New law to reform Vermont's renewable energy standard

27 Feb 2023

Energy Standard to prioritize the development of new renewable resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout Vermont and the rest of New England. The bill fixes the fundamental flaw in the 2015 Renewable Energy Standard — an over-reliance on existing renewables that failed to reduce regional carbon pollution — by requiring Vermont utilities to get 60% of their power from new renewables while getting Vermont to a 100% renewable energy future.

H.320 sets purchasing requirements for three “buckets” of renewable energy:

·         New In-State Renewables: The bill increases the in-state renewables purchasing requirement from 10% of load under the current RES to 20% by 2030 and a minimum of 30% by 2035

·         New Regional Renewables: The bill creates an additional “new renewable energy” purchasing requirement of a minimum 30% of load for electricity from new renewables of any size from within New England by 2035

·         Existing Renewables: The bill caps the purchase of electricity from existing renewables at 40% of load in 2035

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Caleb Elder (D Addison-4) and supported by REV and a broad coalition of environmental and social justice organizations including CLF, VPRIG, 350 Vermont, Right and Democracy and Vermont Conservation Voters.