Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: To Executive 2 D cosponsors

H 710 — An act relating to defining electricity generating facilities

Last action — House message: Governor vetoed bill on June 17, 2026

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

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 16, 2026. It awaits signature.

Vetoed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on May 29, 2026.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 66% · moderate confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    2 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

This bill defines what constitutes electricity generating facilities.

The bill aims to provide a clear definition of electricity generating facilities. This definition is important for regulatory purposes and may impact energy production and management.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

140 added · 64 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended bill H.710 clarifies the definition of what constitutes a "plant" for electricity generation from renewable sources. Specifically, it now emphasizes that multiple facilities using the same technology on adjoining land can be classified as a single plant, thereby simplifying regulation for similar types of energy projects. This change is important because it helps streamline the approval process for renewable energy projects, encouraging more efficient development and potentially speeding up the transition to cleaner energy sources.

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AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.710 Page 1 of 3 H.710 An act relating to defining electricity generating facilities It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.710 Page 1 of 7 H.710 Introduced by Representatives Campbell of St.
Johnsbury and James of Manchester Referred to Committee on Date:
Subject:
Public service;
utility companies;
renewable energy programs;
definitions;
plant Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to amend the definition of “plant” to clarify when the Public Utility Commission would consider multiple energy-generating facilities to be a single facility.
This bill would consider a plant with multiple energy-generating facilities to be a single facility if the facilities use the same electricity-generating technology and if the facilities are on the same parcel or contiguous parcels of land, unless an exception applies.
An act relating to defining electricity generating facilities It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
§ 8002 is amended to read:
§ 8002 is amended to read:
* * * (18) “Plant” means an independent technical facility that generates electricity from renewable energy.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.710 Page 2 of 7 * * * (18) “Plant” means an independent technical facility that generates electricity from renewable energy.
VT LEG #387506 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.710 Page 2 of 3 (i) are not located on the same parcel of land;
(i) are not located on the same parcel of land;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.710 Page 3 of 7 (i) are located on the same parcel of land where a common interest community is located;
(ii) are wired to offset consumption on separate billing meters;
and (iii) supply different retail customers.
(C) Exception for colocation of renewable energy program facilities.
More than one facility may be located on the same parcel or contiguous parcels with net-metering, Standard Offer Program facilities, or other Renewable Energy Standard Tier II facilities when:
(i) the facilities have separate points of interconnection;
and (ii) not more than the statutory capacity cap for net-metering or the statutory capacity cap for the Standard Offer Program is sited on the same parcel or contiguous parcels and a net-metering facility and a Standard Offer facility are not sited on the same parcel or contiguous parcels.
* * * (33) “Common interest community” means real estate described in a declaration with respect to which a person, by virtue of the person’s ownership of a unit, is obligated to pay for a share of real estate taxes on, insurance premiums, maintenance, or improvement of, or services or other expenses related to common elements, other units, or other real estate than that unit described in the declaration.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.710 Page 4 of 7 (34) “Contiguous” means sharing a property boundary with another parcel of land or being adjacent to that parcel of land and the two parcels are separated only by a road, recreation path, railway line, stream, or river.
(35) “Electricity-generating technology” means a method or system used to convert energy from one form into electric power, including wind, hydropower or water, solar, or biomass.
(36) “Point of interconnection” means the point on the interconnecting utility’s existing distribution system to which a facility proposes to interconnect.
Sec.
2.
EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
Sec.
1.
30 V.S.A.
§ 8002 is amended to read:
§ 8002.
DEFINITIONS As used in this chapter:
* * * (18) “Plant” means an independent technical facility that generates electricity from renewable energy.
A group of facilities, such as wind turbines, shall be considered one plant if the group is part of the same project and uses common equipment and infrastructure such as roads, control facilities, and connections to the electric grid.
Common ownership, contiguity in time of construction, and proximity of facilities to each other shall be relevant to BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.710 Page 5 of 7 determining whether a group of facilities is part of the same project.
Multiple electricity-generating facilities, regardless of when each is constructed, shall be considered one plant if the facilities use the same electricity-generating technology and are located on the same parcel or contiguous parcels of land.
Such facilities shall only be considered separate plants if they meet one of the following exceptions:
(A) Exception for individual net-metering and self-consumption.
Show all 50 changed rows (10 more)
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Applies if the facilities:
(i) are not located on the same parcel of land;
(ii) are wired to offset consumption on separate billing meters;
and (iii) supply different retail customers.
(B) Exception for multi-owner individual net-metering on the same parcel.
Applies if the facilities:
(C) Exception for colocation of facilities other than net-metering program or Standard Offer Program facilities.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.710 Page 6 of 7 (C) Exception for colocation of facilities other than net-metering program or Standard Offer Program facilities.
* * * (33) “Common interest community” means real estate described in a declaration with respect to which a person, by virtue of the person’s ownership of a unit, is obligated to pay for a share of real estate taxes on, insurance VT LEG #387506 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.710 Page 3 of 3 premiums, maintenance, or improvement of, or services or other expenses related to common elements, other units, or other real estate than that unit described in the declaration.
* * * (33) “Common interest community” means real estate described in a declaration with respect to which a person, by virtue of the person’s ownership of a unit, is obligated to pay for a share of real estate taxes on, insurance premiums, maintenance, or improvement of, or services or other expenses related to common elements, other units, or other real estate than that unit described in the declaration.
(36) “Point of interconnection” means the point on the interconnecting utility’s existing distribution system to which a facility proposes to interconnect.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.710 Page 7 of 7 (36) “Point of interconnection” means the point on the interconnecting utility’s existing distribution system to which a facility proposes to interconnect.
VT LEG #387506 v.1
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  • 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. House message: Governor vetoed bill on June 17, 2026

