When the Legislature passed the 100% Renewable Energy Standard in 2024, it created a new “tier” of required renewable energy procurement from post 2010 wind, solar and hydro capable of delivery to Vermont. The rationale behind this new requirement was to allow utilities to purchase larger out of state renewables like off shore wind to replace vintage hydro creating “additionality” necessary to incentivize new renewables and importantly displace fossil fuel generation
Given the uncertainty around the deployment of new renewables, the 2026 Legislature passed Act 144 which called for the PUC to submit a report by January 15th to the 2027 Legislature on projected regional renewable electric generation market conditions.
As part of this report, the PUC “must examine the cost and availability of any such new resources during the years 2027–2035… To collect the necessary information to inform this report, the Commission is requesting that interested parties file comments on the projected price and supply of resources that could be used to satisfy the applicable tiers of the Vermont Renewable Energy Standard during the 2027 2035 period, along with narrative explanations of the major uncertainties that could affect price and supply.”
REV will be advocating in support of this new renewables requirement and opposing any attempts to roll back or weaken the 100% Renewable Energy Standard.
Why is protecting the integrity of the Renewable Energy Standard important?
1. The RES is arguably the most effective law on the Vermont books in reducing carbon emissions. The updated RES will produce the emissions reductions equivalent of taking 240,000 cars off the road by 2035
2. Whenever a Vermonter deploys a renewable energy source, at some point it displaces the burning of natural gas or oil for electricity on the New England grid
3. Vermont’s reliance on long term renewable energy contracts is a major factor in Vermont having the lowest residential electric rates in New England every year since 2022
4. Vermont’s commitment to bringing renewables on line helps millions of other New Englanders breathe cleaner air- none of the 64 baseload natural gas plants that power New England’s electric grid are located in Vermont
5. According to the US EPA, Vermont’s electricity is the 3rd cleanest in the country
