By Guy Page
The State of Vermont needs a plan for disposal of solar panels. It also needs a 24/7/365 public restroom on the Capitol Complex grounds.
Those are just two of the 52 bills introduced to date in the 2023-24 Vermont House of Representatives.
H47, introduced by Rep. Jim Harrison of Mendon/Killington, would “require all solar panel installers to have an approved recycling plan for the solar panels. It proposes to give the Public Utility Commission authority to approve recycling plans.”
Most solar panels have a full-strength lifespan of at least 10 years, after which they lose efficiency over time. Harrison, a Republican, wants the Legislature’s trend towards recycling to include solar panels.
H34, the brainchild of new Montpelier City representatives Conor Casey and Kate McCann, would “require the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services, on or before September 1, 2023, to issue a request for proposal to study the feasibility of a State-owned
public restroom open 24 hours a day and seven days a week in or near the Capitol Complex.”
Contacted by email, Casey cited the need to provide restroom services to visitors to the state capitol and the city’s homeless population.
| H.51 | 1/13/2023 | establishing the Aquatic Nuisance Prevention Pass for use of State waters | ||
| H.50 | 1/13/2023 | prohibiting the labeling of consumer products that contain PFAS as compostable | ||
| H.49 | 1/13/2023 | establishing a statewide retirement system for voluntary firefighters | ||
| H.48 | 1/12/2023 | solid waste management | ||
| H.47 | 1/12/2023 | disposal of solar panels | ||
| H.46 | 1/12/2023 | approval of the dissolution of Colchester Fire District No. 3 | ||
| H.45 | 1/12/2023 | abusive litigation filed against survivors of domestic abuse, stalking, or sexual assault | ||
| H.44 | 1/12/2023 | local option tax in small towns | ||
| H.43 | 1/12/2023 | recognition and enforcement of a military protection order | ||
| H.42 | 1/11/2023 | temporary alternative procedures for annual municipal meetings and electronic meetings of public bodies | ||
| H.41 | 1/11/2023 | referral of domestic and sexual violence cases to community justice centers | ||
| H.40 | 1/11/2023 | nonconsensual removal of or tampering with a sexually protective device | ||
| H.39 | 1/11/2023 | a local revenue distribution working group | ||
| H.38 | 1/11/2023 | the use of a portable electronic device in non-hands-free mode while operating a motor vehicle | ||
| H.37 | 1/11/2023 | winter tires on rental cars | ||
| H.36 | 1/11/2023 | exempting small towns from mapping forest blocks and habitat connectors | ||
| H.35 | 1/10/2023 | the Victims Assistance Program | ||
| H.34 | 1/10/2023 | studying the feasibility of a State-owned public restroom near the Capitol Complex | ||
| H.33 | 1/10/2023 | allowing legislators to elect taxable or nontaxable meals and lodging expense reimbursement | ||
| H.32 | 1/10/2023 | the Social Security benefits exemption | ||
| H.31 | 1/10/2023 | aquatic nuisance control | ||
| H.30 | 1/10/2023 | the regulation of wetlands | ||
| H.29 | 1/10/2023 | development in mapped river corridors | ||
| H.28 | 1/10/2023 | diversion and expungement | ||
| H.27 | 1/10/2023 | coercive controlling behavior and abuse prevention orders | ||
| H.26 | 1/10/2023 | an income tax exemption for members of the National Guard | ||
| H.25 | 1/6/2023 | feasibility study for operating a child care facility in a State building | ||
| H.24 | 1/6/2023 | the authority of the State Auditor to examine the books and records of State contractors | ||
| H.23 | 1/6/2023 | mail-in ballots for general elections | ||
| H.22 | 1/6/2023 | sexual exploitation of a person who is being investigated by law enforcement | ||
| H.21 | 1/6/2023 | landlord notice of utility disconnections | ||
| H.20 | 1/5/2023 | exploring modification to Vermont’s reapportionment process | ||
| H.19 | 1/5/2023 | abating de minimis amounts of taxes owed for purposes of balancing municipal accounts | ||
| H.18 | 1/5/2023 | prohibiting the sale of cannabis and tobacco products utilizing single-use filters | ||
| H.17 | 1/5/2023 | abandoned motor vehicles and the towing of abandoned motor vehicles | ||
| H.16 | 1/5/2023 | a rail feasibility study | ||
| H.15 | 1/5/2023 | protecting golf courses from development | ||
| H.14 | 1/5/2023 | jurors’ compensation | ||
