Welcome back to our weekly legislative Climate Dispatch! It’s been a busy start to the 2025 session in Montpelier as we learn about leadership changes, new committee dynamics, and hear lawmakers’ policy priorities for the upcoming biennium. 

This week, we released the 2025 Environmental Common Agenda in partnership with climate-focused organizations across the state. From investing in affordable housing to building climate resilience and improving access to clean energy, we are all committed to advancing policies that demonstrate how a healthy environment benefits our communities. Read more about the Common Agenda here.

The Public Utility Commission also released their long-awaited report on the Clean Heat Standard (CHS) Wednesday evening, which we, along with lawmakers, are still analyzing and unpacking. While the legislature decides the future of the CHS & implementation of the Affordable Heat Act, we will continue to advocate for policies that comprehensively address the most urgent economic justice and cost of living issues facing Vermonters. We need to work to defend the progress we’ve made to identify affordable, equitable solutions to help Vermonters transition off of volatile, costly fossil fuels. 

On today’s episode, we interview Senator Anne Watson, the new chair of the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee, about her priorities for the upcoming session, from addressing Vermonters’ affordability concerns to maintaining progress on key climate action policies. 

“We need to be thinking about how we can both be reducing our emissions and helping people get to cheaper alternatives to fossil fuels which will help all Vermonters in the long run,” said Senator Anne Watson.

Today’s episode

Call to Action

During this session, we’ll need you to stand up and speak out to defend climate action. Help us spread the word by forwarding today’s dispatch to five friends and make sure to subscribe to the Democracy Dispatch podcast with new episodes available every Monday wherever you listen. 

We look forward to working with you to make much-needed climate progress this coming session.