Committee hears amendment to S.50 to change renewable energy standard to clean energy standard

Members of the House Energy Digital Infrastructure Committee met April 30 to hear an amendment to S.50 that would convert Vermont’s renewable energy standard into a clean energy standard and allow utilities greater flexibility to count nonrenewable, low‑carbon resources — including nuclear and some large hydro — toward compliance.

The change, presented by Representative Jim Harrison, would replace references to a “renewable energy standard” with a “clean energy standard,” alter distribution requirements and shift certain alternative payment tiers to lower projected compliance costs, Harrison said. He cited joint fiscal office estimates that the earlier renewable standard would raise electricity costs for Vermonters by “between a low of $150,000,000 to a high of $450,000,000,” and said the clean energy approach could reduce those costs while keeping the statutory greenhouse gas goals intact.

Harrison said the amendment…