Plan shall seek to 9
431	431	implement the State energy policy set forth in section 202a of this title, 10
432	432	including meeting the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions 11
433	433	requirements goals pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 578, and shall be consistent with 12
434	434	the relevant goals of 24 V.S.A. § 4302 and with the Vermont Climate Action 13
435	435	Plan adopted and updated pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 592. The State 14
436	436	Comprehensive Energy Plan shall include: 15
437	437	* * * 16
438	438	(e) The Commissioner of Public Service (Commissioner) shall file an 17
439	439	annual report on progress in meeting the goals of the Plan. The report shall 18
440	440	address each of the following sectors of energy consumption in the State: 19
441	441	electricity, nonelectric fuels for thermal purposes, and transportation. In 20
442	442	preparing the report, the Commissioner shall consult with the Secretaries of 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
443	443	2025 Page 19 of 36
444	444
445	445
446	446	VT LEG #378873 v.5
447	447	Administration, of Agriculture, Food and Markets, of Natural Resources, and 1
448	448	of Transportation and the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services. 2
449	449	* * * 3
450	450	(3) For each sector, the report shall provide: 4
451	451	(A) In millions of British thermal units (MMBTUs) for the most 5
452	452	recent calendar year for which data are available, the total amount of energy 6
453	453	consumed, the amount of clean and renewable energy consumed, and the 7
454	454	percentage of clean and renewable energy consumed. For the electricity 8
455	455	sector, the report shall also state the amounts in megawatt hours (MWH) of 9
456	456	retail sales and load for Vermont as well as for each retail electricity provider 10
457	457	and the Vermont and New England summer and winter peak electric demand, 11
458	458	including the hour and day of peak demand. 12
459	459	(B) Projections of the energy reductions and shift to clean and 13
460	460	renewable energy expected to occur under existing policies, technologies, and 14
461	461	markets. The most recent available data shall be used to inform these 15
462	462	projections and shall be provided as a supplement to the data described in 16
463	463	subdivision (A) of this subdivision (3). 17
464	464	* * * 18
465	465	(7) The report shall include the following information on progress 19
466	466	toward meeting the Renewable Clean Energy Standard (RES CES): 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
467	467	2025 Page 20 of 36
468	468
469	469
470	470	VT LEG #378873 v.5
471	471	(A) An assessment of the costs and benefits of the RES CES based 1
472	472	on the most current available data, including rate and economic impacts, 2
473	473	customer savings, technology deployment, greenhouse gas emission reductions 3
474	474	achieved both relative to 10 V.S.A § 578 requirements and societally, fuel 4
475	475	price stability, effect on transmission and distribution upgrade costs, and any 5
476	476	recommended changes based on this assessment. 6
477	477	(i) For the most recent calendar year for which data is available, 7
478	478	each retail electricity provider’s retail sales and load, in MWh; required 8
479	479	amounts of clean and renewable energy for each category of the RES CES as 9
480	480	set forth in section 8005 of this title; and amounts of clean and renewable 10
481	481	energy and tradeable clean and renewable energy credits eligible to satisfy the 11
482	482	requirements of sections 8004 and 8005 of this title actually owned by the 12
483	483	Vermont retail electricity providers, expressed as a percentage of retail sales 13
484	484	and total load MWh purchases made by Vermont retail electricity providers to 14
485	485	meet demand. 15
486	486	* * * 16
487	487	(iv) The report shall assess how costs and benefits of the RES 17
488	488	CES are being distributed across State, to the extent possible given available 18
489	489	data, by retail electricity service territory, municipality, and environmental 19
490	490	justice focus populations, as defined by 3 V.S.A. § 6002. Such an assessment 20
491	491	shall consider metrics to monitor affordability of electric rates. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
492	492	2025 Page 21 of 36
493	493
494	494
495	495	VT LEG #378873 v.5
496	496	(B) Projections, looking at least 10 years ahead, of the impacts of the 1
497	497	RES CES. 2
498	498	* * * 3
499	499	(iii) The Department shall project, for the State, the impact of the 4
500	500	RES CES in each of the following areas: electric utility rates, total energy 5
501	501	consumption, electric energy consumption, fossil fuel consumption, and 6
502	502	greenhouse gas emissions. The report shall compare the amount or level in 7
503	503	each of these areas with and without the program. 8
