Energy News Network: Vermont Climate Council plans to revamp lagging clean energy progress

Vermont is adding teeth and a new task force in an effort to get the state back on track toward its climate goals after several years of stalled progress.

Vermont was an early leader on climate, adopting emission goals in 2006. After several years of progress, annual emissions increased over the last decade. In 2018, the latest year available, preliminary emissions totals were up 4% from the 1990 levels.

The state legislature passed the Global Warming Solutions Act in September after overriding a veto by Gov. Phil Scott. The new law changed Vermont’s emissions goals to requirements, allowing for legal action if state administrators fail to adopt rules that put Vermont on track to meet those requirements.