Policy Priorities

REV Priorities for 2026

REV will continue to work to protect the integrity of 2024’s landmark 100% Renewable Energy Standard, which mandates important increases in the procurement of new renewables both in Vermont and throughout New England.

However, the passage of the so called “Big, Beautiful Bill Act” presents both new challenges and new opportunities for Vermont’s renewable energy sector. By raising the prices of energy across the board, the BBBA will present opportunities for Vermont’s solar sector to deliver affordable power to meet growing demand.

Governor Phil Scott, the General Assembly, and the Public Utility Commission will all play key roles in ensuring that Vermont can affordably meet its renewable energy requirements by:

Allowing Co-location of Solar Projects on Already Developed Land

Revising the current “Single Plant” statute will save ratepayers money by making it easier for solar projects to co-locate and share costly road and grid infrastructure.

Making Net Metering More Accessible

H.R.1 eliminated the 30% federal tax credit for residential solar, effective the end of 2025. Vermont provides lower compensation for home solar than neighboring states and has been heavily reliant on this federal tax credit to bring down the cost of residential solar. The Governor and Legislature must act to ensure the cost of going solar at home is accessible to all Vermonters.

Speeding up Section 248 Permitting Process

Vermont’s regulatory structure enacts unnecessary, time-consuming, and costly roadblocks to deploying solar, which ultimately raises the cost of electricity without providing meaningful environmental protections or safeguards to ratepayers.

Ending Stricter Regulation of Solar than Other Forms of Development

One example of many of how Vermont regulates solar more strictly than all other forms of development is how distribution upgrades are treated. This process unnecessarily delays projects and provides no meaningful protection of environmental resources or for ratepayers.

Incentivizing Energy Storage

Vermont is the only state in New England that does not have an energy storage requirement or goal. Energy storage is a proven technology that can both reduce energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions