Senators review S.110 to shift Vermont to ‘net zero’ by 2035 and change climate council role

A Senate committee on Natural Resources & Energy reviewed S.110, a bill that would rework Vermont’s Global Warming Solutions framework and set a statewide goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. The bill would move some duties from the Climate Council to the Agency of Natural Resources and change several statutory deadlines to planning goals.

The bill’s presenter told the committee the measure would repeal the private right of action in the Global Warming Solutions Act, change the Renewable Energy Standard to a “clean energy” standard, and require the secretary of ANR to deliver an “aggressive and achievable timeline for achieving net-zero emissions across all sectors by 2035.” The presenter said the bill would make the climate council primarily advisory and add more executive-branch appointees to its membership.

Why it matters: The proposal would shift who carries out statutory tasks now performed by the Climate Council and remove several rulemaking deadlines the existing statute imposes. Committee members asked how the general assembly would handle appointments and whether technical duties, such as data analysis, would be adequately staffed once transferred to the agency.

Key details discussed

- Net-zero target and plan: The bill directs the secretary of ANR to work with other agencies to deliver a climate action plan and a companion implementation strategy with timelines to reach net-zero by 2035; the presenter described the plan as recommending—rather than mandating—specific initiatives and funding mechanisms.

- Climate Council makeup and duties: The draft reduces the council’s membership and shifts appointment authority toward the governor while removing some statutory positions (for example, an expert in climate-change science) and naming the state climatologist as a member. The sponsor said the council would provide recommendations while ANR would be responsible for final plan development and much of the data work currently done by the council.

- Rulemaking authority and deadlines: The bill would make rulemaking more discretionary for the secretary, directing the secretary to consider rules that are “cost-effective, affordable, and practical” rather than imposing a series of fixed rule-adoption deadlines between 2026–2050. Committee members noted the language reduces mandatory rulemaking verbs and asked for clarification on timing and enforcement.

- Renewable-to-clean energy changes: S.110 renames the existing Renewable Energy Standard (RES) the Clean Energy Standard (CES) and adds a definition of “clean energy” to include renewables and electricity produced by technologies that do not emit greenhouse gases in operation. The presenter noted the definition would encompass most renewables and also technologies such as nuclear that produce power without direct greenhouse-gas emissions.

- Portfolio and tier changes: Committee discussion reviewed new percentages for required clean/renewable energy in utility portfolios and described changes to how utilities may use tradable zero-emission credits. Presenters said Tier 1 and Tier 2 provisions would be adjusted; Tier 2 language was discussed with respect to avoiding procurement that would create or expand generation-constrained areas unless costs are not passed to ratepayers.

What lawmakers asked and did not resolve

Committee members pressed for clarity on: how the general assembly would make appointments once the bill reduces legislative appointees, how the secretary would staff expanded planning and data duties, and how the new CES would treat nonrenewable but low-emission sources. No committee vote on the bill was recorded during this session.

Ending note: Sponsors said the draft is a work in progress and that additional detail will be needed to implement transfers of responsibility, staffing, and the precise mechanics of the clean energy standard.