Updated 2/25/2022 below
In October, I told you about an attempt by Vermont’s largest single consumer of energy to skirt climate and clean energy requirements. Chipmaker GlobalFoundries petitioned the state to become a “self-managed utility,” declaring it should be exempt from the state’s renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.
This was an outrageous request for special treatment by a multi-billion dollar, multinational corporation that no other company or ratepayer gets. And it would have come at a cost to the public – Vermont businesses, utilities, and ratepayers – who are working to meet the requirements of the Global Warming Solutions Act.
Last week, thanks to enormous pressure from the public and the tireless work of our allies – especially the dedicated attorneys at the Conservation Law Foundation – the Vermont Public Utilities Commission rejected this request.
This is a big win for the climate, and corporate accountability, and it wouldn’t have happened without the support of VPIRG members like you.
Over 750 VPIRG members signed our petition to block this dirty deal, and some even showed up outside GlobalFoundries to take direct action protesting the move. With our allies at Renewable Energy Vermont, the Vermont Sierra Club, Conservation Law Foundation, Rights & Democracy VT, Vermont Youth Lobby, 350VT, and a number of legislators who weighed in with the PUC, we were able to rally public pressure to send a clear message – everyone needs to do their part to address the climate crisis.
Thank you for helping make this victory happen.
UPDATE: February 25th, 2022
GlobalFoundries has announced that they are still planning to move forward as a self-managed utility, but will need to comply with the same renewable energy and pollution reduction requirements that any other utility would have to. No corporation, no matter how powerful, should be exempted from Vermont’s renewable energy and pollution reduction requirements. The PUC\’s decision ensures that exemption won’t happen.