Committee reviews Draft 1.1 of S.65 strike-all amendment, removes energy storage references and updates fund language

A Legislative Council staff member reviewed Draft 1.1 of the committee's strike‑all amendment to S.65 on Feb. 27, outlining edits that add greenhouse gas emissions reduction to the bill's energy‑efficiency heading and remove references to energy storage and active demand management from several program lists.

The changes are intended to refocus the statute's language on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction rather than on energy storage, and to revise several cross‑references and fund definitions. "The changes in the draft from the bill is introduced are highlighted in yellow," said Ellen Chaykowski, Legislative Council, explaining the draft to the Natural Resources & Energy committee. She added that "the changes that are in this draft were the language that were that was presented by Peter Wach of Efficiency Vermont."

Why it matters: The edits affect how the public utilities commission would be authorized to propose, develop and monitor energy efficiency and conservation programs, and they change the statutory language that governs the efficiency fund and the…