But it’s not too late
by Guy Page
Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth on Tuesday chastised Republicans for not doing enough to fight climate change, and for the press for not framing the issue as ‘Democrats fight climate change, Republican don’t.’
in 2010, as a college prof and independent journalist (“Vermont Daily Briefing” and VPR commentator), Baruth signed an influential letter calling for the shutdown of Vermont’s largest ever zero-carbon emitting power plant. This plant produced a third of Vermont’s electricity with zero emissions.
In 2010, Vermont was living the zero-carbon emissions dream, at least in its electricity usage. Between hydro power from Quebec and the 300-plus MW of this instate, carbon-free, extremely low-cost power plant, Vermont had the lowest carbon footprint in the U.S. for electricity production.
Now almost half of our electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels.
The letter noted that the Legislature had the power of regulatory life and death over the plant. The letter, signed by then-journalist Baruth and many others, said “we want the legislature to use that power to close the plant in 2012.”
That plant, of course, was Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. The Democrat-controlled, climate change hair-on-fire 2011 Vermont Senate couldn’t do enough to force the closure of its largest, more affordable, most reliable source of carbon-free electricity production in the history of the state. Never mind that VY was affordable, it was (unlike wind/solar) already there, and we needed it.
Today, Baruth’s home in Burlington is powered by a wood-chip burning plant, the source of more carbon emissions than any power plant in the state. Yet we haven’t heard Baruth squawk about McNeil. Because, well, it’s affordable, it’s there and we (Burlington residents anyway) need it.
Republicans, most of them anyway, supported VY because it made clean, affordable, reliable electricity, the way former Democratic Gov. Thomas Salmon said it would. But okay, get over it, some might say. VY is a cold hole in the ground. Time to get with the Clean Heating Standard program and build more solar panels and wind turbines and install more heat pumps. And while we’re at it, soak ratepayers for up to $1 billion to renovate the state’s power grid.
But if the epic climate fail that was the forced closure of VY taught us anything, it taught us to follow the money. The biggest backers of closing VY was the renewable power lobby. The biggest backer of the Clean Heat Standard is – you guessed it – the same folks on the board of VPIRG. These are the same people whose companies now stand to reap big contracts for the solar arrays and wind farms built over the objections of the communities due to mandates they pushed through the Legislature.
Why not instead…..
Admit that hydro power from Quebec really is renewable, carbon-free electricity? Why not welcome more of it to Vermont? They have it, we need it, make it happen, Phils (Scott and Baruth). It’s cheap and grid upgrades will be minimal, compared to the distributed power nightmare redo.
Write a good enough contract with HQ and you could probably fund much or all of the intended electrification and home insulation by adding a cent or two per kilowatt.
Welcome the purchase of more zero-carbon nuclear power from the two remaining nuclear plants in New England, Seabrook (NH) and Millstone (CT)?
Allow Vermonters to choose how they heat their homes and get to work? Cars and furnaces are already far more efficient. Natural gas, a low-carbon emitter, has effectively replaced oil as the home heating fuel of choice (or would if lawmakers and regulators would get out of its way).
Improving technology and national regulatory changes have already greatly reduced our state’s carbon footprint.
In other words, Sen. Baruth – ‘fess up that you and your colleagues were too picky about your flavor of low-carbon electricity. Politely say ‘no’ to the board of VPIRG and yes to Vermonters who just want clean, reliable, affordable power.
Editor Guy Page was the communications director for the Vermont Energy Partnership, which supported the relicensing of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant.
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Categories: Commentary
Great article Guy, but Marxist Sen. baruth will fess up when Pigs Fly!
I know huh?
We’ve been constantly fighting for climate change in Montpelier, we want the climate free of Marxists and NWO Pimps……we’ve been fighting this climate because it’s a perfect breeding climate for RHINO’s which we hate too!
We hate the political climate of Vermont!!!!! We want it stopped immediately!
Here is the game plan, Baruth is a useful idot.
If our VTGOP were representing America and not the United Nations, they would have this video of the Rosa and her Green Mask, up on their website 24/7/365…..
But they are bought and paid for.
This is how our legislative representatives should act!
https://rumble.com/v4izoe3-sc-freedom-caucus-chair-rips-the-swamp-like-youve-never-seen-before.html?mref=22lbp&mrefc=2
Now that is a representative!
“Admit that hydro power from Quebec really is renewable, carbon-free electricity? Why not welcome more of it to Vermont? They have it, we need it, make it happen, Phils (Scott and Baruth). It’s cheap and grid upgrades will be minimal, compared to the distributed power nightmare redo.”
