Vermont House passes 'Climate Change' bill

The Vermont House of Representatives passed H520 ‘ An act relating to reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. This bill is intended to help Vermonters insulate their homes, save money on their heating bills and cut down on their carbon emissions.
‘ Vermonters are now spending twice what they were ten years ago to heat their homes and businesses, and that spending has contributed nothing to the local economy,’ said Vice Chair of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee, Margaret Cheney. ‘ As the burning of fossil fuels for heat is the second-biggest contributor to climate change in Vermont, reductions in this sector will have a positive impact on the environment while saving Vermonters money and creating jobs in the local building trades.’
‘ This bill directs weatherization to the lowest-income homes that are the least energy efficient. Over time, this will allow us to distribute LIHEAP fuel aid more efficiently,’ said Speaker Shap Smith. ‘ In our cold state we must keep Vermonters warm, spend less, and improve energy efficiency. This bill moves us in that direction.’
For Vermonters of all incomes, H520 asks the Public Service Board to oversee greater coordination and streamlining of existing programs. Other steps in H520 include improved adherence to existing building codes, development of an energy rating for existing structures, strategies for development of a trained labor pool, and exploration of incentives for renewable heating fuels, such as biomass pellets.
The House hopes these measures will be bolstered next year with more funding and that together they will help meet a statutory goal of weatherizing 80,000 housing units by 2020.