Carbon Tax
The Nature Conservancy conveyed they had found a way for carbon polluters in California to fund forest conservation in Vermont. The group had planned to sell carbon offsets tied to the 5,500 acre Burnt Mountain property in Northern Vermont. The hope is that big California companies would pay money to balance greenhouse gas emissions, by protecting trees in Vermont from logging, that offset their carbon from the atmosphere. However, the third party consultants from Bluesource based in San Francisco found the property had less carbon than planned, meaning fewer credits could be sold. It’s a tough life for a tree in Vermont on the mountain side, and because of that the physical size of the trees are smaller. Selling Carbon credits carries significant expanses and the Nature Conservancy is navigating that.
https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/carbon-cents-vermont-considers-how-to-make-cash-by-letting-forests-grow/Content?oid=29200171
2020 Vermont Chamber legislative Preview
The 2020 Legislative session will start on January 7, they last adjourned in May 2019. The two legislative top priorities are minimum wage and paid family leave. These items will be addressed early in the approaching session. The legislators are looking to develop greater collaboration and results around issues of climate change, paid family leave and minimum wage all while focusing on economic growth.
Vermont is experiencing a very tight labor market and is considered the number 1 business issue. This matter is affecting every industry, employer, and region across whole state. One-way Vermont legislators are trying to tackle this issue is to invest in marketing strategies to encourage living and working in Vermont. Tourism promotion is another way to boost the Vermont brand.
Act 250 will be looked closely at during this session. By the 2020 session Act 250 is moving on to its 50th year and needs a reform to accommodate today’s development goals. There were no new changes to the law in 2019. It is expected that attempts to revise the law will continue.
The Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) will also be considered. This is an agreement between 12 mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states to create a regional cap and trade program aimed to reduce oval fossil fuel consumption. Governor Scott’s administration can guide state participation, leaders in the house and senate have determined they will support the plan in the absence of executive action.
https://www.vtchamber.com/
US Government Affairs Updates
(as reported by ASHRAE.org, 1-2-20, partial topics listing)
- Green New Deal for Public Housing Act Introduced
- The Senate Climate Solutions Caucus Announces New Members
- House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing on Building a 100 Percent Clean Economy.
For detailed information on the above topics, visit the ASHRAE Government Affairs Update website page at:
https://www.magnetmail.net/Actions/email_web_version.cfm?publish=newsletter&user_id=ASHRAE&message_id=17748787
Mallory Fischer
GAC Committee