Overview
- Moves the overall renewable energy requirement for utilities from 75% to 100% (between 2030-2035, year varies by utility)
- Moves the in-state renewable energy requirement for utilities from 10% to 20% (between 2032-2035, year varies by utility)
- Creates a new requirement for utilities to purchase new in-region renewables like offshore wind (quantity and year vary by utility)
- Utilities that are already 100% renewable must procure an increasing amount of their new load from new renewables each year
- New large hydro, expansions of existing large hydro, and expansions of existing biomass are not counted as new renewables
- Continues to allow utilities the option of purchasing nuclear power
H.289 Quick Facts
- Under Act 179, Vermont would be tied with Rhode Island as the first state in the nation to require 100% renewable energy
- REV estimates the GHG reduction from Act 179 is the equivalent of taking up to 240,000 cars off the road by 2035
- Act 179 more than quadruples the amount of new renewables used by Vermonters ensuring that as we convert to EVs and cold climate heat pumps, more power comes from renewables and less from oil, natural gas, and other fossil fuels
- According to the Public Service Department’s modeling, H.289 provides $400 million in greenhouse gas reduction benefits and $51 million in health benefits from reduced pollutants.
- Act 179 reduces Vermont’s dependence on the 64 baseload fossil fuel plants that supply our electricity none of which are in Vermont. Of these 64 fossil fuel plants, 62 are located in communities with a higher-than-average share of low-income households, people of color, or children under the age of 5.
- The Legislature’s energy consultant found that Act 179 will generate an additional $26 million in state taxes by 2030
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