Please name three specific pieces of legislation that are important to you and why.
- I sponsored and passed into law the first GHG reduction goals for the state – I created the bill and knew that it would have important ramifications for our environment and economy when it became law. The law was a springboard for the work we continue to do to meet challenges and opportunities for GHG reduction in VT. The law allowed for me to work with Senate and House leadership to organize three weeks of testimony for the entire legislature, including a primary author of the IPCC. I invited and scheduled experts to present about climate change, renewable generation, transportation alternatives, energy efficiency, weatherization, land use planning, reduction of fossil fuel use, health and climate change, and other areas of concern. As Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee, I passed many bills into laws that have moved Vermont into a renewable energy economy. These include my co-sponsorship of the recent environmental Justice, Act 250, extended producer responsibility, public utility commission, and other bills/laws. We can do more in the next session.
- Restriction of BPA in consumer products law – this legislation was the beginning of many other important laws that have removed petroleum based toxic chemicals including phthalates, PFAs, DECA from consumer products. Many of the laws I sponsored and passed to protect the environment and public health required significant time and struggle – until citizens in southern VT experienced PFAs groundwater contamination. This opened hearts and minds to understanding this set of issues. I look forward to passing important related legislation in the next session.
- Prop 5 is a Constitutional Amendment bill for reproductive liberty that I created and wrote the initial bill. I asked the Pro Tem of the Senate, Senate majority leader, and Chair of the Judiciary Committee to introduce this with me. I lead the Senate process, helping my peers understand the meaning of the bill with respect to Roe v Wade recently overturned by the Supreme Court. If voters approve this proposed amendment in Nov., VT will have Constitutional protection for reproductive liberty for both men and women. The amendment bill also served as language for legislation that was passed into law for reproductive liberty protection. The law ensures continuation of the same protections offered under Roe v Wade for 50 years.
How would you preserve the environment while ensuring a supply of affordable housing?
Focus development where environmental conditions have been mapped out and local zoning is in place for affordable housing – this includes downtowns, mixed use growth centers, neighborhood expansion, redevelopment of underused areas. Among others, ensure that each affordable housing development includes energy efficient building (possibly LEED std), possible renewable energy supply including heat pump access, available sewer and water, and that public transportation is nearby. General permits for stormwater or other environmental issues should be consistent with environmental criteria. Avoid any development within flood plains. Placement of affordable housing is important to ensure environmental Justice. Affordable / workforce housing can be integrated into local zoning. It is critical that affordable homes have green space/ parks to maintain the character of Vt’s landscape as well as C capture.
What’s your plan to save the water quality of Lake Champlain and our many tributaries?
As a member of the VTCAC (Champlain Advisory Committee) for many years, I advocated for a designated source of funding for lake cleanup. We passed legislation with such designated funding and continue to do so. I was active in passing TMDL legislation for various geographic areas / uses sec for the lake. Having a river basin approach to cleanup – looking upstream to reduce pollutants – is critical. We understand that a significant amount of P and other pollutants come from the agricultural sector. It is time to reconsider the role of the AG Agency in both encouraging agriculture and regulating its effluent into waterways that feed the Lake or the Lake itself. This includes evaluating the continuation of the ANR / AG MOU for stormwater regulation. Related to this is our need to better regulate agricultural pesticide applications, as we did with pollinator protection this session. Public health considerations should be considered for pesticide applications. VT’s working landscape and tourism are integrally related. It is so critical that each municipality within the Lake watershed and or within a river watershed consider its contribution to nutrient load to our waterways. Buffer zones are critical to preventing pollutant discharge. It is time to consider making RAPs required as intended. It is also important that development proceed with an eye to surface and groundwater protection. Expansion of financial support for current CSO (combined. Sewer overflow cleanup becomes more and more critical with increased 100 year rain events.
Are you in favor of putting a price on carbon?
Yes. It could be done regionally which is why the TCI would have been an opportunity for VT and other states. But the pace of climate change is too fast for VT to wait. We need to move forward next session. My work as a consultant with the Rocky Mtn Institute in Co. included an assessment of how to expand the Ca / Que Transportation GHG reduction program. VT is finally moving forward on transportation electrification. I also developed a proposal for a fee bate program that continues to be a discussion on the legislature. As a College Biology Professor, I teach Current Environmental issues. My work includes a set of recommendations on C pricing related to fossil fuel costs for the production, transportation, processing of agricultural products for field to table. This type of C pricing can happen regionally- it is a longer term process to put something like that in place. It is the future. Plastic packaging is a good place to begin pricing C. The elimination of the single plastic bag is a beginning. I look forward to the development of EPR program that rewards businesses that reduce plastic and other fossil fuel based packaging / products. We can’t wait for
If elected, what will be your top 3 legislative priorities?
- Reduction of phthalates, PFAs, related toxins in consumer products.
- Ban flavored e-cig and tobacco products
- Continue work on health care reform, prevention, especially including climate change effects on health
What are the first three actions you would take to address climate change? What would you do in support of the Global Warming Solutions Act?
I indicated earlier a number of initiatives that I support to reduce climate change effects. I would like to see additional / continuation of incentives for access to electric vehicles, heat pumps, weatherization. Increased money in the renewable energy development fund can help expand the reach of that program. Encouraging micro grid development with locally generated renewable energy supports sustainable/ reliable power. I will continue to support the global warming solutions act. It includes some important economic support for lower income folks to access electric vehicles.
What steps would you take to protect the natural environment in Chittenden County and Vermont?
- Use data informed decision making that consistently supports a response to climate change and an improvement to peoples’ lives / public health.
- Protect our waterways and groundwater. Increase groundwater mapping to understand aquifer adequacy for current or new development.
- Fund VHCB for local and statewide land conservation.
- Ensure that municipalities plan land use together – through the CCRPC.
- Ensure that local municipal plans include green space /forests/trees with any development.
- Encourage local decision makers to become educated about their role in decision making and critically evaluate each proposed development plan.
- Provide opportunity for public testimony and hearings when big decisions are debated.
- Ensure that ethical guidelines relating to conflict of interest are followed when decisions are made at each level of government.
- Pass legislation that rewards environmentally sensitive development
- Encourage group composting.
- Ensure buffers between Ag or other development and waterways
- Maintain / increase town forests and encourage tree planting along streets and In Neighborhoods.
Would you support H.175, which would expand Vermont’s “bottle bill” to cover additional containers, like bottled water and wine bottles?
Yes- we also need a more comprehensive Extended Producer Responsibility bill – EPR that places responsibility for the funding of reduction/ recycling of plastics, etc. with manufacturers. Our landfills cannot tolerate more plastics in particular.
Would you support S.234, which makes changes to Act 250?
Yes- but not before additional testimony about the problems associated with the NRB. The Board has not done its job in writing rules or in coordinating district commissions to be more in synch with their interpretation of the environmental criteria. The bill moved to the Senate late in the session. The Senate needs more time with the NRB and the Environmental Court portions of the bill. The forest protection component of the bill is important to the state and local areas!
Would you support H.715, the “Clean Heat Standard”?
Yes- I think it can be improved and passed. In particular, the legislature can provide more discrete criteria for the PUC to develop the program. The plan should include a process for investment / incentives to support fuel retail dealer / delivery business conversion / adaptation to renewable practices. I introduced a bill that would have used a percentage of the petroleum cleanup fund as an incentive for such conversion activities. The promise of new business models and a more comprehensive renewable energy economy are integral to outcomes from the legislation. Hopefully this legislation will move forward next session.