I can tell you why this will not happen, although I hope I am wrong, you will have to forgive my wayning optimism. This renewable energy source does not benefit the World Economic Forum and its stakeholders nor the United Nations and its most valued member nation, China. Hydro power is not a technocratic solution, nor is oil. The technocrats started their attack on oil back in the 1930s. Read the Technocracy Home Study Guide (available on internet), which documents the desire of technocrats to abolish oil and to implement technology to monitor and track individual energy consumption. Although, back then they didn’t blame it on climate change.
My second point is that Vermont politicians and staff are being paid by the United Nations Foundation, through the US Climate Alliance, of which our governor is a member, to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda, according to tax returns obtained by a governmental watch dog group called the GAO.
Because he’s not invested in hydro power but I’ll bet he’s deeply invested in solar and wind.
Thank you, Guy. That was one of the clearest, most succinct articles I have ever read about this debacle. It respectfully, but candidly and sharply calls out and exposes the rank hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance of the “Clean Heat” crowd.
Because it’s NEVER been about the climate! That’s why!
It’s all about give us all your money and we’ll stop the world from ending, oldest con in the book, they’ve just got extremely sophisticated about telling lies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1IacmUWVa4
You will own nothing and be happy is the plan.
Christine, You referenced the Technocracy Home Study Guide, the era we are now is is considered to be the next industrial revolution. Politicians are ti replaced by scientists and engineers who are more efficient wherein each of us shall be measured via data. Here is the link to the 1945 edition of the Technocracy Study Guide. https://archive.org/details/TechnocracyStudyCourseUnabridged
My guess is that not one of those Democrat Senators that he lectured the other day had the testicular fortitude to stand up to him in support of their constituents. Together they should remove him from his position, but they won’t.
I live in northern Ohio, 10,000 years ago a glacier covered this part of the State, the climate changed, glaciers receded to Canada leaving us with the Great Lakes.
Climate is always changing regardless of what the John Kerry’s of the world state.
Yup and did you know that the Romans (this is BC for folks not in the know), grew oranges and grapes on the island of Great Britain. Hmm I thought things were getting warmer…….
And then there was that little anomaly known as the “Little Ice Age” that lasted for about 400 years from about 1400 to 1800. That famous painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware with ice all around his boat, and clogging the river ? That was one of the last years that the Delaware froze as such, because the “Little Ice Age” ended, and temperatures begain to rise again.
gravity/// this is when water falls, with no energy needed, to turn generators
and create power/// many years ago i worked on the bear swamp project in norther mass./// a project worth looking at/// searsburg has a penstock, a pipe that carries water down to a power plant/// you can view this on the road going to somerset///
Hooray ! Thank you so much Guy for meeting this anti- Vermonter character Baruth and the VPIRG eye to eye. As Baruth is named, I list the VPIRG players below.
VPIRG Officers
President: Chris Miller, Global Social Mission Director, Ben & Jerry’s
Secretary: Megan Noonan, Associate Attorney, SRH Law
Treasurer: Marianne Barton, Co-founder, Catalyst Clean Energy Finance, LLC
VPIRG Trustees
Aiko Schaefer, Director, Just Solutions Collective & Strategic Consultant
Ashley Orgain, Global Director of Advocacy and Sustainability, Seventh Generation
Biff Mithoefer, Author and Yoga Teacher
Diana González, Director of Leadership Programs , Equality Federation
Drew Hudson, Digital Director, Climate Hawks Vote and Founding Partner at We Also Herd Cats LLC
Duane Peterson, Retired, Former Co-Director, SunCommon
Emma Huvos, Continuing Education, Holistic Health
Kanika Gandhi, Clinician, Howard Center
Mathew Rubin, President, Spruce Mt. Design
Quinn Houston, Student, University of Vermont
Tiko Bedrosian, Student, University of Vermont
VPIRG Staff
Paul Burns: Executive Director
Anna Seuberling: Environmental Associate
Becca Mandigo: Finance & Administration Director
Ben Hudson: Development Director
Tom Hughes: Senior Strategist
Zachary Tomanelli: Communications & Engagement Director
Ben Edgerly Walsh: Climate & Energy Program Director
Melissa Harwood: Membership & Events Manager
Elijah Kushen: Communications Manager
Danielle Stone: Communications Associate
Jane Stromberg: Grassroots Engagement Manager
Jordan Heiden: Climate Campaign Manager
Joshua Ferguson: Climate & Energy Associate
Lillian Spalla: Executive Assistant
Liz Edsell: Associate Director
Marcie Gallagher: Environmental Advocate
Sam McGinty: Democracy Advocate
Sinéad Murray: Democracy Associate
Perhaps if the above list of VPIRG players is viewed as members of a political action committee (as they certainly are) things might make more sense. VPIRG is a corporation, with a business plan. What is stated on their website isn’t the business plan.
