Vt. Conservation Voters releases legislative Environmental Scorecard
July 27, 2024 | By Justin Marsh Vermont Conservation Voters has released its Vermont Environmental Scorecard for the 2023-2024 legislative session, a tool developed to help Vermonters track legislators’ voting records on key environmental issues in the latest legislative biennium.
Image courtesy of Vermont Conservation Voters
The legislative process is complex and can be hard to follow. VCV’s Environmental Scorecard highlights the most significant environmental votes from the past legislative session, making it easier for Vermonters to find out where their elected officials stand on key issues, and to determine whether their actions align with their rhetoric.
VCV publishes a hard copy of the Scorecard and maintains a digital Scorecard, which enables viewers to find their legislators using an enhanced search feature, review legislative profiles and voting records, access concise bill descriptions, and directly contact their elected officials.
The votes included in this year’s Scorecard were issues highlighted in VCV’s annual Environmental Common Agenda of legislative priorities: a list of top-tier goals developed in collaboration with the state’s leading environmental groups. This biennium, as the impacts of the climate crisis become ever more apparent, the list of policy goals was longer and more urgent than ever before.
The Legislature ushered in a historic response to last year’s devastating flooding, passing significant policies to address the climate crisis, foster a healthy environment, and promote housing. These massive wins were due to lawmakers’ recognition of the urgent need for action in the face of increasing climate disasters and other challenges the state faces.
Unfortunately, once again, Gov. Phil Scott vetoed several significant environmental bills, including the Renewable Energy Standard, which would require Vermont to switch to 100% renewable energy by 2035, and a bill to help Vermonters transition to cleaner heating sources. He also vetoed a comprehensive bill that would update Act 250 to promote housing and better maintain critical natural resources, as well as a bill to protect pollinators from toxic pesticides. Fortunately, legislators overrode the governor’s vetoes of these bills, often with tripartisan support.
“This is our longest scorecard yet, a testament to the Vermont Legislature’s commitment to addressing the wide range of urgent environmental issues facing our state. VCV’s Scorecard helps Vermonters see which legislators are taking the tough votes needed to meet these challenges head-on," said Lauren Hierl, executive director of Vermont Conservation Voters. “We hope this tool will help Vermonters hold their lawmakers accountable for whether or not they’re representing their environmental values at the State House.”
The full 2023-2024 Environmental Scorecard is available online here.
Justin Marsh is political director at Vermont Conservation Voters, a statewide nonprofit, non-partisan organization that supports pro-environment Vermont candidates, evaluates lawmakers on their environmental records and advocates for strong environmental laws.