COVID-19 Cross State Travel Restrictions
Our Committee would like to remind all our members to review the State of Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) cross state travel information prior to scheduling personal or business travel for the most up to date information. Currently, traveling by car, plane, train or bus, requires quarantine when returning, regardless if it is for business or pleasure. Traveling by personal vehicle allows individuals to perform leisure travel to certain counties in adjacent States if they are under 400 Active Cases per Million. Some exceptions do apply, and individuals should make a full review of the ACCD website for the most up to date information including travel for business.
One item of special note is how our leisure travel is more restricted now than it was in previous weeks. Note the differences in the graphics below and the number of counties that are yellow/red in the 10/20/20 travel region map in comparison to the one shown for 9/4/2020.
For the most up to date information visit the following ACCD website for the Cross State Travel Information: https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/restart/cross-state-travel
Legislators Override Governors Global Warming Solutions Act Veto
Last month we reported that Governor Scott had vetoed the H.688 Global Warming Solutions Act. That veto occurred on 9/15/2020 and since that time, the House (9/17/20) and Senate (9/22/20) passed the bill with a majority vote overriding the Governor’s veto. The bill is now law and becomes ACT 153 Energy; Climate Change and cited as the Vermont Global Warming Solutions Act of 2020.
The Global Warming Solutions Act requires the state to reduce greenhouse gas pollution to 26% below 2005 levels by 2025. Emissions would need to be 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% below by 2050. If the government fails to meet these goals, the bill allows individuals to sue the state, to force it into compliance.
While the legislation sets up new emissions reduction requirements, it does not spell out or dictate how the state will meet them. Instead, it forms a 23-member Climate Council — with the governor’s secretary of administration acting as the chair, and other members including state government officials, representatives from the manufacturing sector, citizen experts and others — to come up with a pollution reduction plan. Expect to see more details what will be rolled out and on how the Climate Council will meet the goals.
For detailed information on the Act, refer to the following link:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2020/Docs/ACTS/ACT153/ACT153%20As%20Enacted.pdf
Governor Vetoes Bill H.926 – Revisions to ACT 250
On 10/5/2020, Governor Scott vetoed Bill H.926 for the revisions to the State land use law known as ACT 250. The bill is now dead, and no changes will be made to the state’s 50-year-old land use law in 2020 after the Legislature adjourned without setting a veto override session. It is unclear if legislators will pick back up on this reform at the next legislation session.
See the following link for the bill that was put forth Governor Scott for signature:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2020/Docs/BILLS/H-0926/H-0926%20As%20Passed%20by%20Both%20House%20and%20Senate%20Official.pdf
Fiscal Year 2021 Bill H.969 Signed by Governor
Bill H.969, referred to as the BIG BILL – Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriations Act, was signed by Governor Scott on 10/2/2020. The purpose of the Act is to provide appropriations for the operations of State government during fiscal year 2021. Of special interest is in Section A.50 which provides funding of $13.5 million for the air quality improvement program in schools.
Details on the Appropriations Act can be found at the following link location:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2020/Docs/ACTS/ACT154/ACT154%20As%20Enacted.pdf
US Government Affairs Updates
(as reported by ASHRAE.org, 10/15/2020, partial topics listing)
U.S. Congressional Activities
• Update on COVID-19 Relief Package
• Rep. Williams Introduces Bill to Permanently Extend Energy Efficiency Tax Deduction 179D
• Senator Heinrich Introduces Legislation to Improve School Indoor Air Quality with ASHRAE Input
Federal Government Affairs
• CDC Adds Back Guidance Regarding Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2
For detailed information on the above topics, visit the ASHRAE Government Affairs Update website page at:
https://www.magnetmail.net/Actions/email_web_version.cfm?publish=newsletter&user_id=ASHRAE&message_id=19378315#Global
Dick Wilcox
GAC Committee Chair