Vermont has a reputation for innovative energy policy. Yesterday, Governor Phil Scott continued that tradition by signing a law that protects against rollbacks of federal appliance energy efficiency standards. House Bill H.411, introduced by Representative Marcia Gardner and championed by Representative Curtis McCormack and Senator Christopher Bray, passed with strong support from Republican, Democratic, and Independent Vermont lawmakers. At a time of uncertainty about Washington's direction on energy efficiency policy, passing this protective law makes it clear that Vermont, and hopefully the nation, will not go backward when it comes to saving energy.

Historically, federal energy efficiency standards (most of which started out as state standards in places like Vermont) have enjoyed broad, bipartisan support. But the shifting and chaotic political environment in Washington, DC, has created an opening for those who would seek to weaken the national energy efficiency standards program, or even to remove standards for some products.

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