S.209 Summary - May 6, 2008

After a long, hard fight, including a gubernatorial veto, legislation that will help Vermonters save money by weatherizing inefficient homes and expand opportunities for renewable energy development in Vermont is now law. ‘The Vermont Energy Efficiency and Affordability Act’ goes a long way towards jumpstarting renewable energy development in Vermont and begin to invest in ways to reduce Vermont’s fossil fuel consumption by more efficiently meeting our heating oil needs. Just one example of the anticipated benefits of S.209 include the fact that the efficiency measures outlined in the bill are expected to save Vermont families and businesses a total of $1.5 billion on their fuel bills over the lifetimes of the improvements over the next 10 years.

The bill:

• Helps jumpstart renewable energy development in Vermont. The bill encourages in-state electric energy generation from renewable sources like wind, solar, biomass and hydropower.
• Expands investments in efficiency measures beyond electricity to include home heating fuels. This will help Vermonters and Vermont businesses save money on increasingly expensive fuel oil costs.
• Builds on existing programs and infrastructure by expanding weatherization services to low-income Vermonters. It will also provide an opportunity for the state’s electric efficiency utility, Efficiency Vermont, to help businesses and homeowners find savings from other fuels.
• Directs the Department of Public Service to create new business and home energy efficiency programs to support savings for Vermonters of all economic levels.
• Sets efficiency standards for both commercial and residential buildings.
• Expands the capacity of net-metering operations in Vermont and creates new opportunities for group net-metering.
• Creates a more equitable tax rate for wind.
• Charges the state to convene diverse stakeholders to look closely at the state’s water quality standards to inform a conversation – and future policy – regarding balancing low-impact hydro energy generation with maintaining the health and vitality of the state’s streams. 

Read the bill as enacted into law here.