Policy Priorities

REV Legislative Priorities for 2026

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. 

The PUC has submitted its recommendation to the Vermont Legislature to revise the definition of plant to allow for faster, more predictable deployment of solar on already developed sites.

 REV supports the Legislature enacting the PUC’s recommended language.

Making Net Metering More Accessible

H.R.1 eliminated the 30% federal tax credit for residential solar, effective at 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.

 There are several bills introduced in the 2026 Legislative Session that would expand access to home solar:

 S.170 introduced by Sen. Anne Watson (D/P-Washington County) which prohibits the PUC from enacting new net metering adjustors before the 2028 biennial update

 S.202 introduced by Sen. Anne Watson (D/P-Washington County) which allows plug in solar up to 1200W to be connected without an interconnection agreement. Companion legislation H.598 was introduced in the House by Rep Kath James (D-Manchester)

 H.599 introduced by Rep. Scott Campbell (D-St Johnsbury) requires an amendment to a CPG for a net metered array only if the total capacity of the amended system is brought above 25kW.

 Currently, an amended CPG is needed if a net metering array is increased by 15kW or 15% whichever is greater which greatly discourages the owners of older, smaller net metered solar arrays from expanding.

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

REV is supporting H.631 introduced by Rep. Scott Campbell (D-St Johnsbury) that sets a state energy storage goal of 200MW by Jan 1, 2030, 450MW by Jan 1, 2035 and 800MW by Jan 1, 2040