By Rep. Laura Sibilia
Affordability is a real problem for many Vermonters right now. Everything from food to healthcare to heating fuel has gotten more expensive, and it’s hitting people hard. Big Oil companies and their backers want you to believe that enacting the Clean Heat Standard in 2025 will make things worse by raising your heating costs. But that’s not true—and doing nothing will hurt your wallet far more.
Since 2020, grocery prices have gone up nearly 25%, and Vermont’s unsubsidized health insurance premiums are among the highest in the nation. Schools are also struggling with rising costs following the pandemic. Add to that, the cost of heating oil skyrocketed more than doubled in just one year, and right now, prices are still 20% higher than they were before the pandemic. Families all across the state are feeling the pressure. It’s getting harder to afford the basics.
But what’s really behind these rising heating costs? Global oil prices, which are completely out of our control. Big oil companies set prices that Vermonters have to pay. And while small, local heating oil companies are doing their best to help, six have closed this past year alone. These closures mean fewer choices for Vermonters and more dependence on big companies that raise prices whenever they want.
Small heating businesses in Vermont are struggling with the same challenges many local companies face—an aging workforce and the pressure to transition to cleaner energy solutions. As baby boomers retire, gaps are left in the workforce, and adapting to offer new, cleaner products may require specialized skills and training that are harder to find and take time to learn. For some, selling to larger distributors has become the most practical option, leaving Vermonters with fewer local options and less choice on price and service.
Now, critics of the Clean Heat Standard—like fossil fuel-backed Americans for Prosperity—want you to think this policy will increase your heating bills. They conveniently avoid the real issue: the current fossil fuel market is unregulated, volatile, and leaves you vulnerable to constant price spikes. Doing nothing about this is exactly what will keep your heating bills high.
The Clean Heat Standard is a strategy to help us break free from the grip of global oil markets. It would require fuel sellers to reduce emissions by investing in cleaner options, like home weatherization and heat pumps, that can lower your heating costs. This approach isn’t about raising prices—it’s about making Vermont less dependent on oil and helping Vermonters afford better heating solutions.
Governor Scott talks a lot about affordability, and he’s right—we need to work together to keep costs down. But he’s missing the point. Inaction won’t protect Vermonters. In fact, with a global energy transition underway and larger states and countries acting to reduce their fossil fuel usage, inaction is the biggest threat to fixed income and working Vermonter’s pocketbooks. The clean heat standard aims to provide stability in a chaotic market, and with proper oversight, it will ensure you don’t have to rely on unpredictable oil prices.
There are three paths forward when it comes to the Clean Heat Standard: do nothing, pass the plan as-is, or work to make it even stronger. But doing nothing would leave Vermont more exposed to price hikes in the oil market, while passing the policy without improvements may miss the mark. The best option is to work together to act now, refine the plan if needed, and ensure it truly delivers for Vermonters by providing energy savings and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
It’s easy for big oil-backed groups to make this debate sound simple. But it’s not. The current market is stacked against you, and without government intervention, you will keep paying the price. The Clean Heat Standard or a comparable approach is part of the solution. It offers Vermonters a way to break free from the current system, reduce energy costs in the long run, and protect against the instability of fossil fuel prices.
The stakes are high, and it’s time to act. We need thoughtful, collaborative solutions that address both the affordability crisis and the long-term needs of Vermonters. The Clean Heat Standard is a key piece of that puzzle. If we want to keep energy affordable and sustainable, we can’t afford to sit back and do nothing.
By taking action, we can ensure Vermonters have access to the essential heating solutions they need at a price they can afford—now and in the future.
Laura Sibilia of Dover, is the representative for Dover, Jamaica, Somerset, Stratton and Wardsboro and the Vice Chair of the Environment and Energy Committee Co Chair of the Rural Caucus