Senate Advances Renewable Energy Bill

DAVE GRAM

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Senate on Wednesday advanced a bill that would allow cities and towns to help property owners finance renewable energy and efficiency improvements.

The bill would encourage cities and towns to set up programs that would enable property owners to install wind, solar and other energy projects and repay the cost to the municipalities over 20 years.

Sen. Robert Hartwell, D-Bennington, told his colleagues that California, Colorado and Virginia had passed similar legislation and that similar bills were pending in several other states.

The idea is to establish what amounts to low-interest loans for homeowners to pay for energy improvements ranging from solar-power systems to new and more efficient boilers. If the property is sold, the balance owed would not have to be paid off as with a conventional mortgage; instead the new owner would assume the payments as would happen with property taxes, he said.

Meanwhile, a House committee neared completion of its work on a renewable energy bill with a broader set of goals.