Commentary on Vermont Daily Chronicle’s comprehensive coverage of S.236.
by Alison Despathy
How dare you engage as stewards of your local communities and environments? It is unimaginable that you would care enough to keep an eye on proposed industrial developments in your local spaces and intervene when necessary. How could you?
This ‘NIMBYs are bad’ perspective was brutally shared by Joslyn Wilschek in the Senate Finance committee on Wednesday, January 24. Joslyn is a member of Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) and as a lawyer with the WILO Law Office, her firm helps industry, the solar industry in particular, navigate the Public Utilities Commission process to ensure their projects move forward..
Together, Wilschek and Senator Anne Watson wrote S.236, a bill which greatly favors the renewable energy industry and would severely limit Vermonters’ ability to take a fully engaged role in proposed energy projects that come to our communities. S.236 proposes to limit a neighbor’s engagement solely to traffic, public health and safety issues versus a broad scope of concerns that may arise in each unique proposal.
In her testimony, Wilschek stated “Nimbyism blocks, slows down and makes way more expensive the transition to the affordable electric grid that we need.” She also used the words classist, racist, and privileged in her testimony as she described how and why Vermonters are voicing their concerns.
I have come to detest the word NIMBY. This is derogatory and places concerned citizens and neighbors into a category of illegitimate and elitist interrupters versus invested neighbors with warranted concerns and insight that deserve attention.
Vermonters are the stewards of their land, environment and local resources. We have both a right and duty as local residents to ensure that proposed projects are beneficial, meaningful, low impact and that communities and environments are not taken advantage of by an industry out for profit.
Make no mistake, renewable energy is an industry and this must be acknowledged. REV is their representation and action arm at the statehouse. Regardless of how one feels about the role that the renewable energy industry should play in VT, there is an unprecedented abundance of money to be made with the Inflation Reduction Act subsidies heading this way. Many are chomping at the bit to get in on the game.
Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) is full force steamrolling S.236 to clear the path of obstacles including Vermonters who responsibly and legitimately question the environmental, economic or long term impacts of proposed renewable energy projects popping up in our communities.
A close look at Renewable Energy Vermont reveals that both their board and members ARE the renewable energy industry. Ranging from solar installers, electric companies, solar engineers, transportable power systems and battery services, lawyers, and investors, like VPIRG, REV works to promote the industry and increase avenues and profits for their renewable energy industry stakeholders.
By restricting a neighbor’s ability to engage, REV lobbyists are doing exactly what their board and members expect; ensuring that their products and services are prioritized at all costs. This is REV’s job and S.236 helps them to seal the deal and stifle necessary public engagement. It is paramount that legislators recognize this situation and work to ensure that the rights of Vermonters to steward and help guide special interest projects in their communities are upheld and protected.
The ability of neighbors and community members to hold a place at the table while proposed projects are assessed is critical to the responsible and meaningful siting of renewable energy projects. S.236 is the ultimate industry bill, a dream come true for developers and those in the renewable energy industry who would love to eliminate roadblocks such as Vermonters.
Vermont looks the way it does due to the engagement of residents who care about the environment, natural resources and scenic beauty of Vermont. This scenic beauty is Vermont’s true wealth. It signifies healthy, intact ecosystems, biodiversity and a love of nature–all of which are integral to the health of the state and Vermonters. Vermonters are bound together by a deep respect and appreciation for the environment and our desire to protect and steward our natural resources and wild spaces.
Not only does this natural scenic beauty feed our soul and recharge our spirit, it also drives tourism and is a fundamental component of our economy. Vermont towns and the state as a whole thrive due to a healthy tourist industry, which grows every year as many seek to escape to this natural beauty and all that Vermont has to offer.
As reported by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, ACCD Vermont: “Tourism in Vermont is a $3 billion industry that supports over 30,000 jobs (Over 10% of Vermont’s workforce)”
Last year at the Tourism Day at the Statehouse, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce shared that as the second largest economic contributor in the state, Vermont’s visitor economy brought 13 million annual visitors and an influx of 3.2 billion dollars with a 387.3 Million annual tax revenue.
Senator Watson and White should be ashamed of themselves for allowing S.236 to come forward. Maybe when you have been granted the Vermont Conservation Rising Star Award, the pressure is on to favor the renewable energy industry at all costs? Choosing special interest over Vermonters and our environments is the fundamental trend here. The Unaffordable Heat Act, now Act 18, fell in the same destructive category and yet again the same Senators are involved. Who do they really represent?
With any level of research, these Senators would have found that not only does this bill disrespect Vermonters, it is also unnecessary and detrimental. On February 6, during her testimony to Senate Finance, Annette Smith discussed this fact and shared the data to support this reality. VDC reached out for a summary of her testimony. Smith shared that the PUC data,
“Clearly identifies the fact that there is no justification or need for this bill. Neighbors, towns and regional planning commissions rarely comment, intervene, or participate in Public Utilities Commission (PUC) proceedings. In the few cases where the public engages in PUC cases, the process is intense, onerous and the developer’s attorneys are hostile to public participation. Nevertheless, public intervenors present valuable facts and information that are necessary for the PUC to make good decisions.”
Renewable Energy Vermont and industry lawyers like Wilschek are determined to create a path free from disruption for their renewable energy projects, including removing us “NIMBY” Vermonters.
Hopefully the Senators will see through Watson, White, VPIRG’s and REV’s special interest charade and acknowledge and respect the role Vermonters play in ensuring that our communities, local environments and natural resources are protected and have a voice in proposed development. As stewards, we must scrutinize and guide projects in our space, it is our responsibility.