New Vermont law requires oil companies pay for climate change damage - Straight Arrow News
New Vermont law requires oil companies pay for climate change damage
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14 hrs ago
By Lauren Taylor(Reporter), Zachary Hill(Video Editor)
The state of Vermont is breaking new ground by taking on the oil industry. The state passed a bill requiring fossil fuel companies to pay for damages that are caused by climate change. Vermont is the first state in the U.S. to make such a move.
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‘Game-changing’: Vermont becomes first state to require big oil to pay for climate damages
Click to see story on The Guardian
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Associated Press News
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on abc News
In historic move, Vermont becomes 1st state to pass law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay for climate change damages
Click to see story on CBS News
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Coast Reporter
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Sask Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Flin Flon Reminder
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Star Tribune
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Rocky Mountain Outlook
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on SooToday.com
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Barrie Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to charge oil companies for extreme weather damage
Click to see story on Mass Live
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change – Boston News, Weather, Sports
Click to see story on WHDH
After catastrophic floods, Vermont becomes first state to enact law requiring oil companies to pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on PBS NewsHour
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on The Virginian Pilot
Vermont passes law requiring oil firms to pay for climate-related damages
Click to see story on WCSH
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on The Delaware County Daily Times
Vermont set to become first state in the nation to ‘make big oil pay’
Click to see story on VT Digger
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Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on KVIA
Vermont becomes first state to require oil companies to pay for climate change damage
Click to see story on The Hill
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Winnipeg Free Press
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Washington Top News
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on WPLG
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Pioneer Press
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on WKMG
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Click on Detroit
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on San Diego Union Tribune
Vermont enacts law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on NY1
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on WCBD
Vt. becomes 1st state requiring oil companies to pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on WCAX-TV
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on The Sun (Lowell)
Vermont becomes first US state to make Big Oil pay for climate damagesFinancial Times
Click to see story on Financial Times
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Daily Freeman
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Chico Enterprise-Record
Vermont passes law requiring oil firms to pay for climate-related damages
Click to see story on WBIR
Landmark Vermont ‘climate superfund’ law would make polluters pay for climate change
Click to see story on The Christian Science Monitor
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on WATE
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Times-Standard
Vermont Bill to Make Big Oil Pay for Climate Crisis Becomes Law
Click to see story on Seven Days
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Daily Local News
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Red Bluff Daily News
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on The Pottstown Mercury
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Sentinel and Enterprise
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on The Times Herald
Click to close
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Financial Post
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on MY Northwest
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Boston Herald
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on NECN
Vermont Makes Big Oil Pay for Climate Change Damage in Landmark Law
Click to see story on Oil Price
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Odessa American
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Untracked Bias
Vermont becomes first state to require oil firms pay for climate change damage
Click to see story on Shropshire Star
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on My Mother Lode
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Airdrie City View
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Orillia Matters
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Newmarket Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Midland Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Collingwood Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Thorold Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Elora Fergus Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Tribune Chronicle
Vermont takes bold steps to combat climate change
Click to see story on EHN
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Nashoba Valley Voice
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Bradford Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Timmins Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on thealbertan.com
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67 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
67
Leaning Left
19
Center
26
Leaning Right
7
Last Updated
20 hours ago
This bill comes nearly one year after Vermont suffered catastrophic flooding, which washed out roads and bridges, caused mudslides, and resulted in consequential property loss of homes and businesses.
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“For too long, giant fossil fuel companies have knowingly lit the match of climate disruption without being required to do a thing to put out the fire,” Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), said. “Finally, maybe for the first time anywhere, Vermont is going to hold the companies most responsible for climate-driven floods, fires and heat waves financially accountable for a fair share of the damages they’ve caused.”
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, R, allowed the bill to become law without his signature. He said that though he understands the desire to seek payments from oil companies, he’s concerned.
“Taking on ‘Big Oil’ should not be taken lightly,” Scott wrote in a letter to the General Assembly. “And with just $600,000 appropriated by the legislature to complete an analysis that will need to withstand intense legal scrutiny from a well-funded defense, we are not positioning ourselves for success.”
The law requires the Vermont state treasurer to provide a report by January 2026 on the cost of greenhouse gases on the state from Jan. 1, 1995, to Dec. 31, 2024.
The state will create a “Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program” which would fine “responsible parties” and use the revenue for climate change projects. Those projects could include updating roads, bridges and railroads, upgrading stormwater systems and sewage treatment plants, and more.
The American Petroleum Institute responded in a statement. The Vermont law “retroactively imposes costs and liability on prior activities that were legal, violates equal protection and due process rights by holding companies responsible for the actions of society at large; and is preempted by federal law.”
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Though Vermont is the first in the nation to pass this kind of law, New York, Massachusetts and Maryland are all considering similar legislation.
Climate Change,
Fossil Fuels,
Oil,
Vermont
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
THE STATE OF VERMONT IS BREAKING NEW GROUND — TAKING ON THE OIL INDUSTRY.
THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL REQUIRING FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES TO PAY FOR DAMAGES THEY SAY ARE CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. THE FIRST STATE IN THE U-S TO MAKE SUCH A MOVE.
THIS – NEARLY ONE YEAR AFTER VERMONT SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FLOODING – WHICH WASHED OUT ROADS AND BRIDGES, CAUSED MUDSLIDES, AND RESULTED IN CONSEQUENTIAL PROPERTY LOSS OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES.
