" Bill that would make Vermont the first state to have a 'Climate Superfund' takes a key step forward
The #ClimateSuperfund Act directs the state treasurer to work with climate scientists to catalog the damage Vermont has seen due to #ClimateChange between 1995 and 2024 — and what it will cost to adapt to a warmer future with more volatile weather.
If the bill becomes law, #Vermont could start to seek damages in 2027."
WOW.
"The state Senate is expected to give final approval this week to the proposal, which would create a program that fossil fuel companies would pay into for #ClimateChange adaption projects in Vermont. It will then be considered in the House.
Maryland, Massachusetts and New York are considering similar measures, but #Vermont’s bill is moving quicker through the Legislature. "
The Vermont Legislature is advancing legislation requiring big fossil fuel companies pay a share of the damage caused by climate change. The state Senate is expected to give final approval this week to the legislation before it goes to the House. If approved, the proposal would create a program that fossil fuel companies would pay into for climate change adaption projects in the state. Maryland, Massachusetts and New York are considering similar measures. In Vermont, critics, including Rep. Gov. Phil Scott, warn that it could be a costly legal battle for the small state to go first.
"#Vermont’s measure would task the state treasurer with calculating the costs of needed #climate adaptation work, as well as the damage inflicted by previous disasters such as last summer’s devastating floods.
The program would collect money from companies that emitted more than 1 billion tons of CO2 around the world from 1995 to today. Those companies with business activity in Vermont would be charged according to their percentage of global #emissions."
It passed the #Vermont House.
"The legislation — the first of its kind in the U.S. — would require companies with high emissions to help pay for destruction caused by climate-fueled extreme weather.
The law passed with just three no votes in Vermont’s state Senate in early April, followed by approval in the state House on Monday. The Senate will deliver a final vote later this week before the bill heads to Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s desk."
But will Vermont's Republican governor sign it?
" 3 of the session’s largest climate bills face opposition from Phil Scott administration
The administration has expressed concerns with S.213, a bill that would establish a new state permitting system for building in river corridors, S.259, a bill that require big oil companies to pay for damages from climate change in #Vermont and H.289, a bill that would update the state’s #RenewableEnergy standard. "
The administration has expressed concerns with S.213, a bill that would establish a new state permitting system for building in river corridors, S.259, a bill that require big oil companies to pay for damages from climate change in Vermont and H.289, a bill that would update the state’s renewable energy standard.
At least the Rnewable Energy Standard is veto-proof" it requires 100% renewable electricity across all the state’s utilities by 2035
"H.289 was passed in both the State House and Senate today with veto-proof majorities. If Governor Phil Scott (R-VT) vetoes it, then it is expected to be overturned when the state legislature reconvenes in June for its veto override session. The bill has broad support from utilities and renewable developers."
https://electrek.co/2024/05/07/vermont-just-passed-a-100-renewable-electricity-mandate/
#Vermont
"The #Vermont bill doesn’t outline the total amount it would seek from polluting companies.
Instead, it calls for the state treasurer to account for the costs Vermont has incurred because of #emissions from 1995 through 2024 — including future costs from those past emissions. That includes impacts from floods and heat waves, along with losses to biodiversity, safety, economic development and anything else the treasurer deems reasonable."
"This law doesn’t depend on proof of deception, or false advertising, or the campaign to sow doubt about #ClimateChange that the companies are accused of in over 30 lawsuits across the country. The companies are liable by virtue of what they do. It’s not that they’ve committed anything wrong, necessarily—”#PolluterPays” is the concept here.
The fact that your product creates carbon pollution, which is driving climate change, that’s enough to make you liable."
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/25052024/vermont-superfund-fossil-fuel-climate-impact-liability/
IT'S A LAW
"#Vermont has become the first state to enact a law requiring #FossilFuel companies to pay a share of the damage caused by #ClimateChange.
Republican Gov. Phil Scott allowed the bill to become law without his signature late Thursday, saying he is very concerned about the costs and outcome of the small state taking on “Big Oil” alone in what will likely be a grueling legal fight. "
Vermont has become the first state to enact a law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a share of the damage caused by climate change after the state suffered catastrophic summer flooding and damage from other extreme weather. Republican Gov. Phil Scott allowed the bill to become law without his signature late Thursday. Scott wrote in his message to lawmakers that taking on ‘Big Oil’ should not be taken lightly and that he is concerned about the costs and outcomes of the small state doing that alone. Maryland, Massachusetts and New York are considering similar measures.
Next: New York.
"After a swell of grassroots pressure, the #NewYork State Assembly passed the #ClimateChangeSuperfund Act by a vote of 95-46, to make fossil fuel polluters pay for costs associated with climate change, including climate resiliency projects. The Senate passed the bill in May; it now requires Governor Hochul’s signature to become law."
https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2024/06/08/ny-assembly-passes-climate-change-superfund-act/
New York is still waiting for Gov. Hochul to sign this law.
"According to a poll from Data for Progress, a whopping 89% of New Yorkers support fossil fuel companies covering at least some of the cost for climate damages. Another poll found that 70% of #NewYork voters support the #ClimateChangeSuperfundAct, including majorities across party lines."
