Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Climate Economy Action Team (CEAT) has released its action priorities for the 2018 legislative session. These initiatives will stimulate economic growth and create employment opportunities in fast growing sectors that help mitigate the effects of climate change.
“The effects of climate change present several genuine opportunities for Vermont’s economy, while solving a genuine problem,” said Joe Fusco, CEAT Chair.“These opportunities are a call to action for Vermont to both grow the economy and create jobs. This is why CEAT is supporting initiatives that grow the climate economy, boost rural economic development and protect Vermont's environment.”
CEAT action priorities include:
- Dramatically expanding weatherization efforts by developing a program to bond for $100,000,000 in capital investments. This will create a surge in weatherization and energy retrofits between now and 2020 and will put the state back on track to meet its goal of weatherizing 20,000 low income homes by 2020. It will also boost job creation in the weatherization and deep energy retrofit sectors.
- Implementing strategies and incentives to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), including:
- Waiving the sales tax on the purchase of EVs;
- A tax credit for businesses that install EV charging stations;
- The development of an electric rate structure that reflects the value EVs provide to the electric grid;
- Ensuring EV contributions to the Transportation fund;
- Developing a comprehensive strategy for the deployment of EV charging stations in downtowns and village centers.
- Support built-environment solar by reducing barriers and costs to the deployment of solar on rooftops and on other developed properties by:
- Eliminating ANR permit fees for rooftop solar projects;
- Exempting solar on impervious parking lots from state setback requirements;
- Permitting solar canopies on developed areas similar to rooftop arrays instead of permitting them as greenfield facilities.
- Using the $18 million from the Volkswagen settlement funds for the electrification of the transportation system.
- Investing in a Climate Economy Business Accelerator program managed by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund. The accelerator will help grow and sustain 16-24 new or early stage businesses annually, boosting economic development, innovation, and job creation in the state.
See the full CEAT 2018 Action Priorities at http://vtrural.org/programs/climate-economy/action-team
About the Climate Economy Action Team
The Vermont Climate Economy Action team, the leadership team of the VT Climate Economy partnership, is dedicated to advancing initiatives to expand distributed energy generation and efficiency in Vermont, cultivate climate economy entrepreneurs and startup businesses, and reduce Vermont’s carbon impact while boosting economic development, creating jobs, and attracting youth and creative entrepreneurs to the state. Members of the team represent the over 470 participants in the Vermont Climate Economy Partnership dedicated to building a vital future for Vermont through innovation in energy development, the wise use of resources, efficiencies, smart growth, and a strong working lands economy.
Source: CEAT 12.18.2017. Photo courtesy SunCommon.