Environmental Justice at the Department of Public Service  | Department of Public Service Careers Document Library Public Advocacy Regulated Utilities Energy Efficiency Utilities Efficiency Renewables Telecommunications and Connectivity Consumer Information and Assistance Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) Environmental Justice at the Department of Public Service Access to critical services like affordable and reliable energy, telecommunications, or water impacts the wellbeing of people across Vermont. However, not everyone has the same access to these services.  This is often due to factors such as where people live and work or the communities they belong to. In 2022, Vermont passed its first Environmental Justice law (Act 154) . The purpose of the law is to improve the health and well-being of all Vermont residents by eliminating barriers to critical services and reducing environmental burdens such as unhealthy homes and buildings. This law seeks to ensure that no one in Vermont, because of their race, culture, or economic situation should: Experience more than their share of environmental burdens such as unaffordable energy burdens or Have access to fewer environmental benefits like clean or renewable energy or assistive telecommunications technologies It also emphasizes that all individuals, especially those most affected by environmental issues, should have the opportunity to participate in shaping and enforcing laws and policies related to these issues. Visit the Agency of Natural Resources website to learn more about the Vermont Environmental Justice Law. Working to Advance Environmental Justice The Department of Public Service (Department) is taking steps to meet the requirements of Environmental Justice Law. This includes reporting on environmental benefits and environmental justice complaints, as described below. Reporting on Investments that Deliver Environmental Benefits to Vermonters The Environmental Justice Law requires the Department to complete reports on who benefits from programs the Department runs. The first report required by the Law asks the Department to look at how it has delivered environmental benefits to Vermonters in the past three years. On February 12th, 2026, the Department published this report. Review the Department’s Environmental Benefit Baseline Spending report Work of the Department seeks to advance numerous environmental benefits identified in the Environmental Justice Law. These benefits include: access to affordable energy access to renewable energy access to healthy homes and buildings access to adaptive telecommunications technologies access to fulfilling and dignified jobs Review of the Department’s work revealed these environmental benefits are largely advanced through indirect investments of staff time. Inventorying the Department’s work identified a small number of programs that deliver environmental benefits through direct investments of funding. However, the programs identified are all supported through one-time or non-discretionary funds. Summaries of these programs are provided in Appendix A of the report. Reporting on Civil Rights and Environmental Justice Complaints The Environmental Justice Law also requires the Department to report on any Civil Rights or Environmental Justice complaints it receives and how those complaints are resolved. These reports are required every year, starting March 15, 2024. Visit the Agency of Natural Resources Environmental Justice Resource Library to review the Department’s annual reports. Visit Consumer Affairs and Public Information | Department of Public Service to learn more about reporting complaints and other helpful resources.