Vermont this week became the first U.S. state to pass a law that requires oil and gas companies to pay for climate change-related damage caused by their emissions, a move that is sure to prompt legal challenges from the energy industry.

Gov. Phil Scott allowed the bill to become law without his signature late Thursday, citing concerns about the costs and outcome of the small state taking on “Big Oil” alone in a long and expensive fight.

“With just $600,000 appropriated by the Legislature to complete an analysis that will need to withstand intense legal scrutiny from a well-funded defense, we are not positioning ourselves for success,” Scott said in a letter to state lawmakers.

But “I understand the desire to seek funding to mitigate the effects of climate change that has hurt our state in so many ways,” the governor wrote.

The American Petroleum Institute has said it is “extremely concerned that the [law] retroactively imposes costs and liability on prior activities that were legal, violates equal protection and due process rights by holding companies responsible for the actions of society at large; and is pre-empted by federal law.”

New York, California, Massachusetts and Maryland are considering similar legislation.

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RICHFORD — Vermont State Police are calling for assistance from the community in identifying a suspect involved in the recent theft of two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in Richford.

The first theft occurred on May 28 at approximately 7:25 a.m. on Dubois Drive in Highgate, where an ATV was stolen and later discovered after an accident on private property.

A trail camera captured an image of the suspect, described as wearing black pants and a grey sweatshirt, at the crash site.

In a separate incident the following day, the same trail camera recorded a person driving another ATV, which had been reported stolen from a nearby garage.

The individual in the image was dressed in jeans and a black vest.

The stolen vehicles have been returned to their rightful owners.

Authorities have not yet identified the accused and are urging anyone with information to come forward to aid in the investigation.

Witnesses or those with relevant information are encouraged to contact Vermont State Police at 802-524-5993.

Soundview Vermont Holdings LLC, a division of Marcal Paper but known by the name of Putney Paper, has closed.

The paper mill, located in downtown Putney, Vermont and its converting plant, together employ 127 people. It is the end of an era started more than 200 years ago when the first paper mill was established in Putney.

Stephen Prentiss, labor and employment counsel for Marcal, which is based in New Jersey, confirmed that the Vermont plant would be closing.

In a press release issued on behalf of the company, Soundview Vermont President Rob Baron said the papermaking division of the mill will cease operation immediately but that the paper converting division will remain open until the end of the 2024 first fiscal quarter, and the end of March.

“Despite our best efforts to sustain operations at this historic paper mill, we had no choice but to shut down operations,” said Baron in a statement.

“The high cost of energy in the region has made it unaffordable to keep our doors open. Our top priority moving forward will be supporting our incredible employees and their families throughout this difficult transition.”

Soundview Vermont acquired Putney Paper Mill in 2012. Over the past decade, the company said it has invested tens of millions of dollars to strengthen the mill, but the rising energy costs are “insurmountable to sustain operations.”