Big Tech companies—like Microsoft, Google, and Apple—are driving large-scale data center development across the country to fuel the AI boom. And now, those companies could benefit from tax breaks for data centers that are built in rural areas. Yes, you heard that correctly. Last weekend, WIRED’s Molly Taft reported that many rural data centers are …
Data centers are back in the news in Vermont, and I wanted to make sure you saw. Last Wednesday, VT Digger’s Sean Robinson reported that “Gov. Scott vetoed state regulations on data centers. One of his deputies just urged Congress to pass them.” The article discusses the recent support for a federal bill aimed at …
Over the past few weeks as I’ve been enjoying this Vermont summer with my friends and family, the topic of my work has of course come up – and with it, VPIRG’s efforts on the data center bill that we helped get passed during the legislative session. Over and over, when I let people know …
Last week, VPIRG asked its members to let the representatives who voted to sustain Governor Scott’s veto of the data center bill (H.727) know they were disappointed. Many did — thank you. It’s come to our attention that some of the representatives who voted with the governor are now offering a striking explanation for their vote: that …
The data center bill excuse you may be hearing — and why it doesn’t hold up Read More »
Gov. Scott now has one of the strongest data center laws in the nation on his desk, and he has until Thursday night to sign or veto it. The bad news? Gov. Scott’s own staff have joined Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a core right-wing group in the Koch Brothers’ dark money network, to oppose it.1, 2 If …
Why is the Koch’s Dark Money Group Trying to Kill Vermont’s Data center bill? Read More »
Something remarkable just happened at the Vermont State House. The Vermont legislature just passed H.727 — the bill to regulate any data centers proposed here — with an overwhelming, bipartisan supermajority: 26-3 in the Senate, and with just a smattering of “no’s” on a voice vote in the House. That kind of margin doesn’t happen …
Late this morning, the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee voted 5-0 — unanimously, with bipartisan support — to advance a far stronger version of H.727, the data center regulation bill, than passed the Vermont House earlier this year. The bill now heads to the full Senate floor. VPIRG has been deep in this work for months. Here’s what …
Vermont’s Data Center Bill Clears Senate Committee 5-0 — Here’s What’s in It Read More »
Today is Earth Day — and this year, one of the most important things you can do to protect Vermont’s climate future has nothing to do with Washington, D.C. – it’s happening right here, in the State House in Montpelier. You’ve probably heard about the massive boom in data centers nationwide, driven by the rapid …
There is an important but overlooked climate bill winding its way through the State House right now: H.740. It would create a new, robust statewide carbon pollution and fossil fuel reporting program. And thanks to the voices of Vermonters like you, H.740 passed the House of Representatives! But our work isn’t done, and the importance of …
If my appearance on Vermont Edition on Monday made one thing clear, it’s that the Scott Administration is very serious about the possible siting of a new nuclear plant in Vermont – and about weakening the Renewable Energy Standard, which currently requires all Vermont electric utilities to be 100% renewable no later than 2035. As …