  2. Vetoed by the Governor on June 17, 2026

  3. Delivered to the Governor on June 12, 2026

  4. House message: House adopted Conference Committee report

  5. Committee of Conference report adopted (House bill)

  6. Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration, pending entry on Notice Calendar, as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney

  7. Senate Message: Report of Committee of Conference adopted

  8. Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth

  9. Committee of Conference report adopted

  10. Committee of Conference report submitted by Senator Watson for Committee, text

  11. Rules suspended & taken up for immediate consideration, on motion of Senator Baruth

  12. Senate Message: Committee of Conference members appointed

  13. Committee of Conference appointed: Senators Watson, Hardy, and Beck

  14. House message: House refused to concur in Senate proposal of amendment & requested Conference Committee; House Conference Committee members appointed

  15. Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney

  16. Speaker appointed Reps. James of Manchester, Sibilia of Dover, and Kleppner of Burlington as members of the Committee of Conference on the part of the House

  17. Senate proposal of amendment not concurred in and Committee of Conference requested upon motion of Rep. Kleppner of Burlington

  18. Which was disagreed to on a division; division results Yes, 42; No, 65

  19. Pending the question, Shall the House concur in the Senate proposal of amendment with further proposal of amendment thereto, as offered by Rep. Burtt of Cabot?, division demanded by Rep. Burtt of Cabot

  20. Rep. Burtt of Cabot moved to concur in the Senate proposal of amendment with a further amendment thereto

  21. Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration, pending entry on Notice Calendar, as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney

  22. Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

  23. Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth

  24. Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

  25. New Business/Third Reading

  26. 3rd reading ordered

  27. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, as amended, agreed to

  28. Proposal of amendment not agreed to

  29. Proposal of amendment by Senator(s) Heffernan; text

  30. Proposal of amendment by Senator(s) Watson agreed to

  31. Motion to substitue amendment agreed to

  32. Senator(s) Watson motion to substitute proposal of amendment; text

  33. Proposal of amendment by Senator(s) Ingalls; text

  34. Reported favorably by Senator Watson for Committee on Appropriations

  35. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Watson for Committee on Natural Resources and Energy

