Vermont business groups tell House committee climate resilience and protection of Global Warming Solutions Act are essential to protect small employers

Representatives of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility and three member companies told the Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee on March 19 that preserving the Global Warming Solutions Act and increasing investments in resilience are essential to protect small businesses and the state economy.

Johanna de Grafenreid, public policy manager for Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, told the committee that VBSR represents “600 plus members” from small and large companies across every county in Vermont and urged lawmakers to defend the state’s bedrock climate law as the state updates its Climate Action Plan and resilience strategy.

Why it matters: Witnesses said worsening storms and floods are already hitting Vermont employers, especially small businesses, and that resilience measures and state policy are needed to reduce future economic damage and keep firms open. Testimony combined first‑hand accounts of losses with statewide data and examples of local utility and private‑sector responses.

De Grafenreid emphasized statistics she said lawmakers should keep in mind: she cited Federal Emergency Management Agency figures, saying roughly 40% of small businesses do not reopen after a disaster, an additional 25% fail…