Grassroots power is what makes it possible - by Attorney James Dumont

We are keeping our fingers crossed about the future of S.305, but right now it looks like it contains the gist of what had been formerly in S.252, H. 56, H.668 and H.669 -- that is, it includes authorization for municipalities to construct and operate Thermal Energy Networks and it orders a PUC report back to the legislature on the burdens of electric and other energy use on low and moderate income Vermonters, and what can be done by the legislature to remedy that.  It also requires the PUC to study and report back on how the legislature should regulate private utility (such as VGS) operation of Thermal Energy Networks. The primary House Committee voted unanimously to adopt this language earlier this week.  It awaits a vote by the full House. Given that the Committee vote was unanimous, endorsement by the full House seems likely. Then, on to the Senate.

Both provisions are the result of 350VT.  Debbie New and I started working on these issues in 2022 after meeting through 350VT, and 350VT's support for both the TENS bill and the low income bill has been critical to getting this far. 

Other environmental groups (Sierra Club, REV, VPIRG, VNRC, Rights & Democracy and others), and eventually even VGS, also have been very supportive, and we wouldn't be where we are without all of their help.

For those who wonder why VGS would support the TENS bill, I point out that the New York statute on this was passed with the support of utilities there, as well as the support of environmental and labor advocates. Sooner or later, the gas companies will be selling less and less gas -- and we all want it to be sooner.  Thermal Energy Networks are a way to transfer the skilled workforce of gas company workers and the capital of gas companies to a non-fossil, low emissions, resilient heating source. Gas companies stay in business by not selling gas, their employees keep their jobs, and we're heating homes and businesses with a fraction of the previous emissions.