  36. Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Ingalls

  37. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

  38. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy

  39. Unfinished Business/Second Reading

  40. Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Ingalls

  41. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

  42. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy

  43. Unfinished Business/Second Reading

  44. Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Ingalls

  45. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

  46. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy

  47. New Business/Second Reading

  48. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

  49. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy

  50. Second Reading

  51. Entered on Notice Calendar

  52. Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31

  53. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy

  54. Second Reading

  55. Entered on Notice Calendar

  56. Committee on Finance relieved; bill committed to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy on motion of Senator Cummings

  57. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Finance

  58. Read third time and passed

  59. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  60. Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 69 of 138 to Pass -- Yeas = 108, Nays = 30

  61. Third Reading ordered

  62. Rep. Houghton of Essex Junction demanded yeas and nays

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

  64. Rep. Kleppner of Burlington reported for the Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure

  65. Read second time

  66. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  67. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

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

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 188 not signed on · 29 voted No

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (188)

188 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 188 →

"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

Votes

Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 69 of 138 to Pass -- Yeas = 108, Nays = 30

Passed 108 Yea · 30 Nay · 11 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 74106
Republican/Democrat 1101
Republican 232701
Unaffiliated 3102
Progressive/Democrat 3000
Independent 4001
Total 10830011
% of votes cast 72%20%0%7%
How each member voted (149)
Member Party Vote
Casey — Yea
Hooper — Yea
White — Yea
Casey — Nay
Hooper — Not Voting
White — Not Voting
Abbey Duke Democrat Yea
Alice M. M Emmons Democrat Yea
Alyssa Black Democrat Yea
Amy D Sheldon Democrat Yea
Angela Arsenault Democrat Yea
Barbara Rachelson Democrat Yea
Bram Kleppner Democrat Yea
Brian Minier Democrat Yea
Bridget M Burkhardt Democrat Yea
Carol Ode Democrat Yea
Charles A Kimbell Democrat Yea
Chea Waters Evans Democrat Yea
Christopher Morrow Democrat Yea
Daisy Berbeco Democrat Yea
Daniel A Noyes Democrat Yea
Dara Torre Democrat Yea
David K Durfee Democrat Yea
David W Yacovone Democrat Yea
Doug Bishop Democrat Yea
Edward "Teddy" Waszazak Democrat Yea
Edye Graning Democrat Yea
Ela Chapin Democrat Yea
Elizabeth L Burrows Democrat Not Voting
Emilie K Kornheiser Democrat Yea
Emilie Krasnow Democrat Not Voting
Emily Carris Duncan Democrat Yea
Emily J Long Democrat Yea
Erin Brady Democrat Yea
Esme Cole Democrat Yea
Gayle S Pezzo Democrat Yea
Golrang "Rey" Garofano Democrat Yea
Herb Olson Democrat Yea
Ian Goodnow Democrat Yea
James W Masland Democrat Yea
Jill L Krowinski Democrat Not Voting
John K O'Brien Democrat Yea
John L Bartholomew Democrat Yea
Jonathan Cooper Democrat Yea
Jubilee McGill Democrat Yea
