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by Paul Bean
The Vermont House Committee on Energy and Environment met on Monday morning, for a special meeting to discuss bill H.126 – “An act relating to community resilience and biodiversity protection,” otherwise known as the 30X30, 50X50. The goal of the act to environmentally conserve 30% of Vermont’s Land by 2030, and 50% by 2050.
The committee heard testimony from a variety of environmental stakeholders and conservation organizations.
“How can we use conservation to enhance and support the work our regulatory system does?” said Trey Martin, Director of Conservation and Rural Community Development, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.
One of the big questions addressed today by the committee was how would they be able to get private landowners to comply with their stated goals. At this time, they still have not heard from the public on this subject.
Much of the land they are trying to conserve currently does not belong to the state. Approximately 75% in Vermont is owned by private landowners.
Another big concern is whether or not agricultural land will be considered “conserved land.” In total, Vermont has 6,152,801 acres of land, and about 1,173,890 acres of what is considered farmland.
If we just do some quick math, the goal by 2050, would be to conserve half of that 6 million acres, about 3.1million acres of land. 1.1 million acres is farmland and there is a question if it’s “conserved land.”
“I feel like it was clear in the statute we were not anticipating all agricultural lands would be included,” said Chair Rep. Amy Sheldon. “Not that they’re not very important, for food resilience and agricultural economies, but they don’t necessarily support biodiversity. And also, the way that we ended up crafting the statue with focus on permanent conservation on the 30 by 30 and the openness to other tools 50 by 50, I think it’s even more critical that we are laser focused on biodiversity this first 30% in particular.”
Remembering that 75% of all land in Vermont is owned by private landowners, the big question is: How are they going to reach the goal of 50% conserved land? How will they get private landowners to fork over or conserve their land, if they are even willing to at all?
Another big question VDC asked – will the thousands of acres that are to be used for solar fields and wind turbines be considered “conserved land?” I asked Chair Sheldon, and this is what she told me: “No. These are for conservation purposes.”
“I’d bet it’s not,” said Rep. Brian Smith confirmed.
One of the big concerns for Rep. Brian Smith and his constituents in the Northeast Kingdom in the fact that a disproportionate amount of land in the Northeast Kingdom is already conserved.
“My concern with that, is we’re looking at 30% by 2030 I’d like to see something fair, rather then all the land being bought in the North East Kingdom,” said Rep. Smith. We are already at 43% in the Northeast Kingdom, and we’re headed toward the 2050 goal. I’d like to see other parts of the state kick in their fair share too. ”
Impact on property taxes? Property taxes in Vermont, on average, are rising 14.3% across the board to finance the state’s education system. Now remember, that 14.3% number is only the average. In some towns property taxes are expected to rise much more, for example in Stowe and Norwich.
Is there a connection between the property tax increase and the goal to get 50% of Vermont’s land conserved by 2025?
“Goals for conservation don’t affect individual landowners decisions to buy or sell land,” said Rep. Amy Sheldon in an email reply to VDC Tuesday. “I’m not sure if the increases in property tax will cause large landowners to want to sell – many large parcels are enrolled in current use which can keep the taxes down. Additionally, many Vermonter’s property taxes are income stabilized through income sensitivity. Since tax bills are just about to go out, we will see what happens. It is my strong belief that, just like all of our health care premiums go up significantly each year, school taxes must go up to cover health care for teachers and that explains a lot of the increase in property taxes. I’m working on another aspect of Act 59 and came across this analysis which was prepared for HEE by Deb Brighton who was hired by JFO to consider the impact of conserved lands on property taxes. Deb found that the towns with the most conserved lands and fewer people have lower tax rates.”
In the presentation given by Martin at the hearing, one of the big questions he posed was how would the state acquire the land? Proposed solutions:
“develop a long term plan to support and expand capacity, find matching funding for state and federal funding sources, and identify the capacity needed to sustain increased conservation outcomes through 2050 and beyond; work with foundations and philanthropists to build a collaborative funding model with integrated goals, mutual awareness and support to enable public-private partnerships to flourish.”
Discussion on the H.126 will continue in the coming days as it is part of the Global Warming Solutions act.
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Categories: Environment, Legislation, State Government
50 percent then 60 percent then 70 percent//// wow, now vermont will become a national park/// just steal the rest of the private ownership of land in vermont////
you will own nothing and be happy….
We are taking your land….shut up and be happy!
This is theft, plain and simple, AND they feel totally comfortable talking about this openly and everyone thinks its ok?????
Maybe they’ll have to conserve our jobs too huh? Then take over the businesses?
Oh civic students, what would this be called…??????
How much land is conserved in 2024?
So you complain that there isn’t enough housing bt you propose to close of 50 percent of the state? Morons at work.
That includes maybe new farmland for food. Lt. Governor Zuckerman owns 150 acres of which 20 is farmland. I would like to know how much of it he is willing to donate to the cause.
they are definitely NOT morons, they are very, very shrewd, they are expert level liars and propagandists……they love to have you think they are stupid, while they completely run the table.
