Vermont Department of Public Service

Benjamin 'Ben' Huffman, 88, died July 8, 2026, in Montpelier, Vermont, from polycystic kidney failure. He had a three-decade career in Vermont public policy, working with state leaders and contributing to legislative responses. Ben was married to Kristin Glaser for 50 years and had a career spanning roles in state planning, legislative counsel, and environmental policy studies.

Vermont spends nearly $4 million annually to keep seven petroleum-based power plants on standby, which operate about 10 hours yearly during peak demand. The state relies heavily on imported hydropower from Quebec but uses these fossil fuel plants as a backup during extreme weather. Ratepayer funds cover 10-20% of utility bills to maintain the plants, despite Vermont having the lowest energy-related CO2 emissions in the U.S.

The Vermont data center bill H.727 was vetoed by Gov. Phil Scott due to Senate amendments, including an 'energy transformation payment' criticized by experts as deterring businesses. The bill aimed to regulate data centers to address pollution, water contamination, and grid strain but failed after Senate changes undermined its viability.

The former Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant site in Vernon, closed in 2014 with over 100,000 tons of nuclear waste, is being considered for redevelopment by PowerTransitions. Potential projects include a data center, battery storage, or a small-scale nuclear reactor. NorthStar is decommissioning the site, while Vermont's regulatory process (Act 250) could delay approvals for years.

South Burlington's Planning Commission is addressing data center development through zoning amendments amid national debates over their energy and water consumption. Vermont faces challenges in attracting data centers due to high electricity costs and regulatory complexities, though regional developments could still impact the state.