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Senate advances S 259, a Climate 'Superfund' to seek cost recovery from large fossil-fuel firms
Summary
After extended floor debate, the Senate ordered third reading of S 259, which would create a Climate Superfund Recovery Program to fund adaptation and resiliency projects and allow the state to issue cost‑recovery demands to large fossil fuel extractors and refiners; supporters cited attribution science while opponents warned of legal and fiscal risks.
The Senate ordered a third reading of S 259, the Climate Superfund Act, after a lengthy floor debate that framed the measure as a way to make the largest fossil‑fuel companies contribute to adaptation and resiliency projects paid for by Vermont.
Sponsor and committee reporter (identified on the floor as the senator reporting the bill) said the bill is not primarily about reducing carbon emissions but about “reducing the costs for Vermont taxpayers when we have to take steps to pay for rebuilding infrastructure after severe weather events.” The bill would establish a Climate Superfund Recovery Program in statute (statutes cited on the floor as 599 and related sections) to identify responsible parties, determine proportional liability and collect payments to fund projects identified by the Agency of Natural Resources and the state's resilience implementation strategy.
Why it matters: supporters said attribution science now lets the state…
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