COVID-19 Cross State Travel Restrictions
Our Committee would like to remind all our members to review the State of Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) cross state travel information prior to scheduling personal or business travel for the most up to date information. Currently, traveling out of State by car, plane, train, or bus, requires quarantine when returning. The exception to this is essential travel as defined by ACCD and for business travel in the adjacent State that businesses are still allowed to operate.
Currently the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends individuals not to travel.
For the most up to date information visit the following ACCD website for the Cross State Travel Information:
https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/restart/cross-state-travel
Trump signs COVID-19 Relief Bill Passed by Congress
Trump Signed a $2.3 trillion coronavirus relief and government funding bill into law 27-DEC-2020. The bill is physically large (5,593 pages long) and has a budget of $900 billion dollars that will go to COVID-19 relief. It is noteworthy that every adult American will receive a $600.00 check (with wage limit) and would provide more money for unemployment benefits and small businesses. There are many other subjects that are bundled into the bill.
A link to this story as reported by CNN News can be found in the following link:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/27/politics/trump-relief-bill-christmas-eve/index.html
Burlington City Council to vote on carbon tax charter change
The city of Burlington Vermont is working on legal authority to tax individuals and business who do not convert from fossil fuels (heating oil, natural gas, propane,) to electricity. Burlington City Council voted on 14-DEC-2020 with a 10-2 vote. The resolution will require over 90% of the city to switch their homes and businesses to electric heat. The item will be left up to Burlington voters on the town meeting day ballot. Some proponents say “A lot of people want to change without changing…” saying that it is going to be inconvenient, but it addresses the importance moving away from fossil fuels. Critics say its impractical solution for now. There are limitations to heating with electricity along with the cold temperatures.
A link to this story as reported by NBC5 can be found in the following link:
https://www.mynbc5.com/article/burlington-to-possibly-switch-to-electric-heating-in-homes-businesses/34983550
Legislators Override Governors Global Warming Solutions Act Veto
As an update, last month we reported that the Governor Scott veto of the H.688 Global Warming Solutions Act was overridden with a House and Senate majority vote. That veto occurred on 9/15/2020 and since that time, the House (9/17/20) and Senate (9/22/20). Since than there has been no changes or updates.
A link to this story as reported by VTDigger.org can be found in the following link:
https://vtdigger.org/2020/11/20/scott-administration-floats-a-court-challenge-to-the-global-warming-solutions-act/
For detailed information on the Act, refer to the following link:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2020/Docs/ACTS/ACT153/ACT153%20As%20Enacted.pdf
US Government Affairs Updates (as reported by ASHRAE.org, 12/23/2020, partial topics listing)
Government Outreach
• ASHRAE Offers Technical Assistance to Biden-Harris COVID-19 Advisory Board
• ETF Chair Dr. Bahnfleth Speaks Before National Academies’ Federal Facilities Council
Federal Government Affairs
• OSHA Cites ASHRAE in Guidance on Ventilation in the Workplace
• US Presidential Election Update
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=19533249
Mallory Fischer
GAC Committee Member