Members of the Vermont House and Senate passed the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) in 2020 over the veto of Governor Scott and every elected Republican.
The GWSA was a “pass it to find out what’s in it and what it will cost bill” with the ostensible goal of lowering Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions 26% below 2005 levels by 2025, 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. It mandated that we do this without any clear idea if it was a realistic or affordable proposition. As we are finding out, it is neither.
The first major piece of legislation passed under the umbrella of the GWSA – again over the veto of Governor Scott and Republicans — was the Clean Heat Standard, which early estimates (likely low) say will add roughly 70 cents to every gallon of heating oil, propane, kerosene, and natural gas Vermonters use to heat our homes and businesses. For the average household, this would mean at least an additional $500-plus expense each year. Vermonters overwhelmingly and vocally opposed this policy as the law was being passed (a December 2023 Campaign for Vermont poll showed 63% of Vermonters opposed the credit scheme, 52% strongly so). Democrats and Progressives didn’t listen; didn’t care.
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Also conforming to the GWSA, last year the legislative rules committee signed onto the California Clean Cars initiative, banning the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles in Vermont by 2035, mandating that auto dealers sell higher percentages of electric vehicles every year between now and then until the percentage is zero. This, of course, will force Vermonters to buy cars that we don’t necessarily want, don’t have the infrastructure to support, more likely can’t afford, and don’t work particularly well in cold climates. Democrats and Progressives don’t care.
This year, the legislature is pushing a Renewable Energy Standard bill, also a plank in the GWSA agenda, that is estimated to add $1 billion to Vermonters’ electricity bills (think of it as a 7% tax on top of the existing 2% excise tax and normal inflationary increases) between now and 2032. This, despite the fact that the utilities testified that these mandates on top of mandates would actually make it harder for Vermont to meet the Net Zero carbon targets by restricting what kinds of carbon-free electricity they are allowed to buy and sell. Related: It’s Time to G.E.T. R.E.A.L. About Vermont’s Future
Also this year, Democrats and Progressives have added language to the “must pass” Transportation Bill, setting the stage for a Clean Transportation Standard that, like the Clean Heat Standard, will significantly raise the prices of gasoline and diesel transportation fuels. The Campaign for Vermont poll shows that 71% of Vermonters are opposed to this idea. Again, they don’t care.
Now, despite these programs and all of their costs, it’s still not enough to meet the GWSA greenhouse gas reduction mandates. And here’s the real kick in the teeth built into the GWSA: If we don’t meet those mandates, the law allows ANYONE to sue the state at taxpayer expense. This could cost us millions in legal fees—a total waste of money better spent on actual environmental stewardship programs.
Moreover, even if we had the money for all these projects and more – and they actually worked – even supporters admit it would have no impact on future climate trends. We in Vermont will have spent all that money and still be dealing with the impacts of extreme weather events and climate change. We need to refocus our priorities.
While we all support programs that support a clean environment, clearly, we need to reform the Global Warming Solutions Act by repealing the mandates in the law and restoring them to goals, repealing the clause that allows anyone to sue the state at taxpayer expense, refocusing the priorities in the law to climate change mitigation (flood protection, drought, heatwave preparation, etc.), and establishing realistic, affordable greenhouse gas reduction measures.
These are common sense, realistic solutions to the challenges of changing weather patterns we have been experiencing in Vermont that don’t break the bank, either for the state treasury or our own household budgets. This is the kind of thinking and policymaking, based on listening to and learning from the working Vermonters who ultimately pay these bills we need in Montpelier to get our state back on the right track both financially and environmentally.
Bill Huff-Orange County GOP Chair on behalf of all GOP County Chairs
G.E.T. R.E.A.L. is a solemn promise and a positive path forward for our state by Vermont Republicans focused on improving the quality of life of our people. It is a prescription of policy proposals, and this is the second in a series of essays explaining the program.