| H.13 | 1/5/2023 | switchblade knives | ||
| H.12 | 1/5/2023 | reducing the case backlog in the Criminal Division of the Superior Court | ||
| H.11 | 1/5/2023 | commercial insurance coverage of epinephrine auto-injectors | ||
| H.10 | 1/5/2023 | amending the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive Program | ||
| H.9 | 1/5/2023 | motor vehicle inspections | ||
| H.8 | 1/5/2023 | repealing the statute of limitations for civil actions based on childhood emotional abuse | ||
| H.7 | 1/5/2023 | replacing the term “cider” with “hard cider” within Title 7 | ||
| H.6 | 1/5/2023 | development and subdivisions above 1,500 feet | ||
| H.5 | 1/5/2023 | a study on strengthening regional plans and their implementation | ||
| H.4 | 1/5/2023 | the removal of the pilings of Bridge 308 | ||
| H.3 | 1/5/2023 | the provision of grants for mental health providers working in collaboration with municipal police departments | ||
| H.2 | 1/5/2023 | Act 250 jurisdiction over aircraft hangars | ||
| H.1 | 1/5/2023 | legislative oversight of payment reform and conflict-free case management for developmental disability services |
Categories: Legislation
Conner Casey, well, Mount peculiar, you made that bed, you lie in it. So who (what) agency, state or local would be responsible for security in, and around a 24/7/365 public restroom on, or near the state complex when the inevitable problems arise. This is an invitation to drug addicts, homeless, vandals, and mentally unstable people. I would point to the State garage in Rutland as an example. A former associate of mine, (a State Security Officer) had numerous (almost daily) interactions with down and out citizens miss using the facilities. Some of these people are very contentious, to say the least. Somebody had better be prepared for the consequences.
We’ll, that’ll be another two, maybe three, state employees just to keep that joint clean. What a lousy idea!
Connor Casey, one of the Mount Stupid brain trusts, comes on strong with a bill to help Montpeculier’s homeless relieve themselves on the Capitol grounds. Now, that is one of Vermont’s most pressing issues. When this plan is complete and the state spends another million on a heated, gender inclusive, nonbinary restroom, the homeless class can stop pooping and urinating in the street or in the information hut near Julio’s. It might be less costly to the taxpayers to hang a plastic bag dispenser downtown. Responsible dog owners use these bags so why can’t the homeless? Thanks Connor, keep those important bills coming!
Solar panel recycling seems like a good idea. I bingled the subject and found a very detailed explanation of the process, but little solid information on the cost. Seems like the obvious direction to go. Otherwise all those “rare-earth metals” that are so critical to our national defense will just end up leaching into the ground in Coventry.
Of course this will add to the unknown costs to consumers of the new exciting e-society.
Oh if you interested in learning more about the process, go to greenridgesolar.com
Curious to refer to it as a 24/7 “public restroom”. Why not call it by it’s primary purpose…an injection facility.
Why not just use a Port-O-Let somewhere near the capitol building???
Funny, even the solar panel manufacturers don’t take damaged panels back. Thousands of panels are stacked behind the solar installer’s businesses. Ask a solar installer. But lets push social justice and gun control right phil beruit and phony phil scott.
These are the places (aside from bars, restaurants and hotels) I’ve used to powder my nose in downtown Montpelier: State House, City Hall, Kellogg Hubbard Library, Visitor Information Center, and one, I think, in the City Center.
There are a lot of very hazardous chemicals in solar panels. This is going to be a big, big issue because of the ever increasing number of them. I think they are or should be biohazard. Once they are “discarded” people will lose track of how dangerous they are as they use them as tabletops, for example, which is fine until they get cracked or dropped. More poison!!!!
I think the legislature should arrange to have used up solar panels stored at the lawns and backyards of the legislators who, in a gross conflict of interest, make very nice livings working for Vermont solar companies.
A place to go poo by the statehouse. Poetic idea, eh?