MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) - Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed a new ten-page executive order Wednesday with the goal of making it easier to build new housing in the state.

“For years, I’ve been sounding the alarm about the housing shortage in Vermont. And despite many agreeing, we haven’t done anywhere near enough to make a real dent in the number of homes we need," he said.

The order follows legislation passed earlier this year by the Vermont legislature.

The governor's order requires state boards to expedite residential housing and shelter project reviews. It also effectively makes the energy code more lenient by allowing new buildings to comply with older 2020 standards in place of the current ones, and narrows the scope of environmental reviews.

Vermont House Democrats comment

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