[PAUL BURNS]
“For too long, giant fossil fuel companies have knowingly lit the match of climate disruption without being required to do a thing to put out the fire,” said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG). “Finally, maybe for the first time anywhere, Vermont is going to hold the companies most responsible for climate-driven floods, fires and heat waves financially accountable for a fair share of the damages they’ve caused.”
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
VERMONT REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR -PHIL SCOTT- ALLOWED THE BILL TO BECOME LAW WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE – SAYING THOUGH HE UNDERSTANDS THE DESIRE TO SEEK PAYMENTS FROM OIL COMPANIES, HE’S CONCERNED.
[PHIL SCOTT]
“Taking on ‘Big Oil’ should not be taken lightly. And with just $600,000 appropriated by the Legislature to complete an analysis that will need to withstand intense legal scrutiny from a well-funded defense, we are not positioning ourselves for success.” SCOTT WROTE IN A LETTER TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
THE LAW REQUIRES THE VERMONT STATE TREASURER TO PROVIDE A REPORT BY JANUARY 2026 – ON THE COST OF GREENHOUSE GASSES ON THE STATE FROM JANUARY 1ST 1995 TO DECEMBER 31ST 2024.
THE STATE WILL CREATE A “CLIMATE SUPERFUND COST RECOVERY PROGRAM” WHICH WOULD FINE SO-CALLED “RESPONSIBLE PARTIES” AND USE THE REVENUE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTS.
THOSE PROJECTS COULD INCLUDE UPDATING ROADS, BRIDGES AND RAILROADS, UPGRADING STORMWATER SYSTEMS AND SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, AMONG OTHERS.
THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE RESPONDED IN A STATEMENT SAYING THE VERMONT LAW “RETROACTIVELY IMPOSES COSTS AND LIABILITY ON PRIOR ACTIVITIES THAT WERE LEGAL, VIOLATES EQUAL PROTECTION AND DUE PROCESS RIGHTS BY HOLDING COMPANIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF SOCIETY AT LARGE; AND IS PREEMPTED BY FEDERAL LAW.”
THOUGH VERMONT IS THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO PASS THIS KIND OF LAW, NEW YORK, MASSACHUSETTS AND MARYLAND ARE ALL CONSIDERING SIMILAR LEGISLATION.
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Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below.
Learn more about this data
Left 37%
Center 50%
Right 14%
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
+0
Click to close
‘Game-changing’: Vermont becomes first state to require big oil to pay for climate damages
Click to see story on The Guardian
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Associated Press News
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on abc News
In historic move, Vermont becomes 1st state to pass law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay for climate change damages
Click to see story on CBS News
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Coast Reporter
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Sask Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Flin Flon Reminder
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Star Tribune
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Rocky Mountain Outlook
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on SooToday.com
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Barrie Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to charge oil companies for extreme weather damage
Click to see story on Mass Live
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change – Boston News, Weather, Sports
Click to see story on WHDH
After catastrophic floods, Vermont becomes first state to enact law requiring oil companies to pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on PBS NewsHour
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on The Virginian Pilot
Vermont passes law requiring oil firms to pay for climate-related damages
Click to see story on WCSH
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on The Delaware County Daily Times
Vermont set to become first state in the nation to ‘make big oil pay’
Click to see story on VT Digger
Click to close
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on KVIA
Vermont becomes first state to require oil companies to pay for climate change damage
Click to see story on The Hill
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Winnipeg Free Press
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Washington Top News
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on WPLG
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Pioneer Press
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on WKMG
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Click on Detroit
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on San Diego Union Tribune
Vermont enacts law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on NY1
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on WCBD
Vt. becomes 1st state requiring oil companies to pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on WCAX-TV
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on The Sun (Lowell)
Vermont becomes first US state to make Big Oil pay for climate damagesFinancial Times
Click to see story on Financial Times
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Daily Freeman
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Chico Enterprise-Record
Vermont passes law requiring oil firms to pay for climate-related damages
Click to see story on WBIR
Landmark Vermont ‘climate superfund’ law would make polluters pay for climate change
Click to see story on The Christian Science Monitor
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on WATE
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Times-Standard
Vermont Bill to Make Big Oil Pay for Climate Crisis Becomes Law
Click to see story on Seven Days
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Daily Local News
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Red Bluff Daily News
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on The Pottstown Mercury
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Sentinel and Enterprise
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on The Times Herald
Click to close
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Financial Post
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on MY Northwest
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Boston Herald
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on NECN
Vermont Makes Big Oil Pay for Climate Change Damage in Landmark Law
Click to see story on Oil Price
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Odessa American
Click to close
Far
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
Vermont becomes first state to require oil firms pay for climate change damage
Click to see story on Shropshire Star
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on My Mother Lode
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Airdrie City View
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Orillia Matters
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Newmarket Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Midland Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Collingwood Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Thorold Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Elora Fergus Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Tribune Chronicle
Vermont takes bold steps to combat climate change
Click to see story on EHN
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Nashoba Valley Voice
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Bradford Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to require oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on Timmins Today
Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change
Click to see story on thealbertan.com
Click to close
67 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
67
Leaning Left
19
Center
26
Leaning Right
7
Last Updated
20 hours ago
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