Vermont § 8129 - Clean Heat Standard Equity Advisory Group

§ 8129. Clean Heat Standard Equity Advisory Group

• (a) The Commission shall establish the Clean Heat Standard Equity Advisory Group to assist
  the Commission in developing and implementing the Clean Heat Standard in a manner
  that ensures an equitable share of clean heat measures are delivered to Vermonters
  with low income and moderate income and that Vermonters with low income and moderate
  income who are not early participants in clean heat measures are not negatively impacted
  in their ability to afford heating fuel. Its duties shall include: (1) providing feedback to the Commission on strategies for engaging Vermonters with low
  income and moderate income in the public process for developing the Clean Heat Standard
  program; (2) supporting the Commission in assessing whether customers are equitably served by clean
  heat measures and how to increase equity; (3) identifying actions needed to provide customers with low income and moderate income
  with better service and to mitigate the fuel price impacts calculated in section 8128 of this title; (4) recommending any additional programs, incentives, or funding needed to support customers
  with low income and moderate income and organizations that provide social services
  to Vermonters in affording heating fuel and other heating expenses; (5) providing feedback to the Commission on the impact of the Clean Heat Standard on the
  experience of Vermonters with low income and moderate income; and (6) providing information to the Commission on the challenges renters and residents of
  manufactured homes face in equitably accessing clean heat measures and recommendations
  to ensure that renters and residents of manufactured homes have equitable access to
  clean heat measures. (b) The Clean Heat Standard Equity Advisory Group shall consist of up to 10 members appointed
  by the Commission and at a minimum shall include at least one representative from
  each of the following groups: the Department of Public Service; the Department for
  Children and Families’ Office of Economic Opportunity; a community action agency with
  expertise in low-income weatherization; a community action agency with expertise in
  serving residents of manufactured homes; Efficiency Vermont; the Vermont Association
  of Area Agencies on Aging; individuals with socioeconomically, racially, and geographically
  diverse backgrounds; renters; rental property owners; the Vermont Housing Finance
  Agency; and a member of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association. Members who are not
  otherwise compensated by their employer shall be entitled to per diem compensation
  and reimbursement for expenses under 32 V.S.A. § 1010. (c) The Equity Advisory Group shall cease to exist when the initial Clean Heat Standard
  rules are adopted. Thereafter, the issues described in subsection (a) of this section
  shall be reviewed by the Commission, in compliance with 3 V.S.A. chapter 72. (Added 2023, No. 18, § 3, eff. May 12, 2023.)