Douglas says he'll sign energy bill

Gov. James Douglas says he is likely to sign a bill designed to promote energy independence and prepare Vermont for the possible loss of two-thirds of its power supplies in the next decade.

"It's a bill I can sign," the governor said.

Lawmakers spent much of their just-completed, two-year session dealing with a range of energy legislation designed to promote the development of renewable power, greater efforts at efficiency and similar goals.

"All of the work that we have been doing on a variety of different bills is to help Vermont become more energy independent," said Rep. Robert Dostis, D-Waterbury, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. "That means producing more energy in-state from renewable energy sources, maximizing efficiency and relying more on clean power."

One of the key provisions of this year's bill seeks to expand "net metering," under which a homeowner can generate power with wind or solar installations, send it onto the electrical grid and reduce or wipe out the electric bill.

The bill, which passed on the session's final night Wednesday, calls on the Public Service Board to allow a broader range of net metering projects, allowing, for instance, multiple property owners to join in them.

The bill also calls on new efforts to educate Vermonters about the state's energy future. That would include the fact that power-purchase contracts with Hydro Quebec and the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, each of which provides about a third of Vermont's electricity, are set to expire within the next 10 years.

Among other provisions, this year's bill:

_ Sets up new energy efficiency standards for commercial buildings, which are likely to be modeled on existing standards for homes;

_ Calls for a study of the effects utility bills have on low-income households.

_ Establishes a system for using the state's renewable energy fund, funded mainly through agreements with Vermont Yankee.

Rep. Joyce Errecart, R-Shelburne, said about $4.8 million would be available in the coming fiscal year.

"It can go for credits for renewable energy, it can go to renewable energy projects, or combined heat and power," in which the same fuel is used for both purposes, she said.

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Information from: Rutland Herald, http://www.rutlandherald.com/