This year, instead of unveiling a new climate initiative, lawmakers are focusing on a fundamental step: collecting data to track carbon emissions. A proposed greenhouse gas reporting program aims to gather information from fuel providers responsible for heating and transportation, which account for about 70% of the state’s emissions.
The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources outlined that starting this program would cost $800,000, with ongoing annual expenses of $500,000 for staffing and maintaining a public website. Rep. Kathleen James expressed concern over this significant expense, noting, “That’s a lot of money anytime, especially right now.”
For Vermonters, the stakes are high. Solid data on emissions sources is crucial as lawmakers navigate policies that could impact heating costs, fuel prices, and taxes. Supporters of better reporting believe it can provide a roadmap for effective climate strategies and prevent past mistakes in policy-making.
Vermont is currently falling short of its carbon reduction targets amidst decreasing federal support. Knowing where emissions originate could empower lawmakers to design better policies. “Without accurate data, we risk repeating the problems we’ve faced in previous climate discussions,” James added.
She plans to gather testimony to assess whether the proposed budget is reasonable. Vermont might look to its neighbor New York, which launched a similar program recently.
Despite various climate measures over the past decade, Vermont has struggled to meet its legally binding targets. The state introduced several significant laws, such as the Renewable Energy Standard, requiring utilities to switch to 100% renewable energy by 2030, and a unique Climate Superfund Act that makes major polluters pay for their emissions.
Nonetheless, reports indicate that the state has missed its emission reduction goals. Additionally, previous attempts to advance key climate policies have stalled, with some legislative proposals aimed at weakening renewable energy plans. Under the Trump administration, Vermont even lost substantial federal funding for clean energy initiatives, impacting its ability to invest in climate action.
Agency Secretary Julie Moore remarked on the need for a shift in how Vermont approaches climate investments. She emphasized that recent federal support has dramatically decreased, creating uncertainty in funding.
Past legislative sessions included ambitious proposals like a clean heat standard and cap-and-invest policies, but smaller, more manageable actions might be needed now. Experts emphasize that robust data collection is essential for any future climate strategies.
A study on the new reporting program is part of the Vermont Climate Action Plan, updated every four years to align with goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Council, a diverse group of experts and citizens, unanimously backed the financial request for the new program, though one notable dissenting voice was a fuels lobbyist, Matt Cota, who argued against the necessity and efficiency of such a system.
Cota raised concerns that collecting county-level data could be cumbersome and redundant since emissions are already tracked through other systems. “All gallons are already counted and reported,” he stated.
Despite existing data collection efforts, there remains a gap in understanding emissions sources clearly, which complicates regulation and accountability. The Agency of Natural Resources doesn’t need legislative approval to implement a reporting program. However, past legal challenges in other states underscore the value of legislative endorsement in these matters.
Moore indicated that, while data collection is important, it may not be the immediate priority. As tracking emissions becomes more complex due to current administrative changes, Jane Lazorchak, director of the Climate Action Office, noted the situation’s urgency. “With federal data collections being reduced, we need to strengthen our in-state capabilities.”
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clean heat standard,Climate Action Plan,emissions,H.740,Julie Moore,Kathleen James,Matt Cota,Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
