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Supporters seek $700,000 to fund implementation
By Paul Bean
The lead sponsor of Act 122, the Vermont Climate Superfund Bill, Sen. Anne Watson (D-Washington), says the State of Vermont will fight the three lawsuits the bill has triggered against the state.
Act 122, enacted in May 2024, seeks to require major fossil fuel companies to pay for climate change damages in the state. It targets oil companies responsible for over one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from 1995 to 2024, using funds for infrastructure upgrades, disaster recovery, and public health measures.
There’s no official pricetag on what it costs the State of Vermont to fight these lawsuits. The effort is sure to consume part of the legal budget, as well as other resources, in the Agency of Natural Resources and the Attorney General’s office, not to mention court and consultant costs.
Implementing the Act will cost at least $700,000, according to a bulletin published by one of its advocates, the Vermont Natural Resources Council. An email sent May 7 by the VNRC and Vermont Conservation Voters urged supporters to lobby legislators to include in this year’s budget “$700,000 to implement the Climate Superfund Act — a groundbreaking law that holds Big Oil accountable for the damage their pollution has caused.”
Most recently, 24 states have joined an industry lawsuit against Act 122, the law urged on the Legislature by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) and other climate change reduction and renewable power industry advocates. The suit is one of three filed against the State of Vermont in connection with the law.
”Yes, I do anticipate that the state will fight these lawsuits,” wrote Sen. Watson to VDC by email Monday evening. “ I think legislators have an obligation to protect the well-being of their constituents and that’s exactly what this bill does.”
Critic’s warned this bill would draw lawsuits, however Sen. Watson says the bill is legal. “It’s legal and I believe we should stand by it,” she said, “We knew that there would be legal challenges and knowing the position of the president on climate change, it’s not terribly surprising.”
The U.S. The Department of Justice last week filed a civil suit against Vermont for Act 122. The DOJ also filed similar complaints against the states of New York, Michigan, and Hawaii.
In a press release that names all four states, the DOJ wrote, “President Trump recently directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action to stop the enforcement of state laws that unreasonably burden domestic energy development so that energy will once again be reliable and affordable for all Americans. These lawsuits advance President Trump’s directive in Executive Order 14260.”
“The Superfund Act is preempted by the Clean Air Act, exceeds the territorial reach of Vermont’s legislative power, unlawfully discriminates against interstate commerce, conflicts with federal interstate commerce power, and is preempted by federal foreign-affairs powers,” says the DOJ lawsuit. “The Superfund Act is a brazen attempt to grab power from the federal government and force citizens of other States and nations to foot the bill for Vermont’s infrastructure wish list,” continues the complaint.
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Categories: Court, Legislation, National/International News, State Government
What about legislators fiscal obligation to protect their constituents from frivolous spending wasting tax dollars on defending lawsuits for a bill that should be repealed
Exactly! We should have more of a say in how our tax dollars are spent at this point! The Climate Crisis Scam is the last thing I want my tax dollars spent on! Act 122 needs to be repealed period!
I hope this Watson character person gets a real dose of reality. Money to her is no problem. I’ve heard this saying before by a government employee “WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT AND WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT” Isn’t there a trash heap somewhere to deposit trash?
Those legislators who passed this incompetent piece of insanity should pay for “our” defense….personally. Not we tax payers. D Morrisseau
Perhaps a conviction will be the tipping point to repeal GSWA.
Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it is either moral or right.
For those in Montpeculiar who have no capacity for critical thinking with regard to generating electrical power, or refuse to accept that they are WRONG, I strongly you click here for a easy short read with four very short videos. You are NOT fooling me. The science is NOT in your favor.
https://www.freedom-research.org/p/four-key-messages-professor-ross?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#media-5198ea15-a5a8-4b47-b1b6-f802da080b03
By my reading, Act 122 counts fossil fuel burning as entirely negative. But there are substantial offsetting benefits. Here is one: if fossil fuels had not become available in Vermont 150 years ago, this State would not have 5,500,000 acres of standing trees. All wood above 5″ diameter was harvested frequently for home heating fuel, to power blast furnaces and railroad locomotives, for charcoal used in blacksmith shops, and dozens of other uses. When this case goes to trial, and the social benefits of fossil fuels are deducted from the damages, I think the case will fade away.
It’s not their money, of course they will sue.
They are not held personally responsible, of course they will go down the road in wanton disregard for their sworn duty. They love, love, love litigation on the taxpayers dime of course.
The VTGOP should be standing up for the constitution and the sworn duties to defend and protect, instead everybody seems most concerned about following Agenda 2030 from the united nations. Our governor even voted for it….called Build Back Better, a united nations slogan to build the world around marxism.
Here’s a wonderful video link to a woman who explained it so well.
The lead sponsor of Act 122, the Vermont Climate Superfund Bill, Sen. Anne Watson (D-Washington), says the State of Vermont will fight the three lawsuits, sure she will talk is cheap when its not your money, but it’s on your taxpayer dollars, wake up people, they don’t care !!
Vermonters, you vote these clowns in year after year, so your paying for nonsense,
year after year………………. follow the money.
I didn’t vote them in that’s for damn sure!
Watson and the whole lot have a savior complex. They are saving us from climate catastrophe, health disinformation, academics in schools, newborns conceived by natural means, Christians, and that big orange meanie who recently wore a funny hat in an AI picture. Vote these saviors out of office, please! Three Republicans ran in Washington District in 2024. I hope they run again!
No, no and thousand times no. I do not want my hard earned tax dollars going to fund activism. This crap about Global Warming, Climate Change or whatever the flavor of the day might be has gone on long enough. Sorry, Progressives, your Chicken Little attitude is getting too expensive. Unless it is out of your personal pockets, I want nothing to do with this uneducated stupidity.
Great! With Vt’s population of around 650,000, there are over 25 cities in the US with greater populations. How much carbon pollution is Vt creating compared to any one of those cities? I always tell the VPIRG canvassers if you really want to make a difference, why don’t you expend your energy in these highly polluted cities, rather than taking the easy way out in a state with the second lowest population in the country, and therefore, probably the lowest contribution to carbon pollution! Why? Because where they come from, no one will listen to them, as is the case of with all the politicians who have moved up here to push their egotistical arrogant agendas.
You Vermonters are getting screwed from the liberal leftist Dem Swamp Rats 🐀 🐀
Every time you take a breath, don’t you think 🤔 it’s time to wake up Vermonters!! I do !!
The Swamp is beyond disgusting to say the least period!!
Most of the libtards in the legislature only represent what they want not the people. I am so sick of these morons. Hopefully the suits against act 122 will force these corrupt legislators to repeal the bill. 🙏
“Make Big Oil Pay”. If they get money from big oil it will be people that buy oil that will foot the bill.
” I think legislators have an obligation to protect the well-being of their constituents.” Senator Watson, You were elected to represent us, not decide what is and is not in our best interest . Leave that to us, and then represent our interests, not your own !
Patrick, well said and spot on Sir!!
Appears our obstructionist, installed, belligerent Legislature is committed to their insurrection – their weapon of choice is lawfare warfare cannons. Being they are so emboldened and flush with dirty, foreign money who is going to stop them? Obviously, their metamorphasis into gangster-land tactics hasn’t waned one iota since 2020 – they should be charged with sedition, treason and conspiracies to commit fraud. Lawmakers are the law breakers – with impunity.
Absolutely no honor among thieves and reprobates.
This is clear financial malfeasance. The attorney general is fighting for an ideology that at least 50% of Vermonters probably do not buy into it, yet to do this requires that we all pay. We should be spending money on protecting the people of this state from the over reach of federal spending and governance by committee and NGOs.
I love how the left pushes their agenda and uses our tax dollars to do so even when
many of us do not want this. The feds will suck Vt dry of funds by engaging in the 3 lawsuits… leaving the left holding a bag of ideology wishes. We the taxpayers lose lose lose with the Dems in charge… they either waste our money on pipedreams or waste it on federal lawsuits. We need more conservative candidates in 2026.