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 this work has only gotten higher.
The bill is now being considered in the State Senate, and we need your help to ensure it not only passes but receives the critical funding necessary to actually implement it. An unfunded mandate won’t give us the data we need to protect Vermonters.
Why is getting this program up and running so urgent right now?
- Global volatility means local pain: As we’ve seen time and time again, escalating conflicts—such as the recent war in Iran—trigger immediate, dramatic spikes in gas and oil prices. As highlighted by the Energy Action Network’s April report, our reliance on fossil fuels leaves Vermonters especially vulnerable to these unpredictable global shocks.
- You can’t manage what you don’t measure: To help Vermonters effectively transition away from these volatile, expensive fuels to cleaner, more affordable energy solutions, we need actionable data. H.740 provides exactly that: concrete information on the types and amounts of fossil fuels being sold in communities across our state.
- Data drives real solutions: Good reporting supports better local planning, targeted energy efficiency programs, and data-informed policies that actually lower energy bills and reduce our reliance on volatile global oil markets.
Opponents of climate action are still trying to make this basic, common-sense data collection controversial.
With the federal government repeatedly abdicating its responsibility on clean energy and climate action, it’s more important than ever that states step in and step up. We need to focus on solutions that protect our neighbors from price spikes, save people money, protect public health, and ensure a habitable planet for future generations.
Together, we can get this across the finish line.