"Given the scope of climate disasters, the stakes of a second Trump presidency and independent economic assessments projecting little to no impact on the state’s economy, Weltman felt his governor’s mind should already be made up on the legislation. “Hochul has only one choice: side with #NewYork taxpayers or the fossil fuel industry,” he said.
“I can’t fathom why she wouldn’t side with us.” "
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/24112024/new-york-climate-change-superfund-act/
#ClimateChangeSuperfundAct
Hochul signed
"Under the new state law, companies responsible for the bulk of emissions from 2000 to 2018 will be on the hook for some $3 billion a year over the next 25 years.
Hochul’s signature makes #NewYork the second state with such a law, following Vermont, but the Empire State is far larger, more populous and a major center of American and international financial power."
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5056675-hochul-new-york-climate-change/
#superfund
Big oil pushed to kill bill that would have made them pay for wildfire disasters
"The legislation, called the Polluters Pay Climate Cost Recovery Act of 2024, has new life in the wake of the Los Angeles catastrophe, its supporters say, but the industry is already mobilizing."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/15/polluter-pay-bill-climate-disasters
#California #PolluterPays
"A California state senator said Monday that he wants to give homeowners and insurers the ability to sue oil and gas companies when a disaster caused by #ClimateChange damages their property.
Senate Bill 222 also would provide #insurers with a direct cause of action against oil and gas companies. They could recover losses resulting from climate impacts and rising costs looming over the insurance market and the state’s FAIR Plan."
22 GOP CONTROLLED states sue New York, alleging environmental fund is unconstitutional, amirite
"Besides West Virginia, the states joining the lawsuit are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming."
https://apnews.com/article/climate-superfund-lawsuit-new-york-3da22703ba7c00c0a5eed1f3a4dfa492
Twenty-two states are suing New York state, contending that a new law forcing energy companies to pay $75 billion into a fund to cover climate change damage is unconstitutional. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Albany, New York, lists Attorney General Letitia James and other state officials as defendants. According to a release, West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey is leading the coalition of states against the New York State Climate Superfund Act. The law requires major fossil fuel companies to pay into the fund over the next quarter-century based on their past greenhouse gas emissions.
"A bill that would require major oil companies to pay fees to cover #climate damages based on their past emissions was reintroduced in California on Friday.
#California state Sen. Caroline Menjivar (D) and Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D) introduced the “Make Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act” in both houses of the Legislature."
"This session, #ClimateSuperfund bills have been introduced in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Virginia.
While the bills are structured differently, they all seek to target the largest polluters — often covering companies that produced 1 billion metric tons of emissions over the last 30 or so years. Lawmakers say that applies to roughly 100 companies."
Polluter Pay bill dies in Oregon senate committee.
"A bill that would have required fossil fuel companies doing business in #Oregon to pay for the downstream and multigenerational costs of their #climate pollution will not move forward.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Environment Wednesday decided not to take a vote and advance Senate Bill 1187, the Make Polluters Pay Act, effectively letting the bill die in the committee."
"Donald Trump’s justice department has asked a judge to shut down a Vermont law which holds major polluters financially responsible for climate damages.
The motion is the latest attempt by the Trump administration to quash climate accountability efforts and environmental regulations."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/17/trump-vermont-oil-climate-superfund-act
Note: this is an attempt. It will work its way through the courts. It may, or may not, be successful.
"A bill that has advanced through the [New Jersey] Legislature would create a "climate superfund" cost recovery program through which the state would hold major fossil fuel companies responsible for climate change damages and for the expense associated with resiliency programs aimed at dealing with climate change impacts.
There is a strong possibility it will come up for a vote of the full Legislature on Jan. 8"
Oklahoma, Utah
"US lawmakers in two red states are attempting to shield the fossil fuel industry from climate liability.
In Oklahoma, a newly introduced bill would bar most civil lawsuits against oil companies over their role in the climate crisis, unless plaintiffs allege violations of specific environmental or labor laws. A similar proposal in Utah would block lawsuits over climate-warming emissions, unless a court finds the defendant violated a statute or permit."
"The American Petroleum Institute will prioritize shielding oil companies from climate liability in 2026.
The plans to “protect” oil companies from “abusive state climate lawsuits” were laid out in a policy agenda yesterday from the API. In an effort to avoid becoming the next Big Tobacco, the oil lobby is hoping to stomp out lawsuits that could result in massive damages, unearth private company documents, and alter their marketing practices, before they reach trial."
https://www.exxonknews.org/p/big-oil-declares-war-on-climate-lawsuits
@CelloMomOnCars
Thanks for keeping this kind of stuff on the web.
We should note that the #conservative #GOP does not do anything to bring these kind of new laws to the attention of the voters.
Ask a republican to explain,as your representative, their support this type of stuff.
Let's make sure everyone knows what they are doing in the back rooms.
#democracy is more than voting.
The point is chaos.
And if Rs can beat up on NY, so much the better.
@CelloMomOnCars I do think it is not chaos they are after, though, or at least not solely. A good chunk of their base is genuinely convinced that they are in a struggle of good vs. evil for the souls of humankind.
Which is worse, in many ways, because religious zealotry is easy to weaponise by chaos agents, and much harder to counter than just naked greed.
Conceptually, I love the idea of turning the insurance industry against the fossil fuel industry. But I do hope they both lose.
CelloMom On Cars
AL
Sindarina, Edge Case Detective
troy_friz_zell