Concerned Vermonters Push for Better Renewable Energy Standard
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Call for Stronger Standard to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions,
Prioritize New Solar and Wind Energy
MONTPELIER, Vt. — A group of concerned Vermont citizens today called on the legislature and governor to approve a better Renewable Energy Standard (RES) that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and prioritizes new solar and wind energy.
The speakers from around Vermont also pushed for an end to the practice of allowing utilities to buy “renewable energy credits” that do not in actuality produce new renewable energy.
At a press conference in the state capitol, Pawlet resident Jessica Van Oort noted that this year’s highly destructive weather — including floods and pervasive wildfire smoke — underlined the need for cleaner energy. Van Oort is a small-business owner who also sits on the board of 350Vermont.
“The summer of climate disasters we've suffered here and elsewhere is a clear call for us to get off fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” she said. “We Vermonters like to think that our electricity is already fully green and fully renewable, but it's not. We need lawmakers to champion a RES that requires our electricity to come from 60% newly created solar and wind by 2035.”
In a video for the press conference, 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben, a Ripton resident, said “Vermont is poised to play a really important role if we can get this right. We have to work really fast to produce more clean energy here in Vermont.”
As a result of advocacy by 350Vermont and others, a legislative working group of lawmakers, utilities and environmental groups has spent this fall taking another look at the RES.
The Legislative Working Group is expected to come out publicly on Dec. 5 with its recommendations. The legislature will consider those recommendations in the 2024 session that begins in early January.
The existing RES, which became law in 2017, governs how much electricity utilities are required to source as renewable energy and what the definition is of “renewable.”
"We cannot afford to delay action on the climate crisis if we want to ensure a thriving global food system for future generations,” said another speaker, Jaiel Pulskamp, a Worcester resident and farmer. “Taking urgent steps to reduce emissions will pave the way for a brighter and more hopeful future for our children and grandchildren.”
The current RES — in addition to relying on dubious energy credits — considers large-scale hydroelectric power from Hydro-Quebec to be both renewable and free of emissions. Vermont is the only New England state allowing that in its renewable energy standard.
By flooding vast sections of forest land, Hydro-Quebec releases substantial amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, greenhouse gases that are overheating the planet. This contributes to extreme weather and climate change.
Recent effects of climate change have included wildfires — which polluted Vermont air for several weeks this summer — and extensive summer floods that impacted many Vermont residents and businesses and did millions of dollars in damage.
“We are grassroots citizens gathering to tell our legislators that we want a clean RES reform bill,” said Earl Hatley, a Quechee resident. “We want to end the expansion of large hydro energy and end the use of renewable natural gas. We also call on the legislature to stop the buying and selling of renewable energy credits with the RES. Stop the greenwashing now!" Hatley is an enrolled citizen of Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, an environmental scientist and co-founder of LEAD Agency, a grassroots environmental justice organization.
As part of its Empower VT Campaign this fall, 350Vermont held eight educational sessions about the RES in five different House districts. The sessions drew over 200 Vermonters who committed to actively push the legislature and governor for a better energy standard.
350Vermont is also calling for the legislature and Gov. Phil Scott to approve legislation promoting thermal energy networks and divestment out of fossil fuels, as well as ratepayer protections that would cap the amount of ratepayer bills based on income.
Informational resources
RES Policy Brief: https://tinyurl.com/2d4ah88s
Renewable Energy Credits: https://tinyurl.com/pyrzwkz8
Large-Scale Hydropower: https://tinyurl.com/ycy8uhze
VT Community Solar Projects: https://tinyurl.com/mtyabvd9
McNeil Plant Expansion: https://tinyurl.com/558e495w
350VT Postcard Campaign to Legislators: https://tinyurl.com/3h69fxus
About 350Vermont
Guided by the voices, experiences and solutions of those most affected by the global climate crisis, 350Vermont works at the intersection of climate change and social justice to ensure an equitable and thriving world. We are building collective power for climate justice in Vermont and beyond.
Our name refers to the safe amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is roughly 350 parts per million. The planet is now over 415 ppm and rising. Vermonters working to reverse this trend launched 350.org over 15 years ago. It has since become an international movement consisting of independent but aligned 350.org chapters around the world such as 350Vermont.
