Vermont public meetings planned about climate action plan

September 12, 2021 GMT

THETFORD, Vt. (AP) — Public meetings will be held this month as a plan to commit Vermont to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years is drafted.

The Global Warming Solutions Act was passed last year despite Gov. Phil Scott’s veto. The legislation set up a council on climate to analyze ways Vermont can reduce emissions.

A virtual meeting to gather feedback from farmers takes place Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The climate council is then holding in-person public meetings in Elmore on Sept. 21; East Dorset on Sept. 22; Island Pond on Sept. 23 and in Colchester on Sept. 26, the Agency of Natural Resources said.

The council is in the early stages of drafting the plan that will be presented to the Legislature on Dec. 1, the Valley News reported.

There will be extensive feedback and revisions through January 2022, said Administration Secretary Susanne Young, who is chairwoman of the council.

Some of the strategies the panel is considering are recommendations for carbon capture and sequestration on Vermont’s farms; programs to encourage Vermonters to buy electric or low-emission vehicles; promoting compact communities to reduce commute distances; and building on Efficiency Vermont’s work to weatherize more homes among other strategies, the newspaper reported.