VDC is surveying the candidates, and so can you

Many big issues face Vermont candidates this election season: property taxes, crime, flood response, and housing, to name a few. This week, VDC will email this survey question to every listed House, Senate, Governor and Lt. Governor candidate for the November 5 General Election: How will you vote on the Clean Heat Standard come January?

Just a little reminder for background: 

The legislature passed Act 18, which functions as a de facto carbon tax on heating oil, propane, kerosene, and natural gas, in 2023 over the veto of Governor Scott. But, in order to secure the last few votes to override that veto in the Senate, a section was added to the law that forces the legislature to vote in January 2025 – right after this upcoming election – on whether or not to approve the rules that will govern the program. 

So far, the estimates of what that cost will be range from 70 cents per gallon (Secretary Julie Moore, Agency of Natural Resources), to $4.00 per gallon (Ethan Allen Institute), and the most recent and in-depth analysis by a research firm, NV5, hired by the Vermont Department of Public Services, puts the number at over $3.00 per gallon (though this was a draft estimate with the final number due by the end of August. 

Who Vermonters electe to the House of Representatives and Senate on November 5 – and how they vote on the Clean Heat Rules — will determine whether or not the Clean Heat Carbon Tax on oil, propane, kerosene and natural gas happens. 

Vermont Daily Chronicle this week will email the following questions to every candidate running for Vermont House, Senate, Lieutenant Governor (who could potentially break a tie vote), and Governor (who would have the power to veto). 

Dear Vermont Candidate,

When the 2025 legislative biennium convenes in January, one of the first orders of business will be a mandatory vote on whether or not to implement the Clean Heat Standard (CHS), ACT 18. 

Question: “If elected, will you vote to move forward with implementing the Clean Heat Standard?” 

Answers: Yes/ No/ Maybe.

If you answered Maybe, “What is the maximum price per gallon impact on home heating fuels are you willing to accept as a result of moving forward with the Clean Heat Standard?”

Answers: 10¢/ 20¢/ 70¢/ $1/ $3/ Other (specify)

VDC will publish survey answers as candidates respond (and make a note of it if they don’t!). Readers are encouraged to also send the question directly to their local candidates directly using the following contact information, which is taken from the Secretary of State’s “Qualified Candidates” Excel spreadsheet and will be updated as write-in candidates are added.

The list of State House candidates, with email addresses, is also published in our August 20 post: General election candidate list updated: who’s running in YOUR town and county?

Here is the link to the survey. You are welcome to forward it to your local candidates, with a note expressing your wish that they complete it and return it t you. Thanks for your help! 

– Guy Page, Editor

Contribute to Vermont Daily Chronicle via Stripe.com – quick, easy, confidential