State lawmakers in Vermont’s House of Representatives voted to pass a bill on Wednesday that, if signed by the governor, would establish the state’s first environmental justice policy. 

S.148, as amended by the House, passed on a voice vote and is now headed back to the Senate for final approval before it goes to the governor’s desk. 

The proposed policy would require state agencies to address environmental burdens — such as pollution and the impacts of climate change — that disproportionately impact people of color, people who have low incomes, people with disabilities and others in Vermont. 

State officials would use a mapping tool to identify communities that are most at-risk from environmental burdens and face the biggest barriers to environmental benefits, such as access to green space or renewable energy. 

With help from two new bodies — the Environmental Justice Advisory Council and the Interagency Environmental Justice Committee — state agencies would be directed to invest more in communities facing negative environmental impacts. 

The legislation establishes a goal of inviting more than 50% of the 11-member Environmental Justice Advisory Council, which would be part of the Agency of Natural Resources, directly from environmental justice communities. 

Agencies would also be required to provide opportunities for those who live in affected communities to participate in decision-making processes that could impact them. 

“In sum, S.148 is Vermont’s opportunity to move upstream to address causes rather than symptoms,” said Rep. Kari Dolan, D-Waitsfield, who presented the bill to lawmakers on Tuesday. 

Julie Moore, secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, which would be responsible for implementing the bill, has expressed concerns that the amount of money that’s being allocated for the work isn’t enough — $700,000, down from $3 million earlier in the session. 

Members of environmental groups applauded the bill’s passage in the House Wednesday. 

“For too long, low-income Vermonters and Vermonters of color have borne a disproportionate share of environmental burdens and had less access to a healthy environment and cost- and carbon-cutting clean energy opportunities,” said Johanna Miller, energy and climate program director at the Vermont Natural Resources Council. “S.148 is critical to truly begin addressing these disparities, and today’s decisive House vote is the next essential step to move this good bill into law.”

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