Vermont State Carbon Tax Bills
On February 27, 2019, two carbon tax related bills were introduced in the State House both sponsored by Progressive House members.
Rep. Diana Gonzalez, P-Winooski, introduced a bill, H.477, that proposes a fee on fossil fuels that would be reinvested in public transportation and weatherization and returned as tax credits for low income and rural Vermonters. The fee would go from $5 to $50 per ton of carbon, or up to 44 cents on a gallon of gasoline.
Rep. Selene Colburn, P-Burlington, adopted a different carbon pricing tax by reintroducing the ESSEX Plan, which proposes to put a price on fossil fuels that would be refunded on electricity bills. The price in her bill, H.463, would go from $5 per ton of carbon up to $40 a ton.
Another bill, H.462 was also introduced on February 27, 2019, that would arrange Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions goals into mandates and allow people to sue the state if benchmarks are not met.
Based on when these bills were introduced into the session, it is doubtful there will be any traction during this year’s session, however it is anticipated that further developments will occur in these areas in the coming year(s).
US Government Affairs Updates
(partial listing as reported by ASHRAE.org,)
- Trump Administration Releases FY 2020 Budget Request
The Administration’s budget includes an 11% cut to the Department of Energy (DOE) with a recommended 70% cut to its Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) office. It also requests a 31% cut to the Environmental Protection Agency
For more information visit:https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/budget-fy2020.pdf
- DOE Requests Information on Direct Heating Equipment Test Procedures
The DOE has issued a “request for information” (RFI) to consider whether to amend DOE’s test procedure for direct heating equipment.
For more information visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/02/26/2019-03269/energy-conservation-program-test-procedure-for-direct-heating-equipment
- Andrew Wheeler Confirmed as EPA Administrator
The Senate voted 52 to 47 on February 28 to confirm Andrew Wheeler as the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) administrator. Wheeler was serving as the Acting Administrator after Scott Pruitt resigned last year and is a former coal lobbyist.
- House Subcommittee on Energy Held a Hearing on Efficiency Standards
The House Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on March 7th titled “Wasted Energy: DOE’s Inaction on Efficiency Standards and Its Impact on Consumers and the Climate.” The hearing focused on DOE’s delayed action on 16 appliance energy efficiency standards. The deadline to submit comments, data, and information on the proposed rulemaking for the “Process Rule” is April 15, 2019. For more information visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/02/13/2019-01854/energy-conservation-program-for-appliance-standards-proposed-procedures-for-use-in-new-or-revised
For a complete up to date listing of Federal, U.S. Congressional, State and Local Government Affairs activities listed by ASHRAE, refer to the following link: https://www.magnetmail.net/Actions/email_web_version.cfm?publish=newsletter&user_id=ASHRAE&message_id=16714793#Federal
Dick Wilcox
GAC Committee Chair