Eliminate right to sue State, lengthen deadlines for emissions reductions, protect families from financial impact
House and Senate Republicans will work together to make significant changes in the carbon-emissions reducing Globalm Warming Solutions Act, Senate Minority Leader Scott Beck (R-Caledonia) and House Minority Leader Rep. Patti McCoy (R-Poultney) said in a written statement today. They wrote:
In 2020 Act 153 (Global Warming Solutions Act) was passed by Democrats and Progressives over Governor Scott’s veto, with every Republican voting to sustain the Governor.
Act 153 was the catalyst for the Clean Heat Standard, which has been widely criticized as unworkable, unaffordable, and revealed for what it is, a carbon tax. We are confident that the Clean Heat Standard will be repealed by the legislature in 2025, voters have clearly spoken.
Senate and House Republicans believe that global warming and climate change is real, and that humans have caused a significant portion of this increase, including 150 years of carbon emissions.
This reality does not mean that we can ignore science moving forward. While science has clearly measured the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and linked that increase to a warming plant, Act 153 and its goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050 ignores many scientific and technological realities: economics, the limits of alternative energy, and Vermont’s winter climate.
Vermont needs to focus on science. We will propose amendments to Act 153 that establish carbon reduction goals and timelines that reflect the availability and affordability of proven carbon reduction technologies, an appreciation of Vermont’s winter climate and heating needs, and will not cause undue damage to Vermont’s economy or families. We will also move to remove the private right to sue Vermont in Act 153 if it falls short of carbon reduction goals.
Governor Scott was correct in 2020 and is correct today, “We’ll continue to do our part but at a pace we can afford”.