Vermont's New Governor Sticking with Renewable Energy Goal
MONTPELIER, Vt. -
Vermont's new Republican governor said Monday he would stick with his Democratic predecessor's long-term goal of getting 90 percent of the energy needed in the state from renewable sources by 2050.
But Gov. Phil Scott, highlighting the construction of a new solar power project in the parking lot of a Montpelier food cooperative, said he believed new technology would be needed to make it happen.
"When you look at projects like this and the way we've changed over the last decade in that regard I think it can be accomplished, but we're going to have to have some help in technology changes," Scott said.
While helping to inaugurate the "Solar Canopy" developed by the Waterbury-based SunCommon, Scott said the business fits in well with the top goal of his new administration, economic development. He said it also creates jobs that keep young people from leaving the state.
For several years, Vermont has been working toward some of the most aggressive renewable energy goals in the country. Scott's predecessor, Democrat Peter Shumlin, set the long-term goal.
Related News
Renewables generated more electricity than brown coal over summer, report finds
LONDON - Renewable energy generated more electricity than brown coal during Australia’s summer for the first time in 2017-18, according to a new report by Green Energy Markets.
Continued growth in solar pushed renewable generation in Australia to just under 10,000 gigawatt hours between December 2017 and February 2018. With the Hazelwood plant knocked out of the system last year, brown coal’s output in the same period was just over 9,100 GWh.
Renewables produced 40% more than gas over the period and was exceeded only by black coal.
#google#
The report, commissioned by GetUp, found renewables were generating particularly large amounts of electricity when…
