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Scheuermann: House in Person, Stowe Withdrawal from LSUU, Tourism

Submitted by tim on

by Representative Heidi Scheuermann (R-Stowe) I am pleased to report that the Vermont House of Representatives returned in person, fully, this week.

There is one adjustment we made to our Permanent House Rules in order to ensure the health and safety of all as COVID continues, and that is if a member has COVID or has a “direct COVID-19 related circumstance,” they may participate and vote remotely.

Otherwise, our House Rules remain in place. That is that all members must be in-person in the House to participate and to vote, unless they have COVID themselves, or have a “direct COVID-19-related circumstance.”

I am also pleased that all Vermonters will continue to have the ability to livestream the committee hearings and House sessions here.

Unfortunately, the Vermont Senate remains remote.
 
STOWE WITHDRAWAL FROM
LAMOILLE SOUTH UNIFIED UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
 
The quest for Stowe’s withdrawal from the Lamoille South Unified Union continues.
 
As all might recall, on May 11, 2021, by an overwhelming vote of 1,068-464, Stowe voted to withdraw from the Lamoille South Unified Union School District. On May 28, 2021, the Vermont Secretary of State’s office sent a letter to the other two LSUU member towns, Elmore and Morristown, certifying the Stowe vote to withdraw. And, on December 7, 2021, both Elmore and Morristown ratified, by substantive margins, the withdrawal of Stowe from the Lamoille South Unified Union.
 
Unfortunately, seven weeks have passed, and this legal withdrawal of the Town of Stowe from LSUU is in limbo as the State Board of Education has yet to take it up because the State Agency of Education is fighting it. As the State Representative for Stowe – one committed to representing our community – I am fighting to ensure we get the issue in front of the State Board, and/or clarify in law, the legality of our withdrawal.
 
Toward that end, I am working on two fronts to advance our community’s interests.
 
 
Second, I am working on ensuring that the legislature clarify in law that our vote, and the subsequent votes by Morristown and Elmore, were legal, and that the withdrawal may be approved by the State Board of Education.
 
I am very hopeful that approval of our withdrawal from LSUU will come to fruition soon.
 
CLEAN HEAT STANDARD
 
The House Committee on Energy and Technology, the committee on which I serve, has spent most of the last two weeks on a proposed Clean Heat Standard.
 
The Clean Heat Standard is the signature policy initiative brought to us by the Climate Action Council in their Climate Action Plan designed to help us begin to meet the greenhouse gas reductions required by the Global Warming Solutions Act that became law last year.
 
In a nutshell, it is the most dramatic shift in the distribution of heating fuels ever contemplated in Vermont and will impact Vermonters dramatically. The proposal would require Vermont's heat suppliers and heating service companies to sell fuel and install heating equipment that lowers greenhouse has emissions. It would do this by providing Clean Heat Credits to any company that can demonstrate that their product or service reduces emissions.
 
If your company does the work, your company gets paid.
 
So, if a heating fuel or service company gets paid for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, who foots the bill?
 
Under a Clean Heat Standard, wholesalers of heating oil and propane and/or providers that take ownership of fuel when it crosses into Vermont would be considered obligated parties that would have to purchase “credits” obtained from those companies that sell both low carbon fuel and emissions reduction services. That means about 80% of all retail heating fuel providers that serve Vermont customers would be required to acquire credits or make a quarterly “alternative compliance” payment.
 
The good news is that most experts believe this will, in fact, reduce our state's greenhouse gas emissions, and help us to meet the requirements outlined in the Global Warming Solutions Act.
 
And, it will provide much greater opportunities for Vermonters to purchase lower emitting fuel and/or install low or no carbon emissions heating equipment.
 
But, this dramatic shift in our home heating world won't come without a cost to many Vermonters. As some Vermonters will be able to afford some of these more costly equipment changes, and some may think the higher cost of heating fuel is worth it for lower carbon emissions, there are many low to moderate income Vermonters - especially those living in older homes - who will find it very difficult to pay for the higher cost of heating fuel that will inevitably result.
 
At this time, our committee continues to do its due diligence to understand the proposal fully, and its implications on Vermont families and businesses. And, I look forward to that work continuing.
TOURISM AND MARKETING
 
 
And, what a difference money makes!!
 
Seriously, while the proposed base budget for Tourism and Marketing remains at approximately where it has been over the last few years ($3.5 million), the one-time federal funds are going to be transformational for us.
 
Base Budget = $3.56 Million
Federal EDA Grant for Travel and Tourism = $10.48 Million
Total = $14 Million
 
In addition, the Governor is proposing an additional $8.46 million for a 3 year Regional Relocation Network Proposal of $8.46 million ($2.82 million/year for three years). Please do not confuse this sound program with the worker relocation or remote worker grant programs that provide cash incentives to individuals.
 
Rather, this program (which I would prefer to be renamed the "Live Work Play VT") is designed to provide opportunities for various regions of our state to focus on targeting the workforce populations that are needed in those regions.
 
For more information on the Governor's Budget Proposal, and on the great work our Department of Tourism and Marketing has been doing over the past year, and their plans for the future, I offer the following:
 
 
 
As our Caucus work continues, I will keep our community abreast of the developments.
 
ATTACK RESPONSE
 
Finally, it was clear from last week’s Stowe Reporter that campaign 2022 has already begun, with two separate attacks on my service in the House. As has been the case for 16 years, if any Stoweite has any questions about issues that arise, or my views on them, please feel free to contact me directly.
 
With regard to the Stowe legislative redistricting issue that was brought up, though, I do want to clarify. It was not disclosed as part of his letter to the editor, but Mr. Weathers is the Chair of the Lamoille County Democratic Committee. As such, the protection of the democratic incumbents in Lamoille County is his goal. My goal is to ensure fair representation for Stowe residents, and that is what I will continue to do. I am hopeful that is also what Stowe’s Board of Civil Authority will want to do as well.
 
To reiterate, I am a native of Stowe, and a longtime resident and business owner, not a resident of fewer than two years and, since arriving, a partisan political operative. As such, I am always committed to doing what is best for the families and businesses of Stowe.
 
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. I can be reached at 253-9314 or [email protected].
 
Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
 
Rep. Heidi Scheuermann | 802-253-9314 | P.O. Box 908 Stowe, Vermont 05672