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Vermont
Related Links
Definitions
Planning and Measurement | Targets and Caps | Reporting | Power Sector | Transportation Sector
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Planning and Measurement
State Advisory Board
Status: Completed
Details: On June 11, 2008, Governor Jim Douglas signed Senate Bill 350, "An Act Relative to Energy Independence and Economic Prosperity," which established the Vermont Climate Change Oversight Committee -- a nine-member panel of experts that will advise the state on how to proceed with carbon emissions reduction goals.
Vermont Commission on Climate Change created by Executive Order on December 5, 2005.
- http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/acts/ACT209.HTM
- http://www.vtclimatechange.us/
- http://governor.vermont.gov/tools/index.php?topic=ExecutiveOrders&id=1623&v=Article
Regional Initiatives
Status: Completed
Details: Member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is a cooperative effort by Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states to establish a regional cap-and-trade program initially covering carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the region. On March 17, 2008, participating states announced plans for a carbon dioxide allowance auction to be held September 25, 2008, as part of a cap-and-trade program to take effect beginning January 1, 2009. Some legislative approvals are still pending before the first-of-its-kind auction will take place on behalf of all 10 states.
In 2001, New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) released a Climate Action Plan which establishes regional goals and identifies steps to address those aspects of global warming which are within the region's control. In 2000, the NEG/ECP adopted resolution 25-9 on global warming, recognizing its potentially harmful impacts on the environment and the economy and the need for a regional approach to address it.
GHG Inventory
Status: Completed
Details: Completed state government inventory in 2005. The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) published a regional GHG inventory for the New England states in 2004 with support from EPA.
- http://epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads/rpt040315ghg.pdf
- http://www.anr.state.vt.us/air/Planning/docs/CNWG_1st_Biennial_Report.pdf
- http://www.anr.state.vt.us/air/htm/rggi.htm
Climate Change Action Plan
Status: Completed
Details: The Governor's Commission on Climate Change approved a report on October 26, 2007, that sets forth a strategy to address climate change. Senate Bill 259 (Act 168) signed on July 1, 2006 directs the secretary of natural resources to coordinate with the governor's commission on climate change established by Executive Order and to consult with any interested members of Vermont's business, agricultural, labor, and environmental communities in developing a climate change action plan. A state plan was completed in July 1998.
- http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT168.HTM
- http://www.anr.state.vt.us/imaging/ANRdocs/secoffice/climatechange/2007OctGCCCFinalRpt.pdf
Targets and Caps
Lead by Example Target
Status: Proposed
Details: On April 8, 2008, the Vermont Senate approved a bill to establish state carbon reduction benchmarks, create a registry for greenhouse gas emissions, and set goals for reducing carbon emissions from vehicles. S. 350 would require that state agencies report to the legislature on their progress toward reducing greenhouse gases by 25% below 1990 levels by 2012.
Statewide GHG Target
Status: Completed
Details: Senate 259 (Act 168) signed on July, 1 2006, sets a goal to reduce GHG emissions from 1990 levels 25% by 2012; 50% by 2028; and, if practicable using reasonable efforts, 75% by 2050. Also, signatory to the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Action Plan.
- http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT168.HTM
- http://www.negc.org/documents/NEG-ECP%20CCAP.PDF
Statewide GHG Cap
Status: No Activity Identified
Reporting
Electricity Disclosure
Status: Proposed
Details: In June 2005, Vermont enacted legislation (S.52) creating a renewable portfolio goal. This law gave the PSB the authority to require utilities to disclose the types of generation they use, and whether the energy is Vermont-based.
GHG Registry
Status: Completed/Further Work In Progress
Details: On June 11, 2008, Governor Jim Douglas signed Senate Bill 350, "An Act Relative to Energy Independence and Economic Prosperity," which established a registry to inventory the state's natural and human-generated greenhouse gas emissions. The registry will help to establish a baseline from which the state will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
Member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), under which entities in the power sector will be required to report (and reduce) their GHG emissions. RGGI's first compliance period will begin January 1, 2009. Vermont is developing implementation rules for the state's participation in RGGI.
Member of The Climate Registry - a collaboration aimed at developing and managing a common GHG emissions reporting system across states, provinces, and tribes. It will provide an accurate, complete, consistent, transparent, and verified set of GHG emissions data from reporting entities, supported by a robust accounting and verification infrastructure. Members released a final General Reporting Protocol in May 2008. The Climate Registry plans to start accepting data in summer 2008.
- http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/acts/ACT209.HTM
- http://www.rggi.org/docs/program_summary_10_07.pdf
- http://www.theclimateregistry.org
Mandatory GHG Reporting
Status: Completed
Details: Member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), under which entities in the power sector will be required to report (and reduce) their GHG emissions. RGGI's first compliance period will begin January 1, 2009. The Vermont Air Pollution Control Division adopted final regulations for participation in RGGI on May 15, 2008.
- http://www.anr.state.vt.us/air/htm/RGGI.htm
- http://rggi.org/home
- http://www.rggi.org/docs/program_summary_10_07.pdf
Power Sector
CO2 Offset Requirements
Status: No Activity Identified
GHG Performance Standard
Status: No Activity Identified
Advanced Coal Technology
Status: No Activity Identified
Power Sector GHG Cap and Trade
Status: Completed
Details: Member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is a cooperative effort by Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states to establish a regional cap-and-trade program initially covering carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the region. On March 17, 2008, participating states announced plans for a carbon dioxide allowance auction to be held September 25, 2008, as part of a cap-and-trade program to take effect beginning January 1, 2009. Vermont will participate in the September 25, 2008, auction. The Vermont Air Pollution Control Division adopted final regulations for participation in RGGI on May 15, 2008. Principal among the Vermont-specific provisions is that 100 percent of the CO2 allowances will be auctioned and the proceeds allocated to a consumer benefit or strategic purpose set-aside account.
Transportation Sector
GHG Auto Standards
Status: In Progress
Details: In November 2005, Vermont amended its Air Pollution Control Regulations to follow California's vehicle emissions standards.
On January 2, 2008, California filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. EPA's denial of the state's effort to regulate GHG emissions from motor vehicles, in response to EPA's rejection of a petition for a Clean Air Act waiver on December 19, 2007. A waiver is required for California and other states to implement a vehicle emissions standard tougher than the federal one. The proposed auto standard calls for the reduction of GHG emissions from new vehicles of 22% by 2012 and 30% by 2016.
- http://www.anr.state.vt.us/air/docs/Adopted%20GHG%20Rule.pdf
- http://www.anr.state.vt.us/air/htm/ProposedAmendments.htm
- http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/8400/
Low Carbon Fuel Standard
Status: No Activity Identified