This week, Governor Scott unveiled his Administration’s proposal for how to spend the $1 billion in federal funds coming into Vermont as a result of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The proposal includes spending $200 million on critical climate and clean energy initiatives including weatherization and electrifying our heating and transportation systems, among other priorities such as expanding broadband access. You can read more about specific initiatives that have been proposed here.

If federal rules for ARPA funds allow these investments, and if enacted, this funding would lay a solid foundation for Vermont’s future. We know that the kinds of infrastructure investments that we need to make our state more resilient in the face of climate change are some of the very same investments that could help mitigate long standing inequities within our borders.

Will you take a moment to call Governor Scott at 802-828-3333 to thank him for proposing these meaningful climate investments and urge him to support ongoing action and investments at the scale we need to address the climate crisis?

By investing these federal funds strategically, we have a once in a generation opportunity to address the compounding environmental, economic, and equity challenges we face. But while the $200 million invested in climate action over the next few years would enable significant progress, we know that we cannot address the climate crisis with one-time windfalls alone. To truly meet the myriad challenges of climate change, we’ll need sustained funding sources for critical programs over the long term.

We will continue to advocate for continued climate action across all of state government, including from the Governor’s office, in the legislature, and through the work of the Vermont Climate Council that was established as a result of the legislature’s passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act last year.

This proposal will be considered by the Vermont Senate as they craft the state’s budget, and we’ll be in touch with more opportunities to speak up for climate as that process unfolds.

Thank you for contacting Governor Scott at 802-828-3333 and letting him know that you appreciate this critical proposal to invest in climate solutions.

Johanna Miller
Energy and Climate Program Director
Vermont Natural Resources Council