504	504	(C) An assessment of whether the requirements of the RES CES have 9
505	505	been met to date, and any recommended changes needed to achieve those 10
506	506	requirements. 11
507	507	(D) A summary of the activities of distributed renewable generation 12
508	508	programs that support the achievement of the RES CES, including: 13
509	509	* * * 14
510	510	Sec. 9. 30 V.S.A. § 8002 is amended to read: 15
511	511	§ 8002. DEFINITIONS 16
512	512	As used in this chapter: 17
513	513	* * * 18
514	514	(7) “Environmental attributes” means the characteristics of a plant that 19
515	515	enable the energy it produces to qualify as clean or renewable energy and 20
516	516	include any and all benefits of the plant to the environment such as avoided 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
517	517	2025 Page 22 of 36
518	518
519	519
520	520	VT LEG #378873 v.5
521	521	emissions or other impacts to air, water, or soil that may occur through the 1
522	522	plant’s displacement of a nonclean or nonrenewable energy source. 2
523	523	* * * 3
524	524	(25) “Clean energy” means both renewable energy, as defined in this 4
525	525	section, as well as electricity produced using a technology that does not emit 5
526	526	greenhouse gases as a by-product of energy generation. 6
527	527	* * * 7
528	528	(29) “RES” “CES” means the Renewable Clean Energy Standard 8
529	529	established under sections 8004 and 8005 of this title. 9
530	530	* * * 10
531	531	(33) “Tradeable zero emissions credits” or “ZECs” means all of the 11
532	532	environmental attributes associated with a single unit of energy generated by a 12
533	533	clean energy source where: 13
534	534	(A) those attributes are transferred or recorded separately from that 14
535	535	unit of energy; 15
536	536	(B) the party claiming ownership of the tradeable zero emissions 16
537	537	credits has acquired the exclusive legal ownership of all, and not less than all, 17
538	538	the environmental attributes associated with that unit of energy; and 18
539	539	(C) exclusive legal ownership can be verified through an auditable 19
540	540	contract path or pursuant to the system established or authorized by the 20
541	541	Commission or any program for tracking and verification of the ownership of 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
542	542	2025 Page 23 of 36
543	543
544	544
545	545	VT LEG #378873 v.5
546	546	environmental attributes of energy legally recognized in any state and 1
547	547	approved by the Commission. 2
548	548	Sec. 10. 30 V.S.A. § 8004 is amended to read: 3
549	549	§ 8004. SALES OF ELECTRIC ENERGY; RENEWABLE CLEAN 4
550	550	ENERGY STANDARD (RES CES) 5
551	551	(a) Establishment Expansion; requirements. The RES Renewable Energy 6
552	552	Standard is established expanded to become the CES. Under this program, a 7
553	553	retail electricity provider shall not sell or otherwise provide or offer to sell or 8
554	554	provide electricity in the State of Vermont without ownership of sufficient 9
555	555	energy produced by clean and renewable energy plants or sufficient tradeable 10
556	556	renewable energy and zero emissions credits from plants whose energy is 11
557	557	capable of delivery in New England that reflect the required amounts of clean 12
558	558	and renewable energy set forth in section 8005 of this title or without support 13
559	559	of energy transformation projects in accordance with that section. A retail 14
560	560	electricity provider may meet the required amounts of clean and renewable 15
561	561	energy through eligible tradeable renewable energy and zero emissions credits 16
562	562	that it owns and retires, eligible clean and renewable energy resources with 17
563	563	environmental attributes still attached, or a combination of those credits and 18
564	564	resources. 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
565	565	2025 Page 24 of 36
566	566
567	567
568	568	VT LEG #378873 v.5
569	569	(b) Rules. The Commission shall adopt update the rules that are necessary 1
570	570	to allow the Commission and the Department to implement and supervise 2
571	571	further the implementation and maintenance of the RES CES. 3
572	572	(c) RECS RECs and ZECs; banking. The Commission shall allow a 4
573	573	provider that has met the required amount amounts of renewable energy or 5
574	574	zero emissions credits in a given year, commencing with 2017, to retain 6
575	575	tradeable renewable energy or zero emissions credits created or purchased in 7
576	576	excess of that amount for application to the provider’s required amount of 8
577	577	clean or renewable energy in one of the following three years. 9
578	578	(d) Alternative compliance payment. In lieu of purchasing renewable 10
579	579	energy or tradeable renewable energy or zero emissions credits or supporting 11
580	580	energy transformation projects to satisfy the requirements of this section and 12
