Landmark Vermont Climate Bill Becomes Law Over Governor Concerns

A first-in-the-nation law to make Vermont’s largest polluters pay for climate change-related damage became law Thursday, dealing a historic blow to fossil fuel companies that are gearing up for lawsuits.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) allowed the bill to become law without his signature, writing in a letter to the Vermont secretary of state that he was “deeply concerned” about the possible short- and long-term effects of the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program. The measure will direct fossil fuel companies that emitted more than 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas over the last three decades to pay into ...