Policy Priorities

REV Leads on Passing S.50, the Only Climate-Related Bill to Become Law in 2025

In a year where protecting climate-related laws like the 100% Renewable Energy Standard from being watered down or repealed was the priority, REV is able to celebrate a rare success from the just concluded 2025 Legislative session: REV’s priority legislation for 2025, S.50, is now enacted into law.

S.50 has three important pro-renewable clauses:

1. Makes it easier and faster to go solar at home by raising the threshold for ground mount net metered projects to use a simple and affordable registration process.

2. Creates reasonable statewide setback requirements for ground-mounted solar.

3. Directs the Public Utility Commission to recommend language that would restrict  “single plant” rulings, to maximize renewable energy deployment in areas already developed and permitted for solar. Click here for a detailed section by section description of S.50

This bill would not have become law without the leadership of Senate Natural Resources & Energy Chair Anne Watson and House Energy & Digital Infrastructure Chair Kath James, whose work ensured unanimous and bipartisan votes in their committees.

S.50 was also supported by a range of environmental groups, including VPIRG, CLF, the Vermont Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, VT Natural Resources Council, and VT Conservation Voters.