581	581	section 8005 of this title, a retail electricity provider in this State may pay to 13
582	582	the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund established under section 8015 14
583	583	of this title an alternative compliance payment at the applicable rate set forth in 15
584	584	section 8005. The administrator of the Vermont Clean Energy Development 16
585	585	Fund shall use the payment from a retail electricity provider electing to make 17
586	586	an alternative compliance payment to satisfy its obligations under subdivisions 18
587	587	8005(a)(1), 8005(a)(2), 8005(a)(4), and 8005(a)(5) of this title for the 19
588	588	development of renewable energy plants that are intended to serve and benefit 20
589	589	customers with low income of the retail electricity provider that has made the 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
590	590	2025 Page 25 of 36
591	591
592	592
593	593	VT LEG #378873 v.5
594	594	payment. Such plants shall be located within the provider’s service territory, if 1
595	595	feasible. In the event that such a payment is insufficient to enable the 2
596	596	development of a renewable energy plant, the administrator may use the 3
597	597	payment for other initiatives allowed under section 8015 of this title that will 4
598	598	benefit customers with low income of the retail electricity provider that has 5
599	599	made the payment. As used in this subsection (d), “customer with low 6
600	600	income” means a person purchasing energy from a retail electricity provider 7
601	601	and with an income that is less than or equal to 80 percent of area median 8
602	602	income, adjusted for family size, as published annually by the U.S. Department 9
603	603	of Housing and Urban Development. 10
604	604	* * * 11
605	605	(f) Joint efforts. Retail electricity providers may engage in joint efforts to 12
606	606	meet one or more categories within the RES CES. 13
607	607	Sec. 11. 30 V.S.A. § 8005 is amended to read: 14
608	608	§ 8005. RES CES CATEGORIES 15
609	609	(a) Categories. This section specifies five categories of required resources 16
610	610	to meet the requirements of the RES CES established in section 8004 of this 17
611	611	title: total clean and renewable energy, distributed renewable generation, 18
612	612	energy transformation, new renewable energy, and load growth renewable 19
613	613	energy. In order to support progress toward Vermont’s climate goals and 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
614	614	2025 Page 26 of 36
615	615
616	616
617	617	VT LEG #378873 v.5
618	618	requirements, a provider may, but shall not be required to, exceed the 1
619	619	statutorily required amounts under this section. 2
620	620	(1) Total clean and renewable energy. 3
621	621	(A) Purpose; establishment. To encourage the economic and 4
622	622	environmental benefits of renewable energy, this subdivision establishes, for 5
623	623	the RES CES, minimum total amounts of clean and renewable energy within 6
624	624	the supply portfolio of each retail electricity provider. To satisfy this 7
625	625	requirement, a provider may use clean energy generated within New England 8
626	626	or renewable energy with environmental attributes attached or any class of 9
627	627	tradeable renewable energy credits generated by any renewable energy plant 10
628	628	whose energy is capable of delivery in New England. 11
629	629	(B) Required amounts. 12
630	630	(i) The amounts of total clean and renewable energy required by 13
631	631	this subsection (a) shall be 63 percent of each retail electricity provider’s 14
632	632	annual load during the year beginning on January 1, 2025, increasing by at 15
633	633	least an additional four 7.4 percent each third January 1 thereafter until 16
634	634	reaching 100 percent: on and after January 1, 2030. 17
635	635	(i) on and after January 1, 2035 for a retail electricity provider who 18
636	636	serves a single customer that takes service at 115 kilovolts and each municipal 19
637	637	retail electricity provider formed under local charter or chapter 79 of this title; 20
638	638	and 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
639	639	2025 Page 27 of 36
640	640
641	641
642	642	VT LEG #378873 v.5
643	643	(ii) on and after January 1, 2030, for all other retail electricity 1
644	644	providers The amount of total renewable energy required by this subsection (a) 2
645	645	shall be 55 percent of each retail electricity provider’s annual electricity 3
646	646	purchases during the year beginning on January 1, 2027, increasing by an 4
647	647	additional four percent each January 1 hereafter, until reaching 75 percent on 5
648	648	and after January 1, 2032. 6
649	649	* * * 7
650	650	(2) Distributed renewable generation. 8
651	651	(A) Purpose; establishment. This subdivision establishes a 9
652	652	distributed renewable generation category for the RES CES. This category 10
