[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6343603,"mediaKeyId","2251928-eb65ae3f67ac7d4cc414af8bc59feb07","parentId",2251928,"title","Sponsor proposes removing citizen suit enforcement from Vermont’s Global Warming Solutions Act","audioSeconds",794,"startMs",1381000,"endMs",2175000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2251928-eb65ae3f67ac7d4cc414af8bc59feb07&start=1381&end=2175","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2251928-eb65ae3f67ac7d4cc414af8bc59feb07/thumbnail_1381000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6343603/Vermont/Sponsor-proposes-removing-citizen-suit-enforcement-from-Vermonts-Global-Warming-Solutions-Act","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343603-ca4c4193b8d8f0a717153aac2fb5cb84/orig.mp4?Expires=1773750961&Signature=DMPslrBEMydRcoxai9vNtSIBeQYTPz7YDzgcNjmui~RsSdxonTlek21kuCIhfu9rSLIMEZh0l2IwIyWMZw6XgE6sWEmAzi0YyXirZVjsi3MULzLNdFMti-rH1eWCDvLVLKWXDVLI7VCAHAHkIZFWSpb8sUqmJ3lm3x9woPL16jIVRToSMogiaTzrFDJvOKDQJjKb-8NAre8loytU5fkDCFmIwaeP6gRfeh0c0C4tUocZTNeouj-wyptbr-UOt7VukYKijOJPIFShWcrWu1PM4W0pQgOCtfuOqGx609PJ0VJBs1Og0e8Rf6lMmh0SpbwHSDFgN-YCvPKOy~onc-KwkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure","date","2025-02-05T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Jim Harrison presented H.52 to the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee, saying the enforcement design of the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) — which channels citizen suits — “philosophically” should be the voters’ tool rather than the courts’. Harrison told the committee he wanted to repeal the citizen‑supervision provision and alter the statutory mandate so enforcement rested with voters and the political process.

Committee members pushed back on that premise. Representative Matt Campbell and others said the GWSA’s right‑of‑action was intentionally narrow: it channels litigation to defined topics, timelines, and remedies. Campbell pointed to testimony from Massachusetts and said that including a right of action with clear parameters was intended to avoid open‑ended litigation that delays climate action. Several legislators said the court’s likely remedy is to require the Agency of Natural Resources to produce or implement a plan, not to impose specific regulatory mechanisms.

Discussion broadened into a review of the Climate Council’s work and of state spending on climate programs. Representative Mark Higley summarized the council’s 13‑page report and quoted a figure in committee discussion that “$524,430,768” had been spent in the 2025 budget for direct climate action; another member noted much of that funding is federal. Higley and others described operational challenges at the Climate Council — staff capacity, prioritization, and reliance on agency support — and questioned whether removing judicial oversight would weaken progress toward benchmarks the council has identified.

Legal exposure was debated: a committee member asked about financial risk. The sponsor and others noted that suits under the GWSA do not award broad financial damages but that the state could be responsible for attorney fees if it loses. One legislator framed the choice as who should hold government accountable — voters at the ballot box or courts through limited judicial remedies.

The committee also discussed downstream policy consequences if statutory mechanisms (such as the Clean Heat Standard) are left in place or removed; members noted that removing one statutory tool might prompt agencies to propose alternative regulations or programs to meet required benchmarks. The session was a pitch; no formal committee action was taken, and members requested additional information and legal analysis before further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Energy and Digital Infrastructure 2025-02-05 2:00pm","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Jim Harrison pitched H.52 to repeal the citizen‑supervision (right‑of‑action) enforcement mechanism in the Global Warming Solutions Act and replace it with a statutory target; legislators debated the policy tradeoffs, litigation experience from other states, and climate council capacity and funding.","taxTitle","Environment & Energy, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",30749,"location","Vermont","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6343608,"Sponsor pitches repeal of Vermont’s clean heat standard (Act 18) as too costly and complex",152,633000,785000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2251928-eb65ae3f67ac7d4cc414af8bc59feb07&start=633&end=785","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2251928-eb65ae3f67ac7d4cc414af8bc59feb07/thumbnail_633000.jpg","/articles/6343608/Vermont/Sponsor-pitches-repeal-of-Vermonts-clean-heat-standard-Act-18-as-too-costly-and-complex","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343608-1d51c9792cf5f05e3e4468cf3be11658/orig.mp4?Expires=1773750961&Signature=OoWd1bFReLjc5Co5NkgF3Qb8M9iIMS7TFs2VyTb59sDteUFFd~AF-NoHAHEXLWgcfwLM8Wl2oBwzskFBqjbmKT7bCmb35x9snbdEaiUJbKOtXFdpTbO6kGafm32gqOT2OmuJ4gmLbzOIr8VQ3BYRwMrDi2u08Nx0S4MTSMPWZNgSbKTIUbOyQHTC4FFJtZ4Tgkx-Yx4kCfrh7s4RfnqUa5~C~a1~p4FQTmNcYynjEp5mosHAJ35Iigx1QI4bd7Na1T6iaXMPTUGz3Qk3secppMh0g9QAZxL3y5a01kmA65qj-MStDh0fRPy3KLmAs2jisVz-ZGEGeJi3fF5VrLNvXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Jim Harrison presented H.16, a bill that would repeal the Clean Heat Standard enacted as Act 18. Harrison told the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee the bill “repeals the clean heat standard, which was adopted and is now known as Act 18,” and described the legislation as short and intended to remove the existing statutory framework.

Harrison said a recent Public Utility Commission report estimated lower overall costs than an earlier Public Service Department analysis but argued the Clean Heat Standard remained “too complicated, onerous, and expensive.” He told the committee the repeal would remove the statutory infrastructure created by Act 18 and allow lawmakers to “start over with a new bill” rather than amending the existing law.