Vermont is the testing ground for the NWO in America, we are the first colony of the United Nations and World Government in America…..it’s called Marxism and they are hoping nobody notices, since we’ve got 3 generations of indoctrinated citizens.
It’s literally all laid out, between Yuri Bezmenov and Rosa Koire…..they are just following a cookbook.
Thankfully there is an antidote, hint, it’s whose name they will not mention, it’s who they won’t let in any crappily run country, where the rich pilfer and oppress their citizens……
TGBTG
These people are total idiots and need to be voted out of office before they take VT on a non-recoverable crash. We are on the brink of it now with over-legislation, taxes, fines and progressive ideology
The whole concept doesn’t smell right. How very predictable of these progressive socialist idiots. Tax the living daylights out people, and when they can no longer pay or finally move away, take their land and property. “You will own nothing and you will like it!…”
anytime I hear the word “stakeholder” it reminds me of Klaus Schwab and the WEF
That’s exactly who it is. They locked us down for almost two years. To see who they could manipulate!!
Trey Martin’s question “How can we use conservation to enhance and support the work our regulatory system does?” and the committee’s goal to make landowners comply should give anyone with a working brain and belief in our constitutionally based property rights cause for concern.
How much do they plan to spend on all the studies? What do they mean by biodiversity protection? Is it possible it means bringing all of nature into the DEI fold, as has been done in society at large where it means an identity-based approach to everyone and establishing racial quotas? What are they thinking, setting quotas for each species, then have their numbers and types culled or transported according to whatever regulations are devised?
We all support a clean and healthy environment, but despite the lofty goals of H.126, (much of which is based on the U.N. and global conditions rather than Vermont’s) it raises the hairs on the back of my neck. It looks to me like consideration for human beings is strangely absent. We humans are meant to be responsible stewards over the earth, managing it for God’s glory. That implies living on the earth, with and among all creatures and plants; not moving people off the land into 15 minute cities and covering the state with for profit solar farms. Sure there’s been harm done by irresponsible behavior, but let’s not dive headlong into another harmful “jousting at windmills” endeavor in our state.
Regarding culling, seems to me it’s time to take a hard look at the regulatory system and do some serious culling there.
This smells a lot like The Wildlands Project…..
Anyone interested in further information on land rights/ownership I suggest the following from the Cato Institute. You can download a PDF for your files. I haven’t read the entire piece yet. There may well be information to help thwart this in the long run.
https://www.cato.org/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/property-rights-constitution.
Good information though it seems we’d need to take it to the Supreme Court somehow. The current property tax situation has already turned ownership of a primary residence into a liability for many so they wouldn’t be able to finance a fight with the “powers that be”.
Sorry to see everyone so happy about the State take over of OUR Lands , To save them ???? As a result , your tax’s go higher an higher , these lands no longer have to be on the tax list . People should note this . The Vermont I Love an grew up in , soon will be lost . Please STOP this give away . Your children deserve to see the state an be able to own a piece for there future !!!
When they use words such as “conservation” the emphasis is on “con” – such as con game – like the Kingdom Con. The State is looking to be the owner/landlord of land that doesn’t belong to them in the first place. There is nothing to stop them from “leasing” such land for development to their friends and associates after the fact. It’s a fraud laundering scheme they benefit from and we, the People, pay for it with our labor. We have no say – which should be clear by now.
As I heard long ago, if Vermont were completely flat, it would be the size of Texas. The original settlers did a lot of hard work to make parcels of land livable, grow an industry from the rock and fertile soils. Now, the State wants to take that away from everyone and future generations. They are locking up resources that belong to us – they have no authority to do such a thing. Yet, the People don’t raise an eyebrow to the lawfare warfare stealing our money and our land.
Don’t forget, they are also pondering taking over flood plains – resettlement programs? Appears to me the Vermont Legislature, Administration, NGOs, non-profiteers, Manhattan NYC/DC Bolsheviks, are all colluding using the Chairman Mao, Karl Marx, Pol Pot power and control models. This is not a Representative Republic, this is an installed, belligerent occupation, the worst of the worst kind.
Is the line in the sand yet? When will enough be enough? They are looking to drive out anyone who does not agree with thier political, racist, globalist, indebted servitude model. They are Hellbent on making your home, your land, unlivable and unbearable. This not about politics anymore – this is the destruction of our homes, our State, and the future of your children and grandchildren. Wake up!
Ahhh, now we know why they want to tax us out of our homes and property.
I see this as a disaster as it necessitates the State overriding local zoning laws and decisions, and it necessitates the State putting restrictions so great with the purpose of devaluing private land so the State can control and/or purchase the devalued private property. This is just the start of this unconstitutional plan. Will have to go to the Supreme Court. What a mess! Fix the Mess…Vote Red!