653	653	encourages the use of distributed generation to support the reliability of the 11
654	654	State’s electric system; reduce line losses; contribute to avoiding or deferring 12
655	655	improvements to that system necessitated by transmission or distribution 13
656	656	constraints; and diversify the size and type of resources connected to that 14
657	657	system. This category requires the use of renewable energy for these purposes 15
658	658	to reduce environmental and health impacts from air emissions that would 16
659	659	result from using other forms of generation. 17
660	660	* * * 18
661	661	(E) Avoiding transmission and distribution constraints. 19
662	662	(i) Procurements by retail electricity providers and programs that 20
663	663	support meeting the requirements of this subdivision (2) shall avoid 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
664	664	2025 Page 28 of 36
665	665
666	666
667	667	VT LEG #378873 v.5
668	668	development of new facilities in generation constrained areas of the 1
669	669	distribution or transmission system that would not need to be expanded but for 2
670	670	the addition of additional generation, unless costs associated with development 3
671	671	in those generation constrained areas are not passed through to ratepayers 4
672	672	through the cost to utilities to purchase the generation or in any other manner. 5
673	673	To implement the intent of this section, the Commission may update or adopt 6
674	674	rules, including rules that require a locational adjustor fee. 7
675	675	(ii) A retail electricity provider may petition the Commission for relief 8
676	676	of the requirements of subdivision (C) of this subdivision (a)(2) or the 9
677	677	associated alternative compliance payment, which may be granted if the 10
678	678	provider can demonstrate that it is unable to meet its requirements without 11
679	679	extensive upgrades to the transmission or distribution infrastructure that would 12
680	680	be borne by the provider’s ratepayers. If relief is granted, the retail electricity 13
681	681	provider shall be required to instead acquire new renewable generation from 14
682	682	facilities that qualify to meet the requirements of subdivision (4) of this 15
683	683	subsection (a), in addition to the requirements as described in subdivision (4) 16
684	684	of this subsection (a). 17
685	685	(3) Energy transformation. 18
686	686	(A) Purpose; establishment. This subdivision (3) establishes an 19
687	687	energy transformation category for the RES CES. This category encourages 20
688	688	Vermont retail electricity providers to support additional distributed renewable 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
689	689	2025 Page 29 of 36
690	690
691	691
692	692	VT LEG #378873 v.5
693	693	generation or to support other projects to reduce fossil fuel consumed by their 1
694	694	customers and the emission of greenhouse gases attributable to that 2
695	695	consumption. A retail electricity provider may satisfy the energy 3
696	696	transformation requirement through distributed renewable generation in 4
697	697	addition to the generation used to satisfy subdivision (2) of this subsection (a) 5
698	698	or energy transformation projects or a combination of such generation and 6
699	699	projects. 7
700	700	* * * 8
701	701	(4) New renewable energy. 9
702	702	(A) Purpose; establishment. This subdivision (4) establishes a new 10
703	703	regional renewable energy category for the RES CES. This category 11
704	704	encourages the use of new renewable generation to support the reliability of 12
705	705	the regional ISO-NE electric system. To satisfy this requirement, a provider 13
706	706	shall use new renewable energy with environmental attributes attached or any 14
707	707	class of tradeable renewable energy credits generated by any renewable energy 15
708	708	plant coming into service after January 1, 2010 whose energy is capable of 16
709	709	delivery in New England. 17
710	710	* * * 18
711	711	(6) Alternative compliance rates. 19
712	712	(A) The alternative compliance payment rates for the categories 20
713	713	established by subdivisions (1)–(3) of this subsection (a) shall be: 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
714	714	2025 Page 30 of 36
715	715
716	716
717	717	VT LEG #378873 v.5
718	718	(i) total clean and renewable energy requirement — $0.01 per 1
719	719	kWh; and 2
720	720	(ii) distributed renewable generation and energy transformation 3
721	721	requirements — $0.06 per kWh. 4
722	722	(B) The Commission shall adjust these rates for inflation annually 5
723	723	commencing January 1, 2018, using the CPI. 6
724	724	(C) For the distributed renewable energy, new renewable energy and 7
725	725	load growth requirements, it shall be $0.04 per kWh annually commencing on 8
726	726	January 1, 2025, with calculations for inflation beginning on January 1, 2023. 9
727	727	* * * 10
728	728	Sec. 12. 30 V.S.A. § 8006 is amended to read: 11
729	729	§ 8006. TRADEABLE CREDITS; ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES; 12
730	730	RECOGNITION, MONITORING, AND DISCLOSURE 13
731	731	(a) The Commission shall establish or adopt a amend and expand its system 14
732	732	of tradeable renewable energy credits for renewable resources that may be 15
733	733	earned by electric generation qualifying for the prior RES to include clean 16
734	734	energy generation. The system shall recognize tradeable renewable energy 17
735	735	credits monitored and traded on the New England Generation Information 18
736	736	System (GIS); shall provide a process for the recognition, approval, and 19
737	737	monitoring of environmental attributes attached to clean and renewable energy 20
738	738	that are eligible to satisfy the requirements of sections 8004 and 8005 of this 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
739	739	2025 Page 31 of 36
740	740
741	741
742	742	VT LEG #378873 v.5
743	743	title but are not monitored and traded on the GIS; and shall otherwise be 1
744	744	consistent with regional practices. 2
745	745	(b) The Commission shall ensure that all electricity provider and provider-3
746	746	affiliate disclosures and representations made with regard to a provider’s 4
747	747	portfolio are accurate and reasonably supported by objective data. Further, the 5
748	748	Commission shall ensure that providers disclose the types of generation used 6
749	749	and shall clearly distinguish between energy or tradeable energy credits 7
750	750	provided from clean, renewable, and nonrenewable energy sources and 8
751	751	existing and new renewable energy. 9
752	752	Sec. 13. 30 V.S.A. § 8008 is amended to read: 10
753	753	§ 8008. AGREEMENTS; ATTRIBUTE REVENUES; DISPOSITION BY 11
754	754	COMMISSION 12
755	755	(a) As used in this section, “the revenues” means revenues that are from the 13
756	756	sale, through tradeable clean or renewable energy certificates or other means, 14
757	757	of environmental attributes associated with the generation of clean and 15
758	758	renewable energy from a system of generation resources with a total plant 16
759	759	capacity greater than 200 MW and that are received by a Vermont retail 17
760	760	electricity provider on or after May 1, 2012, pursuant to an agreement, 18
761	761	contract, memorandum of understanding, or other transaction in which a 19
762	762	person or entity agrees to transfer such revenues or rights associated with such 20
763	763	attributes to the provider. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
764	764	2025 Page 32 of 36
765	765
766	766
767	767	VT LEG #378873 v.5
768	768	* * * 1
769	769	Sec. 14. 30 V.S.A. § 8005b is added to read: 2
770	770	§ 8005b. RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR COMMUNITIES PROGRAM 3
771	771	(a) Establishment. The Renewable Energy for Communities Program is 4
772	772	established. To achieve the goals of subdivision 8005(a)(2) of this title, the 5
773	773	Commission shall develop the Renewable Energy for Communities Program 6
774	774	that meets the eligibility requirements of this section, which may be 7
775	775	implemented by rule, order, or contract. Retail electricity providers shall issue 8
776	776	periodic solicitations subject to the requirements of the Renewable Energy for 9
777	777	Communities Program. 10
778	778	(b) Eligible resources. Distributed renewable generation, as defined in 11
779	779	subdivision 8002(a)(2) of this title, shall be eligible to participate in this 12
780	780	program. 13
781	781	(c) Objectives. It shall be the objective of the Renewable Energy for 14
782	782	Communities Program to develop distributed generation at least-cost to 15
783	783	ratepayers that is directed by, developed in consultation with, or directly 16
784	784	benefits communities by one or more of the following: 17
785	785	(1) delivering benefits from renewable energy systems to customers who 18
786	786	have historically been marginalized or faced inequitable access to the benefits 19
787	787	of renewable energy, including environmental justice focus populations as 20
788	788	defined by 3 V.S.A. § 6002; 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
789	789	2025 Page 33 of 36
790	790
791	791
792	792	VT LEG #378873 v.5
793	793	(2) supporting community participation in the development and 1
794	794	governance of distributed renewable generation; 2
795	795	(3) supporting the delivery of benefits to tenants of buildings that are 3
796	796	designated as affordable housing; 4
797	797	(4) supporting the delivery of benefits to school and municipal owned 5
798	798	buildings; and 6
799	799	(5) advancing other priority issues as identified during program 7
800	800	development as detailed under subsection (f) of this section. 8
801	801	(d) Capacity requirement. Retail electricity providers shall issue 9
802	802	solicitations for distributed renewable generation equivalent to a percentage of 10