Committee members pressed Harrison on alternatives. Representative Campbell asked what would replace the Clean Heat Standard to address climate pollution; Harrison said he had “no good answer” but suggested lawmakers could pursue other options and possibly leverage federal funding. Representative Southworth and others asked whether parts of Act 18—such as unfunded PUC positions or a fuel dealer registry—would still be enacted if the legislature did not repeal the act; Harrison said some registry functions exist already but that the registry language in Act 18 may need clarification.

Members also raised legal questions about whether courts could require action if the legislature did not act. Harrison said he was not an attorney but expressed concern that, if statutory rules were available, a court could order implementation in the context of suits brought under the Global Warming Solutions Act. Other legislators on the committee clarified the GWSA’s supervision provisions are narrowly tailored and that the likely court remedies center on requiring the Agency of Natural Resources to issue plans and demonstrate progress rather than imposing specific regulatory programs.

Harrison framed H.16 as a response to constituent pushback about costs and property tax impacts associated with Act 18. He said the repeal would ease constituent concern while leaving open work on alternate approaches to reduce emissions. The committee treated Harrison’s remarks as a pitch; no vote or action was taken, and members asked for additional information and potential witnesses before deciding whether to pursue the bill further.","Representative Jim Harrison presented H.16 to repeal Act 18 (the Clean Heat Standard). He argued implementation would be costly and burdensome and suggested starting over; other members questioned replacement plans and legal implications under the Global Warming Solutions Act.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6343613,"Lawmakers hear pitch for bill to bar utility shutoffs during extreme heat",512,78000,590000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2251928-eb65ae3f67ac7d4cc414af8bc59feb07&start=78&end=590","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2251928-eb65ae3f67ac7d4cc414af8bc59feb07/thumbnail_78000.jpg","/articles/6343613/Vermont/Lawmakers-hear-pitch-for-bill-to-bar-utility-shutoffs-during-extreme-heat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343613-3c8fd4bcd7c8ce0869f079820fdf7e97/orig.mp4?Expires=1773750961&Signature=T6cMk12J8SzWk1I2ufqoJlScYQ2FKazX-qjc0arqAHHHyHj3h8eqfY1tateRqZSZSB1efLQAEjmBF8p4xBWkXGI8Z5BZcr4RC~oEICw~6-I9s1rCk5dxvnnKIRLq-Q~f1n0J2hzD-Kr1AQiGklIjH2OlrHP9RyP6Mvy40s~HpYxZ1X7lGzlXbaYzip3ABw0igvAUqdxnKQGdrfsIb8XAUpU4L~UnmTYipYkewjtXBCTtwlPx4dLL05T6OiZUSzlIdv-k4f7NiiyysTjrUbEs9873LM3hL8GIeAttNEPf3K2VNVjKTT-icqm3W0j6jLHwGPqB-7bfZizm8yPEzhti1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Kate McCann presented legislation (H.88) that would bar utilities from disconnecting essential services during periods of extreme heat and would create year‑round protections for customers who cannot pay. She told the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee the measure aims to “prevent utility shutoffs during heat waves and ensure continued access to those essential services during periods of extreme heat.”

The bill’s sponsor said the proposal was developed with support from the Center for Energy, Poverty, and Climate and cited a National Consumer Law Center report on extreme heat and utility consumers. McCann said only 19 states had mandatory limits on summer disconnections as of July 1, 2023, and called H.88 a way to extend protections to Vermonters “regardless of a nonpayment issue.”

Committee members pressed for more Vermont‑specific data and for detail on implementation. Representative Howland asked, “What statistics for Vermont do you have to show a need for this bill?” McCann replied the bill is proactive and pointed to 2023 being the hottest year on record and to national data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showing energy insecurity among lower‑income households and certain demographic groups. Representative Kleffner asked how “extreme heat” would be defined; McCann said the bill text specifies a 92°F threshold for a defined period.

Members also asked how utilities would be paid when service continues despite nonpayment. On that point McCann said, “Don't have a good answer for that…to be explored,” and committee members noted the question would need follow‑up with utilities or the Public Utility Commission. Representatives asked whether the Public Utility Commission or utilities had been consulted; McCann said there had been “some back and forth” and she would follow up with the committee.

The pitch session did not include committee votes. McCann said existing Vermont rules protect consumers from disconnection during extreme cold (citing an existing PUC disconnection provision she referenced as “3.3”) but that similar protections for heat do not exist. The committee chair said the session was introductory and that the committee would decide later whether to take additional testimony or formal action on H.88.

The presentation included several quantitative points drawn from national sources: the sponsor cited 19 states with summer shutoff protections (as of 07/01/2023), a 92°F threshold appearing in similar laws, and EIA data showing nearly 30% of the U.S. population faces unaffordability of essential utility services. The sponsor and members discussed demographic groups named in national data as more likely to experience energy insecurity — lower‑income households, older adults, households with children, renters, and people identifying as Black or Hispanic/Latino.

Because this was a pitch session, the committee did not make a formal recommendation; members requested follow‑up information on Vermont‑specific incidence, utility and PUC positions, and models for funding continued service when customers cannot pay.","A sponsor presented H.88, legislation to prohibit utility disconnections during extreme-heat events and to extend year‑round protections for vulnerable customers; committee members asked for Vermont-specific data and cost and implementation details.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sponsor proposes removing citizen suit enforcement from Vermont’s Global Warming Solutions Act

Sponsor pitches repeal of Vermont’s clean heat standard (Act 18) as too costly and complex

Lawmakers hear pitch for bill to bar utility shutoffs during extreme heat