Vermont
Governor
Phil Scott (Republican)
House Party
Democratic Supermajority
Senate Party
Democratic Supermajority
Key Offices & Links
28
34
Northeast
Progress by Policy Area
- Enacted
- In-progress
- Partially Enacted
- Not Enacted
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in Vermont
Status | Policy | Policy Area | Policy Category | YR Enacted | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enacted |
Empty column
Vermont Climate Action Plan Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2021 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
Vermont Climate Council Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2020 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
Vermont Climate Action Office Inter-Agency Advisory Board Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
26% by 2025 | 40% by 2030 | 80% by 2050 Relative to 1990 levels Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2020 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The 1990-2020 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory was published in April 2023. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2023 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Cumulative impact assessments determine the health and environmental impacts of renewing or granting a permit for certain pollution-generating facilities in environmental justice communities. Increased pollution burdens in communities may result in the permit application being denied. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
Environmental Justice Advisory Council Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2022 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
Interagency Environmental Justice Committee ANR – Office of Civil Rights and Environmental Justice Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2022 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
“Environmental justice focus populations” are census block groups in which the annual median household income is less than 80% of the State median household income, at least 6% of the population are people of color or Indigenous people, or at least 1% of households have limited English proficiency. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2022 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Environmental justice (EJ) community investment requirements help ensure communities most impacted by environmental burdens are benefitting equitably from public programs by requiring a certain percentage of funds and/or benefits from other policies are allocated to EJ communities. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | ||
In-Progress |
Empty column
The Agency of Natural Resources is required to develop an EJ mapping tool by January 2025. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2022 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Just transition advisory bodies write or advise on a state's just transition plan or report, and make recommendations on ways to support affected workers, communities, and industries. The bodies can consist of all non-government members, or be a mix of government and non-government members. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Just transition funds support initiatives and investments aimed at facilitating the equitable transition of workers and communities affected by shifts in industries or policies that transition from fossil fuels. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Just transition offices and staff assist workers and communities transitioning away from fossil fuel extraction and use, typically through retraining programs and support with relocation and economic diversification. Offices and staff also coordinate with other state agencies to effectively design policy to achieve a just transition. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Just transition plans are documents that outline policies and recommendations aimed at supporting communities, workers, and industries affected by the transition away from fossil fuels. The plans often focus on workforce development and retraining, job creation, and economic diversification. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Green banks are public, quasi-public, or non-profit entities that use innovative financing to invest in climate solutions and attract private capital across various economic sectors. |
Cross-Sector
|
Climate Finance | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) covers the electricity sector. Establishing Policies
|
Cross-Sector
|
Carbon Valuation | 2005 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
The social cost of carbon is a monetary estimate of the damage of each ton of greenhouse gases emitted. The social cost of carbon is used to quantify and monetize climate damages, representing the net economic cost of climate pollution to society. |
Cross-Sector
|
Carbon Valuation | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
63% renewable energy by 2025 | 100% by 2030 for utilities serving at least 75,000 customers | 100% by 2035 for utilities serving less than 75,000 customers Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | 2024 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Clean energy plans are documents that outline the policies and strategies states can implement to meet clean energy targets. Draft plans are often published first, and after a period of public comments and revisions, a final plan is released. |
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Electricity greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to limit GHG emissions in the electricity sector. These targets aim to reduce emissions by different amounts over time, often expressed as percentage relative to a baseline year. |
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Community choice aggregation allows local governments to procure power on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider. |
Electricity
|
Clean Energy Generation | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
5/5
|
Electricity
|
Clean Energy Generation | ||
Partially Enacted |
Empty column
The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
9/11
|
Electricity
|
Clean Energy Generation | ||
Partially Enacted |
Empty column
The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
5/6
|
Electricity
|
Clean Energy Generation | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Energy storage targets establish procurement targets for energy storage systems by a certain date, often with interim targets. Targets can vary from broad megawatt (MW) requirements to more specific mandates that focus on the adoption of certain storage technologies. |
Electricity
|
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
Vermont received a C grade from Freeing the Grid. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage | 2023 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. |
Electricity
|
Coal Retirement | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Coal securitization is a financing tool that allows utility companies to refinance debt they issued to build coal plants and close the facilities early without taking a financial hit or passing costs on to ratepayers. |
Electricity
|
Coal Retirement | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is the 2024 Commercial Building Energy Standards, with ASHRAE 90.1-2019 compliance options. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Codes | 2024 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The statewide energy code for residential construction is the Vermont 2024 Residential Building Energy Standards. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Codes | 2023 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The Vermont Residential Energy Building Standards (RBES) Stretch Code is a building energy code for residential buildings that achieves greater energy savings than the statewide RBES. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Codes | 2024 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The Energy Efficiency Standards for Appliances and Equipment apply to 23 products. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Standards | 2018 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. |
