Failed steps to reform Vermont’s heating sector and soaring home heating fuel prices helped define the local legislative race across Vermont for this cycle.At the same time, the fuel industry and environmental groups An unprecedented amount of political donations are pouring into statewide campaigns.
Vermont’s heat sector accounts for more than one-third of the state’s emissions, second only to transportation. The clean heat standard, rejected by Gov. Phil Scott in May, would have established a credit system to encourage Vermont’s fuel dealers to move from fossil-fuel heat sources to lower-emission heat sources.
Republicans, who voiced the strongest opposition to the bill, argued that it would increase home heating costs and put small fuel distributors out of business. Some Democrats and environmentalists also opposed the bill because it encouraged the use of biofuels, which produce greenhouse gases similar to kerosene.
Members of the House failed to overrule the governor’s veto with a single vote.
Meanwhile, fuel prices are skyrocketing due to international factors. According to the Vermont Department of Public Services, the price of secondary fuel oil, which is typically used to heat buildings, has increased 66.8% between October 2021 and 2022. During the same period, kerosene rose by 78.2% and regular gasoline by 18.1%.
The clean heat standard could be reintroduced in the next Congress, and candidates statewide are using the measure as a way to differentiate themselves from their opponents.
In the Orange Senate election between longtime incumbent Senator Mark McDonald (D-Orange) and Republican John Klar, many of Klar’s attacks on his opponents are due to McDonald’s clean heat standards. and other climate laws.
Vermont Republican Speaker Paul Dame, who has dubbed the orange Senate seat a “notable Senate election,” is also sticking to the issue, saying McDonald’s said, “Vermonters pay for things like: They don’t really take into account the difficulty of being on their heating bills. ”
Republicans across the country got their hands on the cost of home heating fuel this election cycle. In response, the Biden administration tapped oil reserves to drive prices down ahead of the midterm elections.
In Vermont’s local elections, much of the conversation centers on clean heat standards. Incumbent Rep. Vicky Strong (R. Albany) and Rep. Katherine Sims (D. Craftsbury), who is vying for one seat in the reorganized Orleans 4 district, are using the issue to differentiate themselves. .
Similarly, in the Rutland-Bennington House district, where R-Middletown Springs Rep. Divided on opposite sides of political stance. spectrum.
As clean heat standards came to define the race, the Political Action Committee started by Matt Cota, former executive director of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association, spent more than $18,000 on the cycle. This is the highest amount a Heat PAC has spent since at least 2014. The donations went a long way to fund Republicans who were vocal opponents of the legislation, including Strong, Achey, and his Jarrod Sammis of Castleton.
A major Republican donor, Skip Valley made his fortune through his Maplefields gas station and convenience store chain, as well as his father’s home heating fuel and propane businesses. Vallee, his business, and his family contributed more than $86,000 of his money this election cycle, of which about $75,000 went to local candidates.
Vallee did not respond to questions about whether climate change laws would affect his donation decisions, but instead wrote in an email: Please support Congress and help our great Governor Phil Scott. ”
Backers of climate change bills didn’t hesitate to donate to Democrats. The Vermont Conservation Voters Action Fund has spent more than $106,000 as of November 4th. Much of that money has bought digital ads and mailers for Democratic candidates in competitive campaigns, including more than $35,000 total for her three Democrats running for a Senate seat in Rutland County. Over $25,000 to support Franklin County Democratic Senate candidate Pam McCarthy.
The Vermont Public Interest Research Group, a nonprofit consumer and environmental advocacy group, spent approximately $96,000 on state elections this cycle through the VPIRG Votes PAC. This includes giving to climate change-minded Democrats in high-profile races like McDonald’s and Sims. By comparison, PAC said he had only spent $18,000 by this point in the 2020 election cycle.
Whether or not clean heat standards return in the next session, climate law will. Vermont does not plan to meet legally mandated climate emissions requirements for 2030. The measure was projected to account for one-third of the state’s legally mandated emissions reductions by 2030, according to an analysis by advocacy group Energy Action Network.
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