BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont may be at the forefront of climate action, but it’s not immune to change under President-elect Donald Trump.

When it comes to climate action under another Trump presidency, Middlebury College professor Chris Klyza says Vermont’s best hope is to stay stagnant.

“The best-case scenario is that we’re not gonna move backward, but we’re surely not gonna move forward,” said Klyza.

However, Klyza suspects things will change.

If Trump follows through on his promise to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, Vermonters would lose federal incentives to buy sustainable tech like the $7,500 credit for a new electric vehicle.

Klyza worries that would stall Vermont’s adoption progress.

“Pulling that federal funds, I think for lots of people, it’s gonna make a significant difference,” he said.

Other experts worry about the impacts on disaster response.

Elena Mihaly with the Conservation Law Foundation points to Trump’s threats to cut off wildfire aid to California if state officials don’t support him.

She says a similar threat to Vermont– which received more than $68 million in 2023 FEMA flood assistance and needs even more– would be devastating.

“I could certainly imagine a scenario where, if there’s something that Trump wants out of Vermont, he could use that as a lever,” said Mihaly.

In the midst of potential setbacks, the two say it’s critical to reengage regionally to safeguard climate action progress across the Northeast.

“We’re going to be fighting as hard as we can to prevent rollbacks and erosion of those important federal protections,” said Mihaly.

Eyes are also on state shakeup as bills like the Clean Heat Standard hang in the balance after Democrats lost their legislative supermajority.

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