Climate change resolution divides VT House

MONTPELIER - Vermont lawmakers found time during a busy one-day veto session Wednesday to express dismay at President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement. 

The move revealed a gap between Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who moved quickly to defend the international agreement, and some Republican lawmakers who were more hesitant to commit.

The Vermont Senate passed a resolution urging Scott to support funding and policies to combat climate change. Under Scott's leadership, Vermont has joined the U.S. Climate Alliance, which commits the state to the goals of the Paris deal regardless of national policy.

Debate was more complicated in the House, where 30 Republicans and one independent member voted against the resolution.

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"Alls it is, is just another slap at Trump," one Republican representative said to another as he walked out of a caucus meeting before the vote.

Other House Republicans complained that the resolution needed to go through a full committee process, or that using the word "funding" in a non-binding resolution would commit the state to an unidentified amount of climate spending. 

"Unless somebody can convince me otherwise, I think this is kind of a front-door approach for the carbon tax in the state of Vermont. Period," said Rep. Gary Viens, R-Newport, speaking during the Republican caucus meeting. 

Other members murmured in agreement.

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The House resolution passed, 105-31, after any reference to funding was removed.

Viens voted against the resolution because it set a "path forward," he said in an interview Thursday. 

Viens is "very concerned" about global warming, but opposes the Paris climate accord.

"My bottom line is I think it was a bad deal," Viens said. "I think the United States gave away way too much there. And again, I’m not a climate denier."

Another Republican who opposed the resolution, Rep. Brian Keefe of Manchester, wanted to hold a debate on the existing climate goals referenced in the House and Senate resolutions.

The resolutions say it is "imperative" that Vermont reduce reliance on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions below the 1990 level by January 2028, and further by 2050 according to the state's Comprehensive Energy Plan.

"When did we vote on this energy plan?" Keefe said in a Republican caucus. "And we didn't, I don't think."

Vermont's comprehensive energy plan, which is required by state law and was last updated by the Department of Public Service in 2016, will be a basis for Scott's work on climate change. 

This week Scott announced plans for a climate change commission. The group, he said, will form a "specific, responsible and realistic greenhouse gas reduction action plan that builds on the work of Vermont’s 2016 comprehensive energy plan."

Scott said wind turbines on Vermont ridgelines are not part of his vision for addressing climate change, while solar projects and tax incentives for electric vehicles are included.

More details on the commission are expected in the coming weeks.

Contact April McCullum at 802-660-1863 or amccullum@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @April_McCullum. 
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