Senate committee reviews H.940: extends thermal-fund flexibility for Burlington Electric and aligns enhanced energy planning with Act 181

Legislative Counsel and invited witnesses presented H.940 to the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee on April 14, describing three unrelated parts of the House-passed bill: (1) expanded use of thermal energy and process-fuel funds by Burlington Electric Department (BED) for greenhouse-gas–reduction programs; (2) procedural amendments to enhanced energy planning that align review timelines and standards with Act 181 regional plan procedures; and (3) repeal of the Telecommunications Connectivity Advisory Board.

Ellen Cowsky of the Office of Legislative Council summarized the HB text, saying Section 1 would allow the one retail electric provider that is also an entity appointed under statute (Burlington Electric) to spend annual budgeted thermal energy and process-fuel funds and carry forward prior funds on programs that reduce fossil-fuel use and greenhouse-gas emissions in the thermal energy or transportation sector for calendar years 2027–2029. The provision would require the entity to prioritize weatherization and thermal-sector efficiency and to budget at least 60% of funds under the section for weatherization and thermal efficiency programs, with at…