Karen Lueders Democrat Yea
Karen N Dolan Democrat Yea
Kate Lalley Democrat Yea
Kate McCann Democrat Yea
Kate Nugent Democrat Yea
Kathleen C James Democrat Yea
Kevin "Coach" B Christie Democrat Not Voting
Kristi C Morris Democrat Yea
Larry Satcowitz Democrat Yea
Leanne Harple Democrat Yea
Leonora Dodge Democrat Yea
Leslie Goldman Democrat Yea
Lori Houghton Democrat Yea
Lucy Boyden Democrat Yea
Marc B Mihaly Democrat Yea
Martin J LaLonde Democrat Yea
Mary E. E Howard Democrat Yea
Mary-Katherine A Stone Democrat Yea
Matthew J Birong Democrat Yea
Michael Mrowicki Democrat Yea
Michael N Hoyt Democrat Not Voting
Michael Nigro Democrat Yea
Michelle Bos-Lun Democrat Yea
Mollie S. S Burke Democrat Yea
Monique Priestley Democrat Yea
Peter C Conlon Democrat Yea
Phil Pouech Democrat Yea
R. Scott Campbell Democrat Yea
Rebecca Holcombe Democrat Yea
Robert Hunter Democrat Yea
Robin P Scheu Democrat Yea
Sarah "Sarita" C Austin Democrat Yea
Saudia LaMont Democrat Yea
Shawn Sweeney Democrat Yea
Theresa A Wood Democrat Not Voting
Thomas S Stevens Democrat Yea
Tiffany Bluemle Democrat Yea
Timothy R. R Corcoran II Democrat Nay
Trevor J Squirrell Democrat Yea
Wendy A Critchlow Democrat Yea
William "Will" Greer Democrat Yea
Zon Eastes Democrat Yea
Anne B. B Donahue Independent Yea
Jed Lipsky Independent Yea
Joseph Parsons Independent Not Voting
Laura H Sibilia Independent Yea
Troy Headrick Independent Yea
Brian J Cina Progressive/Democrat Yea
Chloe Tomlinson Progressive/Democrat Yea
Kate Logan Progressive/Democrat Yea
Allen "Penny" R Demar Republican Nay
Anthony "Tony" Micklus Republican Yea
Beth M Quimby Republican Nay
Brenda Steady Republican Yea
Carolyn W Branagan Republican Yea
Chris A Taylor Republican Yea
Chris A Taylor Republican Nay
Chris Brown Republican Yea
Chris Keyser Republican Nay
Christopher "Chris" A Pritchard Republican Yea
Christopher Howland Republican Nay
David "Dave" Bosch Republican Yea
Deborah "Debbie" C Dolgin Republican Nay
Debra L Powers Republican Nay
Eileen G Dickinson Republican Nay
Eric Maguire Republican Nay
Francis M McFaun Republican Yea
Gina M Galfetti Republican Nay
Gregory "Greg" Burtt Republican Nay
James A Gregoire Republican Yea
John Kascenska Republican Yea
Joseph "Joe" Luneau Republican Nay
Joshua Dobrovich Republican Nay
Kenneth "Ken" L Wells Republican Nay
Kenneth W Goslant Republican Nay
Kevin C Winter Republican Nay
Larry Labor Republican Nay
Leland J Morgan Republican Yea
Lisa A Hango Republican Yea
Mark A Higley Republican Nay
Martha A Feltus Republican Nay
Mary A. A Morrissey Republican Nay
Matt E Walker Republican Nay
Michael "Mike" Southworth Republican Nay
Michael "Mike" Tagliavia Republican Nay
Michael Boutin Republican Yea
Michael J Marcotte Republican Yea
Michael R Morgan Republican Yea
Patricia A McCoy Republican Yea
Richard J Bailey Republican Not Voting
Richard M Nelson Republican Nay
Rob North Republican Yea
Sandra "Sandy" H Pinsonault Republican Yea
Thomas "Tom" F Charlton Republican Yea
Thomas B Burditt Republican Yea
Todd Nielsen Republican Nay
VL L Coffin IV Republican Yea
Wayne A Laroche Republican Yea
William P Canfield Republican Yea
Woodman H Page Republican Nay
Zachary J Harvey Republican Nay
Alicia Malay Republican/Democrat Not Voting
Ashley R Bartley Republican/Democrat Yea
Thomas Oliver Republican/Democrat Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

technology 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 H 710?
H 710 is sponsored by Kathleen C James (Democrat) and R. Scott Campbell (Democrat).
What is the current status of H 710?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 16, 2026. It awaits signature.
Where can I track H 710?
Track H 710 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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