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Standards | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
The Vermont Clean Heat Standard requires a declining carbon intensity of heating fuels imported into Vermont, as determined by the Public Utility Commission. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Standards | 2023 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
Electric utilities are required to achieve energy savings equivalent to 204,000 megawatt hours (MWh) for 2024-2026. Gas utilities are required to achieve energy savings equivalent to 381,300 million British thermal units (MMBtu) for 2024-2026. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Efficiency | 2023 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
Vermont has enacted residential PACE-enabling legislation, but does not have an active program. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Efficiency | 2009 | |
Partially Enacted |
Empty column
The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
3/4
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Efficiency | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
All-electric buildings policies require new buildings to be constructed with all-electric heating, cooling, and cooking systems to transition away from fossil-fuel use in buildings. |
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Electrification | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Electric vehicle rebates offer rebates to make light-duty electric vehicles more affordable to increase their adoption in a state. |
Transportation
|
Light-Duty Vehicles | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
Vermont Low Emission Vehicles Program Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Light-Duty Vehicles | 2022 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
Model Year (MY) 2026: 35% of new passenger vehicle sales are ZEVs | MY 2030: 68% of new sales are ZEVs | MY 2035: 100% of new sales are ZEVs, with up to 20% being hybrid or hydrogen-powered vehicles. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Light-Duty Vehicles | 2022 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The Low NOx Omnibus Rule applies to Model Year 2026 onwards. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles | 2022 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
By 2035: 55% of Class 2b-3 truck sales are zero-emissions | 75% of Class 4-8 straight truck sales are zero-emissions | 40% of Class 7-8 tractor sales are zero-emissions. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles | 2022 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) electric vehicle rebates consist of programs and policies that offer rebates to make MHD electric vehicles more affordable to increase their adoption in a state. |
Transportation
|
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Electric bus procurement targets require that a certain percentage or number of school buses and/or transit buses purchased or leased by the state, transit authorities, and/or school districts must be electric or zero-emissions. |
Transportation
|
Lead by Example | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Public fleet electric vehicle (EV) procurement targets require that a certain percentage or number of vehicles purchased or leased by the state are zero-emission or electric vehicles. This can apply to passenger cars, light-duty vehicles, and/or medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in a state’s public fleet. |
Transportation
|
Lead by Example | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure rebates offer rebates to make the purchase and/or installation costs of EV charging infrastructure more affordable. |
Transportation
|
EV Charging Infrastructure | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure requirements establish mandates for the installation of EV charging infrastructure in new construction or developments, such as residential or commercial buildings, and public parking lots. |
Transportation
|
EV Charging Infrastructure | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Electric vehicle (EV) and EV charging infrastructure plans are documents that provide a framework to guide the development, coordination, and adoption of EVs and EV charging infrastructure. |
Transportation
|
Transportation Plans and Targets | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
A low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) is a market-based mechanism to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels and account for the fuel's life cycle greenhouse gas emissions. |
Transportation
|
Transportation Plans and Targets | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to limit emissions in the transportation sector. These targets aim to reduce emissions by specific amounts over time, often expressed as a percentage reduction from a baseline year. |
Transportation
|
Transportation Plans and Targets | ||
Partially Enacted |
Empty column
Vermont is ranked 23rd out of 50 in the 2022 Bicycle Friendly State rankings by the League of American Bicyclists. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
4/5
|
Transportation
|
Public and Active Transportation | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Buy clean requirements mandate or incentivize the use of low-carbon construction materials, such as concrete and steel, in public projects to address embodied carbon. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Industrial Decarbonization | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
This act establishes a schedule for when certain products must be manufactured without HFCs. Establishing Policies
|
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
F-gas Regulations | 2022 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, bans, or other measures that reduce SF6 usage and emissions. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
F-gas Regulations | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
Hydraulic fracking for the exploration and production of natural gas is banned. Establishing Policies
|
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Oil and Gas Regulations | 2012 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Oil and Gas Regulations | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
Food waste ban – The state has banned the disposal of food scraps and yard waste at landfills, established separate trash collection processes for organic waste, and requires all food scraps to be diverted to certified recycling facilities, including from both residential and commercial sources. Establishing Policies
|
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Waste Management | 2012 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Landfill methane regulations include rulemakings, emissions monitoring, emissions control, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from decaying organic waste in landfills. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Waste Management | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
Vermont established a Soil Conservation Practice and Payment for Ecosystem Services Working Group to recommend financial incentives for farmers to implement practices to improve soil health, enhance crop resilience, and reduce runoff. The Environmental Stewardship Program is a voluntary program that encourages agricultural producers to meet high environmental standards including soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon sequestration. Establishing Policies
|
Natural and Working Lands
|
Agriculture | 2019 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Agriculture technical assistance programs provide state-driven technical assistance, apprenticeship and mentorship programs, and support securing additional funding for farmers to increase uptake of soil health practices. |
Natural and Working Lands
|
Agriculture |