Climate Change™ is the center of a business model. VPRIG collects in excess of $2,100,000.00 (2022) for it’s “outreach and education” programs (lobbying). Add in VNRC, CLF, REV, Sierra Club and other seemingly innocuous groups, there’s a whole lot of dollars flying around Montpelier to push for all things green. Willing legislators no longer hide their attachment nor associations with these groups- although the dollars are well hidden- to support Vermont’s industrial scale Climate Evangelism™. Rob Roper long ago showed
links:https://robertroper.substack.com/p/conflicts-of-interest-in-the-renewable?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Once correctly viewed as corporations looking to further their own interests- making money and increasing their power and relevance, the ugliness of Vermont’s
power brokers and politicians becomes apparent. Unfortunately so does the complacency and apathy of Vermont’s citizens to remain ignorant of these schemes- and the true effects on daily life here.
This climate thing is just one great big corrupt scam….
Simpleman
Give us some details?
That’s true. As far as I’m concerned the climate is being changed by the geoengineering that falls out of the sky most of the time.
Sen. Baruch.
Yes, I am a Republican. I personally fight climate change and other forms of environmental degradation.
I have two relatively high efficiency hybrid cars. I put a $40,000 solar system on my house. I am now exploring a heat pump system for my home.
I led several efforts removing significant pollutants from the waste stream of my place of employment. My wife and I have actively recycled since the early 1980’s. I served on the environmental commission of our town in NJ prior to moving to VT.
As an undergraduate student in the early 1970’s
I conducted two relevant biological and chemical studies dealing with environmental pollutants (including heavy metal pollutants).
Perhaps the lesson, sir, is to denounce members of a political party in the absence of reliable information about them is a logical fallacy. You embarrass yourself and foster hostility.
All the best,
Mr. McCormick, did you read John McClaughry’s expose on VIPRG cited below?
https://www.ethanallen.org/commentary_a_capitalist_success_story
Can you explain why else the PUC doesn’t approve the purchase of more green-as-ca-be Hydro Quebec electricity at 7.5 cents per kwh, as opposed to paying more than 21 cents per kwh for power generated from wind?
Why don’t you give us some details on why you think wind power is the answer to Vermont’s energy needs?
Guy, as per Frank Bammo, please unpack, unwrap, and report on VPIRG composition and identity with its lobby influence connections. Thank you again
Libby: Here’s a great place to start your review of VIPRG’s lobby influence and resulting crony capitalism.
https://www.ethanallen.org/commentary_a_capitalist_success_story
Some of us have been asking why Vermont doesn’t buy more inexpensive HQ power than it does for years now. John McClaughry goes back 15 years to explain the story.
Jay provided you a great article about VPRIG. The article references Ex Governor Peter Schumlan. According to the below article, see link.
https://voiceshsph.medium.com/tackling-health-from-the-inside-a-conversation-with-former-vermont-governor-peter-shumlin-dd810fefdb34
“Peter Shumlin made the Green Mountain State the first to enact universal pre-kindergarten education. He also passed mandatory GMO-labeling and turned Vermont into a leader in renewable energy. Because of his leadership in climate change, President Obama invited Shumlin to speak about his state’s renewable energy plans at the Paris Climate Summit in 2015.”
Obama signed America into the United Nations 2030 agreement in 2015. The Paris Accord is a foundational element oF Agenda 2030 that sets the carbon reduction goals, and requirements that wealthier counties have to financially assist poorer countries in meeting these goals. This is why Biden sent solar panels to Africa.
Compliance is mandated and governments, companies and municipalities are scored on their compliance, which determines their ability to secure capital from lending institutions. This is crony capitalism aka Environmental, Social, and Governence (ESG).
Libby, thank you for posting the link to the Technology Inc. Home Study Guide. That is exactly the document I was referencing. I recommend folks take alook at it. Yes, technology went underground and reamerged with the futurists at the World Economic Forum. Check out the build out for the Mertaverse, it includes the fourth industrial revolution.
The intelligent response to so called ‘climate change’ is to figure out how to get the most energy with the least amount of greenhouse gas emissions (or CO2).
