Vermont

Vermont is a member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) so has cap and trade control on power plant emissions. They also have joined the Transportation and Climate Initiative, and have joined a select group of TCI states to cap transportation emissions and trade emission permits in a system modeled after RGGI.

The effort to put a price on carbon in Vermont is fostered by  Energy Independent Vermont.  A recent report by Resources for the Future concludes that carbon pricing alone won’t get Vermont to climate and clean energy goals. Vermont needs carbon pricing plus a suite of other actions that would help reduce emissions.

Earlier Legislative Sessions

 In January 2018, bills S284 / H791 were introduced by Senator Christopher Pearson and Representative Sarah Copeland-Hanzas. The bills would set a charge of $5.00 per ton of carbon in 2020, rising by $5.00 each year until reaching $40.00 per ton in 2027. All revenues from charge will be returned customers on their electric bills.

Last updated February 5, 2019