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Clean energy standard debate: why savings won’t appear until 2030 and how nuclear attributes factor in

Vermont House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure · January 28, 2026

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Summary

Witnesses explained that switching from a renewable energy standard to a clean energy standard would not produce immediate rate savings; existing contracts and the treatment of nuclear attributes mean projected savings begin in 2030 under current assumptions.

Committee members asked how a proposed clean energy standard would affect costs. TJ Forum said savings tied to converting a renewable energy standard (RES) to a clean energy standard would not materialize immediately because of existing contracts and the timing of tier changes; modeled savings begin around 2030.

Forum explained that every megawatt-hour imported into New England carries attributes in the regional tracking system and that Vermont utilities currently claim some nuclear attributes against their portfolio. Those attribute claims change the state’s counted portfolio versus the New England residual mix, and the department’s analysis assumes those contractual and attribute positions when modeling costs.

Under the department’s estimate, a clean energy standard would generate modest net savings between 2030 and 2035 because some nuclear attributes can be counted in other states’ rules and the timing of RES tier increases will require utilities to buy additional RECs starting in 2030. Forum cited a conservative illustrative savings of about $4 per megawatt-hour over five years (roughly $4,000,000 per year or $20,000,000 across 2030–2035) under certain assumptions; he noted that the per-megawatt-hour figure is a low estimate based on current REC price history and modeling assumptions.

Committee members pressed for clarity on definitions. Forum said the report’s "clean energy" job numbers and the department’s usage include renewables, storage and energy efficiency; in the department’s physical-deliveries accounting, some nuclear contracts are included in the clean share. Forum warned that several rule details and interstate procurement options affect how attributes and credits will flow and that the exact savings depend on future REC prices, contract terms and federal policy developments.

The Department offered to provide more detailed modeling and to translate the RES cost model into dollar terms for the committee’s review.