The hydrocarbons we burn are composed of hydrogen and carbon. These two release energy as they combine with oxygen to form H2O and CO2.
Our oldest hydrocarbon – wood – has a ratio of combustible carbon atoms to hydrogen atoms of about 10 to 1.
“Coal has a ratio of about 2 to 1.
Natural gas, composed mainly of methane (CH4) has a relatively low ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms of about 1 to 4.
If the Boogyman (i.e. CO2) of so called ‘climate change’ is so existentially threatening, why in the world would you ever burn wood over natural gas? It makes no sense.
That is – per-unit-of-energy – burning wood instead of natural gas produces roughly 10-times more CO2 greenhouse gas emissions.
Burlington’s McNeil Plant should be converted into a 100% Natural Gas-fired Power Plant, achieving a roughly 1,000% decrease in the CO2 or greenhouse gas emissions.
“Climate Change” is merely a fictional means to their totalitarian ends:
Control energy and you essentially control the means and distribution of production.
Where have we heard that before?
Karl Marx, for one…
You never disappoint, Tom. Thank you!
I’ll never understand the conventional nuclear supporters. It’s a totally failed system/government permit scam. We need a nuclear energy system that makes sense and that doesn’t rely on unqualified government to approve/deny its risk. The only way to do this is to have 100% accountability, and 100% risk coverage.
There is no insurance company currently in existence that can cover the costs of damages and cleanup that would be required for the current state of nuclear. Therefor the current systems wouldn’t exist if we had the necessary accountability. I have already wrote on here extensively about how the current state of nuclear is a sham.
It is illegal to pollute the earth with nuclear concentrates, however the government allows it through the permit and lobby scam. We only have 1 earth. We should want to minimize our maximum regret.
Nuclear plants are an easy target for terrorists.
CO2 Safety Sheet
https://www.airgas.com/msds/001013.pdf
Tritium Safety Sheet
https://ehs.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/h-3datasheet.pdf
100% of currently running Nuclear power plants are leaking a substance that doesn’t break down for thousands of years. 75% of those leaks are detected. There is no safe level of exposure to these substances.
Carbon Dioxide is great for the earth, and isn’t insanely high risk or dangerous.
There has been many nuclear technologies that have been engineered that don’t have leaks and dirty waste systems, or a risk of ruining the earth. However, the current greasy palm industry isn’t interested in good design and low risk, or accountability.
__________________________________________
https://www.foxnews.com/us/leaks-at-aging-nuke-sites-difficult-to-detect.amp
https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1723/ML17236A511.pdf
https://environmentamerica.org/media-center/nuclear-power-plants-threaten-drinking-water-for-49-million-americans/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/12/radioactive-waste-baby-bottles-and-spam-the-deep-ocean-has-become-a-dumping-ground
https://mn.my.xcelenergy.com/s/about/newsroom/press-release/xcel-energy-reports-on-progress-to-recover-and-treat-water-leaked-at-monticello-MCH7GZ2C3G6ZCILHHZTJ7HWALYKM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_disposal_of_radioactive_waste
Folks – If you haven’t already, you need to read this book. Shorting The Grid by Meridith Angwin.
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxPIiKBbp8rA38MRFHGgANLT37AVUdttdbG7uFAoTjGS6D0dWT
Jeff, Thank you very much for the book recommendation. One of Angwin’s researchers Robert Hefner V reviews the book and provides tight take aways here: https://www.hefner.energy/articles/book-review-shorting-the-grid
Senator Baruth, along with his party line buds, receive the same 4am drops the main scream[sic] media receives each day. They all parrott the exact same lines over and over ad nauseum. Why does Senator Baruth, Phil Scott or any of the other puppets say the exact same things Joe Scarborough or Joy Reid say each day? It is the same narrative, scripted by the same people, designed and fed to the American public like gruel. The expectation is, like pavlov’s dog, the public will eat up and ask for more, please. Unfortunately for them, the People are catching on and catching up. Expect more meltdowns and staged, desperate, panic-driven press briefings. It’s getting that obvious and ridiculous.
Nice rebuttal Guy ! For those who have forgotten.
If they stopped spraying whatever garbage they’re spraying in the sky I bet fake ‘Climate Change’ would magically disappear. People are so blind.
But Jane Fonda and Jack Lemmon told him nuclear power was bad.
So Senator Bayruth you want carbon free energy? The Vernon VY site still has approx 50 years of lease life left on it and there is the site next to it never developed. Let’s start work on 2 new generation 6 nuclear plants that would serve all of Vermonts needs and then some. What say you Senator. Doth you have the backbone for it?