Vermont Statutes Title 30. Public Service, § 8128. Clean heat standard technical advisory group

(a) The Commission shall establish the Clean Heat Standard Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to assist the Commission in the ongoing management of the Clean Heat Standard. Its duties shall include:

(b) The Clean Heat Standard Technical Advisory Group shall consist of up to 15 members appointed by the Commission. The Commission shall establish the procedure for the TAG, including member term lengths and meeting procedures. Members of the TAG shall be appointed by the Commission and shall include the Department of Public Service, the Agency of Natural Resources, the Department of Health, and parties who have, or whose representatives have, expertise in one or more of the following areas: technical and analytical expertise in measuring lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, energy modeling and data analysis, clean heat measures and energy technologies, sustainability and non-greenhouse gas emissions strategies designed to reduce and avoid impacts to the environment, mitigating environmental burdens as defined in 3 V.S.A. § 6002, public health impacts of air quality and climate change, delivery of heating fuels, land use changes, deforestation and forest degradation, and climate change mitigation policy and law. The Commission shall accept and review motions to join the TAG from interested parties who have, or whose representatives have, expertise in one or more of the areas listed in this subsection. Members who are not otherwise compensated by their employer shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement for expenses under 32 V.S.A. § 1010.

(c) The Commission shall hire a third-party consultant responsible for developing clean heat measure characterizations and relevant assumptions, including CO2e lifecycle emissions analyses. The TAG shall provide input and feedback on the consultant's work. The Commission may use appropriated funds to hire the consultant.

(d) Emission analyses and associated assumptions developed by the consultant shall be reviewed and approved annually by the Commission. In reviewing the consultant's work, the Commission shall provide a public comment period on the work. The Commission may approve or adjust the consultant's work as it deems necessary based on its review and the public comments received.