Vermont’s efforts to spur clean energy development, boost net metering and expand efficiency measures have moved a step ahead with Gov. Peter Shumlin’s signing of legislation that addresses all three.
On Wednesday Shumlin signed an energy bill that makes it easier for Vermonters to band together to use net metering, which lets customers generate their own electricity and ship extra power back to the utility to lower their bill.
The measure also moves the state Clean Energy Development Fund to the jurisdiction of Department of Public Service and provides funding for its programs through a grant in-lieu of tax credit program that could spur $3 million dollars in green energy investments. He signed the bill in a ceremony at the Farm at South Village in South Burlington, a sustainable community with a net-metered solar array.