House Energy chair outlines calendar, ENDICAP report and low‑cost option to stand up a summer task force

Representative Kathleen James, chair of the House Energy & Digital Infrastructure committee, used the committee’s remaining time on Feb. 12 to brief members on near‑term scheduling and options for a supplemental task force. She said three bills the committee considered are moving toward the floor in the coming days and that the committee has roughly three weeks before crossover to decide which items to advance.

James said she has been waiting for the Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (ENDICAP) annual report, which she expects to be published Feb. 14; the commissioner will present the report to the committee next week. She described a proposal to use an existing joint legislative body (the Joint Carbon Emissions Reduction committee) as a low‑cost vehicle to convene summer and fall work on Vermont’s energy future, noting that the joint committee is already funded and could be stood up for roughly $14,000 in per diems rather than forming a new task force that could cost substantially more.

James said Legislative Council and staff (including Scott Moore) can advise the committee about statutory authority and funding arrangements to operationalize the approach. She asked members to consider whether the committee needs to pass a directive before crossover to ensure summer work occurs, or whether staff can accomplish the same outcome without new statutory language. The committee paused to consider next steps and off‑line drafting.