Welcome back to Climate Dispatch! We hope you’ve had the chance to enjoy some of this beautiful spring weather. This week, we got word that the Senate Minority Leader planned to push forward amendments to the budget that would repeal the Affordable Heat Act, remove the provision of the Global Warming Solutions Act that allows citizens to hold the state accountable to act on climate, and restrict Vermont from its longstanding collaboration with California and other states to adopt clean car and truck rules. In short: They took aim at critical climate progress and, as of this moment, have failed.
Yesterday in the Senate, Republican Minority Leader Scott Beck introduced amendments along these lines. Thankfully, his efforts failed, in part, because many of you helped make the difference with hundreds of calls and emails opposing these shortsighted climate rollbacks.
While we collectively helped stave off these amendments in the Senate, it’s highly likely that other efforts will be made to try and roll back climate progress. It’s vital that we remain relentless in the pursuit of transforming our energy economy away from fossil fuels and protecting our planet. Yesterday’s vote was a relief. But please stay tuned and stay vigilant.
Today’s episode
This week, we spoke with Senator Andrew Perchlik (D – Washington County), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, about yesterday’s floor vote. Sen. Perchlik also discusses the appropriations process and speaks to the $700,000 in funding approved for Treasurer Pieciak to undertake an assessment of the full costs of the climate crisis in Vermont, so we can hold fossil fuel interests to account for the damages they’ve caused to our state through the Climate Superfund.
Call to Action
Our allies in the Senate held the line in support of climate action. Please take a moment to send a message to THANK them for standing up for climate. Find out how your Senator voted here. If you don’t know your legislator’s contact information, use our Find Your Legislator tool and send them a quick note!
Thank you for ALL you do!
Johanna Miller & Dan Fingas
Vermont Natural Resources Council
Vermont Conservation Voters