Thank you, friends, allies, and local leaders for your continued support for clean energy and climate action! We are so excited to be back with you this week to share some progress we’ve helped make in the Legislature, and to showcase some of the local leaders who continue to help make important cost-saving, climate action possible.

This week, we were delighted to be joined by a dozen local energy leaders from across Vermont at the State House who spoke as individuals, sharing their important perspectives to help ensure that state policy-making efforts are informed by the priorities of local communities – including those of over 120 town energy committees across the state.

Local energy leaders spoke in the House Energy & Digital Infrastructure, House Environment, House Transportation, and Senate Natural Resources & Energy committees, sharing examples of their work and their hopes for legislative efforts related to advancing portable solar and “smart growth” solar siting, a greenhouse gas reporting program, appliance efficiency standards, good transportation policy, and more

Today’s episode

In today’s video, three of those energy leaders, Linda Gray of Norwich, Bill Laberge of Arlington, and Yves Gonnet of Huntington debrief the day of action, and speak to the need to support municipal energy committees in their efforts to track the spread of harmful fossil fuels and continue the transition to cleaner energy for all Vermonters.

Call to Action

Yesterday, the House passed H.710  – a smart growth for solar bill. Right now, solar plants being developed next to each other often have to build expensive, redundant infrastructure like extra roads. This bill aims to leverage existing infrastructure and investments in already developed locations with the goal of saving money, minimizing land use impacts, and more. There was a strong show of legislative support for the measure, with a roll call vote of 108-30. 

Thanks so much to those who were able to get a message to their legislator in support! Before this bill gets to the Senate, make sure to check the roll call vote to see how your Representative voted, and make sure to thank them.

Thank you for staying engaged in the fight for a better future!

Dan Fingas & Johanna Miller

Vermont Conservation Voters

Vermont Natural Resources Council