(The Center Square) — Vermont Gov. Phil Scott is cautioning lawmakers about advancing a clean energy bill he says could cost consumers more than $1 billion over the next decade.
Scott, a Republican, said the higher costs for energy consumers would come from “a $100 million payroll tax passed by the Legislature, a 20% increase in DMV fees and potentially thousands of dollars more a year for the Legislature’s clean heat standard.”
“As Vermonters stare down an enormous increase in property taxes … the last thing Vermonters can take is the risk of another billion dollars of costs being imposed on them by this Legislature,” he said in a statement. “There is clearly a more affordable and equitable alternative to H.289. We can and should do better.”
Scott said the state Public Service Department conducted a “thorough” 18-month public engagement process “to understand Vermonters’ priorities for our clean and renewable
Read more…
