The ESSEX Plan to put a price on carbon pollution took a huge step forward on Wednesday morning.
At the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) legislative breakfast, Sen. Chris Pearson and Rep. Sarah Copeland-Hanzas committed to developing a bill based on the ESSEX Plan. The two legislators are saying they will introduce this bill in early 2018.
The ESSEX Plan was unveiled last month by Ashley Orgain of Seventh Generation, at the Energy Action Network’s Vermont Energy and Climate Summit 2017. Dozens of ideas were pitched at the Summit, and the ESSEX Plan won the most votes, by far.
Since the unveiling, hundreds of EIV activists have reached out to legislators asking them to turn this plan into a bill. Two legislators have responded to that call.
With the legislative session less than a month away, EIV members are now working to get more senators and representatives on board, in order to set this bill up as a priority for early 2018.
In the 2017 legislative session, carbon pricing legislation was not introduced until the end of the session, when four short form bills were brought to committee. This year legislators have already begun drafting a comprehensive policy — based on the ESSEX Plan — to be introduced early on in the session.
Want to learn more about the ESSEX Plan, how it differs from other carbon pricing policies, and how we can make it a reality? Attend one of our community conversations: