Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 3 D · 2 R cosponsors

S 50 — An act relating to increasing the size of solar net metering projects that qualify for expedited registration

Last action — Senate Message: Signed by Governor 5/28/2025

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 05, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on May 29, 2025.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 76% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    5 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 D · 2 R) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

82 added · 78 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Bill S.50 includes an emphasis on streamlining the registration process for small net metering systems, specifically those up to 25 kilowatts. It allows for an expedited registration procedure, enabling these smaller systems to get approval faster, which can encourage more people to adopt solar energy. This change is important because it aims to facilitate quicker access to renewable energy solutions, ultimately supporting environmental goals and making solar energy more accessible to Vermonters.

→
Previous
Latest
AS PASSED BY SENATE S.50 Page 1 of 4 S.50 An act relating to increasing the size of solar net metering projects that qualify for expedited registration It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.50 Page 1 of 4 S.50 Introduced by Senators Watson, Beck, Bongartz, Hardy and Williams Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy Date:
February 5, 2025 Subject:
Public service;
energy;
renewable energy;
solar energy;
net metering Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to increase the size of solar net metering projects that qualify for an expedited approval process from 15 kW to 25 kW.
An act relating to increasing the size of solar net metering projects that qualify for expedited registration It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
§ 8010 is amended to read:
§ 8010 is amended to read:
* * * (3) The rules shall establish standards and procedures governing application for and issuance or revocation of a certificate of public good for net metering systems under the provisions of section 248 of this title.
* * * (3) The rules shall establish standards and procedures governing application for and issuance or revocation of a certificate of public good for BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.50 Page 2 of 4 net metering systems under the provisions of section 248 of this title.
VT LEG #381720 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.50 Page 2 of 4 (i) the requirement of subdivision 248(a)(4)(C) of this title to provide a copy of the application to the Agencies of Agriculture, Food and Markets and of Natural Resources;
(i) the requirement of subdivision 248(a)(4)(C) of this title to provide a copy of the application to the Agencies of Agriculture, Food and Markets and of Natural Resources;
(G) The rules shall establish an expedited registration procedure for net metering systems 25 kilowatts and less in size.
(G) The rules shall establish an expedited registration procedure for net metering systems up to 25 kilowatts25 kilowatts and less in size.
* * * Sec.
* * * BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.50 Page 3 of 4 Sec.
RULEMAKING The Public Utility Commission shall update its Rule 5.100 to allow ground mounted photovoltaic net metering systems of 25 kilowatts and less to qualify for expedited registration.
RULEMAKING The Public Utility Commission shall update its Rule 5.100 to allow ground mounted photovoltaic net metering systems of not more than 25 kW of 25 kilowatts and less to qualify for expedited registration.
It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Commission shall allow systems of 25 kilowatts and less to use the expedited registration before the rules are updated.
It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Commission shall allow systems of not more than kW of 25 kilowatts and less to use the expedited registration before the rules are updated.
§ 4412 is amended to read:
§ 4412 is amended to read:
§ 4412.
§ 4412.
REQUIRED PROVISIONS AND PROHIBITED EFFECTS * * * (15) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of sections 2291a and 4413 of this title or 30 V.S.A.
REQUIRED PROVISIONS AND PROHIBITED EFFECTS * * * (15) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of sections 2291a and of this title or 30 V.S.A.
chapter 5 or 89, in a municipality that has adopted a VT LEG #381720 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.50 Page 3 of 4 bylaw to establish setback requirements for development, those requirements shall apply to a net metering system that is 25 kW or less in size that has been registered with the Public Utility Commission as part of expedited review under 30 V.S.A.
chapter 5 or 89, in a municipality that has adopted a bylaw to establish setback requirements for development, those requirements shall apply to a net metering system that is 25 kW or less in size that has been registered with the Public Utility Commission as part of expedited review under 30 V.S.A.
§ 248.
§ 248.
§ 8010 is amended to read:
§ 8010 is amended to read:
VT LEG #381720 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.50 Page 4 of 4 (i) if the customer retains the attributes, reduces the value of the credit provided under this section for electricity generated by the customer’s net metering system by an appropriate amount;
(i) if the customer retains the attributes, reduces the value of the credit provided under this section for electricity generated by the customer’s net metering system by an appropriate amount;
and (ii) if the customer transfers the attributes to the interconnecting provider, requires the provider to retain them for application toward compliance with sections 8004 and 8005 of this title;
and BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.50 Page 4 of 4 (ii) if the customer transfers the attributes to the interconnecting provider, requires the provider to retain them for application toward compliance with sections 8004 and 8005 of this title;
5.
35.
VT LEG #381720 v.1
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (7)
  • As Passed By the Senate (OfficialOpens in a new window) View text pdf
  • As Passed By the Senate (UnofficialOpens in a new window) View text pdf
  • As Passed by Both House and Senate (OfficialOpens in a new window) View text pdf
  • As Passed by Both House and Senate (UnofficialOpens in a new window) View text pdf
  • As EnactedOpens in a new window View text pdf
  • Act SummaryOpens in a new window View text Current pdf
  • Introduced As IntroducedOpens in a new window pdf

Amendments

2 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Senate Message: Signed by Governor 5/28/2025

  2. Signed by Governor on May 28, 2025

  3. Delivered to Governor on May 22, 2025

  4. As passed by Senate and House

  5. House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment

  6. Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment concurred in

  7. Action Calendar: Unfinished Business

  8. Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment to House Proposal of Amendment

  9. Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment to House Proposal of Amendment

  10. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment thereto

  11. House proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment as moved by Senator(s) Watson

  12. House proposal of amendment; text

  13. Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Watson

  14. Unfinished Business/House Proposal of Amendment

  15. New Business/House Proposal of Amendment

  16. House proposal of amendment

  17. Entered on Notice Calendar

  18. House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment

  19. Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

  20. Rep. Harrison of Chittenden asked and was granted leave to withdraw amendment

  21. Rep. Harrison of Chittenden and McCoy of Poultney moved to amend the House proposal of amendment

  22. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  23. Third Reading ordered

  24. Report of Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure agreed to

  25. Point of order ruled well taken

  26. Rep. Bartholomew of Hartland raised a Point of Order

  27. Rep. North of Ferrisburgh moved to amend the report of the Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure

  28. Rep. James of Manchester reported for the Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure

  29. Read second time

  30. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  31. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  32. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure

  33. Read 3rd time & passed

  34. Pending third reading, bill amended as moved by Senator(s) Perchlik

  35. Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator Perchlik

  36. New Business/Third Reading

  37. Reported favorably by Senator Williams for Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, read 2nd time and 3rd reading ordered

  38. Favorable report by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy

  39. New Business/Second Reading

  40. Favorable report by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy

  41. Second Reading

  42. Entered on Notice Calendar

  43. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

5 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 185 not signed on

Sponsors (5)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (185)

185 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 185 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

environment energy
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 50?
S 50 is sponsored by Terry K Williams (Republican), Ruth E Hardy (Democrat), Seth Bongartz (Democrat), Scott L Beck (Republican), and Anne E Watson (Democrat/Progressive).
What is the current status of S 50?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 05, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track S 50?
Track S 50 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on S 50

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of S 50

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →