by Alison Despathy
Senator White’s claim– Governor Scott is spreading misinformation about S.5 the Affordable Heat Act – lovingly called AHA by Senator White. White specifically states “Governor Phil Scott isn’t being truthful about the legislative process around the Affordable Heat Act and over the years he has made many false claims…”
Senator White’s Instagram video was posted on the Vermont Democrats account on April 28, 2023 and can be accessed below.
Fact Check Results- Based on extensive research and analysis by thousands of Vermonters actively engaged in opposing S.5 and speaking up about the danger of this bill—The finding is that Governor Phil Scott got it exactly right.
Further this conclusion confirms that the video attempt by Senator White at honesty and transparency is false.
Senator White’s Myths-
Myth 1- “The Affordable Heat Act does not force any individual person to do anything —period.”
Truth– If you don’t listen and act upon what your “experts” and social engineers— the legislators who voted in favor of S.5– have determined is the best plan then you will pay more for heating fuel — period. Regardless of the fact that heating fuel is still essential for most Vermonters to heat their homes at this time. Please note – even if you do listen to these “experts”, you will still pay more for heating fuel because you will likely still need heating fuel. These heat pumps are supplemental systems unless you are loaded and can afford a whole new system. There are also additional costs such as heat pump cleanings and increasing electric rates.
Important note – it is not apparent if the legislators looked into homeowner’s insurance and the limitations within the market for heat pump systems as a primary heating source, especially in older homes. Please check with your provider before making rash decisions that may result in limited options, higher costs and safety risks due to inefficient, unreliable heating systems.
Myth 2– “This isn’t a tax on Vermonters. No single individual will be saddled with the cost of implementing this bill. Fossil fuel dealers and importers will be responsible for the costs associated with the Affordable Heat Act and they will also be responsible for the pollution that they need to reduce over time. So, it’s a win win.”
Truth– It is actually a lose-lose situation. Local fossil fuel dealers have been providing reliable products to their customers for generations. They take their work seriously and care greatly for the communities that they serve. For decades, they have already been engaged in the process of installing high efficiency heating systems and heat pumps when appropriate and as the technology evolves and is financially feasible. It is not the dealers’ fossil fuel pollution; it is the consumers’ pollution—they are the users of this still necessary product. If the fossil fuel dealers stop delivering fossil fuel at this time, Vermonters will freeze. Punishing and charging fossil fuel dealers to “pay” to continue to distribute their necessary products is cruel and will result in higher costs to Vermonters for heating fuel. The fossil fuel dealers cannot take this added financial burden on alone, a portion will need to be passed to consumers. Attempts at determining this cost impact have been thwarted and ridiculed by many Democrats.
Myth 3 – “This bill requires an extensive and detailed studying to figure out how the cost will affect Vermonters and how much we will save and how it will be implemented.”
Truth– S.5 the UN-Affordable Heat Act is fundamentally flawed because of the funding structure and clean heat standard design. Regardless of how much more money is spent or how many studies or reports are done – this bill does not have the capacity to serve or solve – that is the issue. Unfortunately, many legislators are finding false hope and comfort in this “study”. As soon as we set up the carbon credit structure —aka the Clean Heat Standard— we have created a bogus trading market on the backs of Vermonters that can be and is exploited globally by corporations. This is already apparent in the bill in that Vermont Gas Systems is heavily favored. S.5 forces Vermont into that market. It literally sacrifices Vermonters, our thermal sector and Vermont businesses in order to build a market that will not serve the people or solve real environmental issues. This global carbon market is already full of massive fraud and is abused by corporations to sell “green” agendas and increase profits based on false narratives. Many Vermont legislators are falling prey to vague talking points, agendas and propaganda instead of looking at the concerning details of this bill and where, how and why it originated.
Conclusion– Governor Phil Scott is spot on in his analysis. His explanation and clarity shed light on the inherent problems with S.5. His primary concerns represent those of many Vermonters around the state who have been trying hard to communicate with their elected representatives. Thank you, Governor Scott, for hearing the people and choosing to veto S.5.
Zealotry and ideology are dangerous for all – especially when practiced by elected officials. An inability to take in new information and engage in meaningful conversation is a disservice to Vermonters. This practice of collaboration and a willingness to listen and learn from others is essential to the democratic process. Sacrificing Vermonters with destructive legislation despite the best of intentions and hopes only creates more problems. Please reach out to your local legislators and implore them to uphold the Governor’s veto and ensure their NO vote on S.5.
The author is a clinical nutritionist in St. Johnsbury.
Categories: Commentary
Sounds to me like a sore loser. And Yes, I would still say this if the party-roles were reversed. It just makes her come off whiny. She’s just jealous that her approval rating is dwarfed by Scott’s: bottom-line, the People she claims to represent trust him more than White.
You should read the letter and,if you haven’t before, check the facts. The bill is a disaster for the majority of Vermonters heating with oil, LPG or kerosene. It will only benefit the large utilities who will destroy their competition by changing the rules while enjoying cost plus rates for their products and related service.
Do you really think their “free” services or financing is free? No. You and me, the rate payers will do the paying.
Thank you Ms. Despathy !
Bless her heart…but doesn’t Senator White’s soliloquy sound familiar? Think about those folks who come to your door with a theological pitch which always seem just a little bit askew. More power to her…participation in the left’s group delusional must be soooo comforting.
Lies from the Left. So if dealers get taxed who is going to eat that tax? Heat pumps don’t work below 20 degrees I have asked 3 people that have them. It’s gonna be more than $.70 a gallon. It appears that the Liberal communists are taking over Vt. Oh but don’t worry they will loan ya the money. Can’t afford to pay my bills now. Sure feels like global warming out today. Lost politicians are lost
Our representatives have heard from the majority concerning the detrimental effects S5 will place on hardworking ,taxpaying Vermonters.The question is will they listen and protect the Vermonters they serve ?
Of course not. If they had, this would never have gotten to the floor. What have you been thinking they have been doing? Singing “Koom-bia-yahh” ?
As far as I heard. Rep Sears has gotten 1000s of emails saying to vote against the bill. How many has she gotten to say the opposite? Not enough to justify I ponder a guess.
The problem is if we don’t do what the experts say, we’re going to get socked because those charges to the fuel delivery people are going to get handed over to consumers of the product! Period. No getting around it. And, I cannot afford to put a pump in that’s not really do-able in Vermont. Then putting some other kind of system as a back up. Not on a fixed income! Now, maybe I’ll win the powerball……don’t I don’t keep my fingers crossed!
Wow, just wow. Calling an extremely popular sitting governor a liar, and in the public’s face, is not politically astute, and it’s not what you’d expect from an elected official; it’s high-school cliquey stuff. We all know who’s lying, but a speck of truth has emerged on her Twitter account: “VTer. Climate crisis activist. State Senator. UU. Alcohol free. Mona’s daughter, Dylan’s wife. Speak Truth to Power.” Note that “State Senator” is not listed first. “VTer” should be listed last.
Zealotry and ideology obfuscate common sense.
It surely does. When will VT Republicans wake up and realize that they need to be more like Phil Scott than Donald Trump. Until then, the progressives will rule the legislature.
I so wanted to vote for Republicans in the last election but their “zealotry and ideology” just wouldn’t let me do it.
The premise that Vermont elected officials, bureaucrats, NGO’s, non-profits and corporations, regardless of party afffiliation, are not colluding, controlled, incentivized and/or compensated for lawfare thievery of taxpayer money based upon a lie is a deluded and misguided assumption. Agenda 2030: New World Order. Depopulation, transhumanism, slavery, servitude, ect. Total power and control over every facet of the human existence including, but not limited to energy, water, and food. They all know exactly what they are doing and who is going to stop them?
Facts:
#1
International Monetary Fund – March 2021
A New Vision for the US Climate Agenda
“Over the next decade, global greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut by 25– 50 percent to be on track for meeting the 2015 Paris Agreement goal of containing global warming to 1.5–2°C. The United States intends to do its part. Its climate plan pledges US carbon neutrality by 2050, with a 2030 emissions target to be announced shortly. The United States will need to act decisively to help deliver the global emissions reductions needed over the next decade.The plan envisions stronger energy efficiency standards, clean technology subsidies, and $2 trillion of public funding over ten years for clean energy infrastructure and critical technologies, such as green hydrogen.”
#2
Vermont Act 153 2020 – “Act Relating to Addressing Climate Change in 2020 that requires the state to reduce GHG emissions to 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.”
#3
“Analysis of Carbon Pricing Impacts to the New England Power Sector”
https://nescoe.com/resource-center/exeter-carbonpricing-oct2020/
ENERGY MARKET, GOVERNORS’ INITIATIVES, FORWARD CAPACITY MARKET (FCM)
“Exeter’s analysis determines that the incremental carbon price necessary to support the investment in utility-scale solar is $45/short ton, onshore wind is $60/short ton, and offshore wind is $167-168/short ton. These levels, while eliminating or minimizing the need for mechanisms outside the wholesale markets to support these resources, could increase annual total costs to New England load (excluding pumping load and external transaction) by between $2.6 $9.7 billion. This increase, when netted against carbon pricing fees/taxes collected from emitting suppliers and refunded back to wholesale load, results in a net impact to consumers between $1.0-$3.7 billion annually.”
This diatribe from white is but more lies and gaslighting.
Remember, she has placed herself in a protected class from her own actions.
During senate committee debate, she admitted some of her family purchased fuel in New Hampshire.
Protected, yes, but as the self-described “youngest one here” (in the Vermont State Legislature), she is at the mercy of older, more experienced people who are just as likely to turn her into a goat as make her a climate-change spokesmodel or Internet star. For example, Dylan Mulvaney, as an influencer trying out beauty products, is entertaining, funny, and fun to watch. Suddenly he’s shoved in front of the public as the face of two blue-collar staples, Bud Light and Maybelline — an opportunity few could refu$$$e — and is subjected to ridicule and abuse. Vermont is a charming brand, and having the haters “goat” you into debasing that brand with a litany of lies while calling “Mr. Vermont” a liar may turn out to be less than fun.
That could certainly be part of their schemes, but by all accounts White is happily (and dishonestly) playing her part and therefore should be prepared to accept any consequences that might result….
Of course one can still hope there will be consequences, but in today’s world it seems to be their ticket to advancement all the way to the top. Seeing all the cheating that went on the last several elections, we have no way of knowing if our votes really count, and it may be too late to vote the bums out and turn things around. The money is just too tempting and easy for these frauds.
It is absolutely remarkable how self deluded these so called representatives are. We won’t pay anything, but dealers will??? I can’t believe she can actually can say that with a straight face.