803	803	their requirement under subdivision 8005(a)(2) of this title, as determined by 11
804	804	the Commission. 12
805	805	(e) Solicitation requirement. On a schedule to be developed by the 13
806	806	Commission, each retail electricity provider with an obligation under 14
807	807	subdivision 8005(a)(2) of this title shall issue solicitations for eligible 15
808	808	distributed generation until it has met its capacity requirement. Coordinated 16
809	809	solicitations shall be encouraged. Each retail electric provider shall review 17
810	810	proposed projects in its service territory according to a set of consistent core 18
811	811	criteria as approved by the Commission and consistent with the objectives set 19
812	812	forth in this section. The requirements for the retail electricity providers that 20
813	813	are already 100 percent renewable may be limited by the Commission to an 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
814	814	2025 Page 34 of 36
815	815
816	816
817	817	VT LEG #378873 v.5
818	818	amount equal to the provider’s requirement to meet distributed generation with 1
819	819	load growth above the baseline year of 2024 and allowed on a less frequent 2
820	820	solicitation schedule. 3
821	821	(f) Program development. On or before January 1, 2027, the Commission 4
822	822	shall implement the Renewable Energy for Communities Program. In 5
823	823	developing the Program, the Commission shall: 6
824	824	(1) determine principles to guide the development of eligible distributed 7
825	825	generation and consider whether additional objectives for the Program as 8
826	826	defined under subsection (a) of this section are necessary; 9
827	827	(2) determine whether a percentage of each retail electricity provider’s 10
828	828	capacity requirement should be reserved to serve specific customers who have 11
829	829	previously experienced inequitable access to the benefits of renewable energy 12
830	830	and determine any minimum requirement for those projects procured under 13
831	831	this program for serving those specific customers; 14
832	832	(3) establish a set of consistent review criteria to be used by all retail 15
833	833	electricity providers in solicitations for eligible distributed generation 16
834	834	considering issues in addition to cost, such as community support or 17
835	835	engagement while developing the proposal; potential for local workforce 18
836	836	development and other community benefits to be delivered to the host 19
837	837	community; location of the project, including whether it is in a constrained 20
838	838	area of the distribution or transmission system or in an area identified as a 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
839	839	2025 Page 35 of 36
840	840
841	841
842	842	VT LEG #378873 v.5
843	843	preferred location in a regional or municipal enhanced energy plan pursuant to 1
844	844	24 V.S.A. § 4352; and anticipated generation profile; 2
845	845	(4) identify reporting requirements and necessary metrics to monitor 3
846	846	how benefits and burdens from the Program are distributed across ratepayers; 4
847	847	(5) consult with individuals representing a diverse array of perspectives, 5
848	848	including at minimum representation from industry, retail electric providers, 6
849	849	environmental advocates, State agencies, regional and local governments, 7
850	850	communities identified as environmental justice focus populations under 3 8
851	851	V.S.A. § 6002, municipalities experiencing high energy burden as identified by 9
852	852	Efficiency Vermont’s 2023 Energy Burden Report, renters, and multifamily 10
853	853	affordable housing representatives; 11
854	854	(6) determine a process for exempting or deferring retail electricity 12
855	855	provider requirements under this section in the event no proposals below the 13
856	856	applicable alternative compliance payment are received in response to a retail 14
857	857	electricity provider’s solicitation; 15
858	858	(7) determine a process for evaluating and reporting on the success of 16
859	859	the Program in achieving the stated goals; and 17
860	860	(8) consider other issues as identified throughout the process. 18
861	861	(g) The Commission may use its authority under sections 20 and 21 of this 19
862	862	title as may be necessary to support engagement and technical analysis 20
863	863	necessary to develop the Renewable Energy for Communities Program. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.110
864	864	2025 Page 36 of 36
865	865
866	866
867	867	VT LEG #378873 v.5
868	868	Funding may be used to support per diem compensation and reimbursement of 1
869	869	expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 to conduct engagement with 2
870	870	parties who are not otherwise compensated by their employer. 3
871	871	* * * Effective Date * * * 4
872	872	Sec. 15. EFFECTIVE DATE 5
873	873	This act shall take effect on passage. 6