To the editor:
House Ways & Means, with the consent of House Environment & Energy, will potentially vote later today to knowingly increase electricity costs for towns and schools, in addition to individual ratepayers.
Yesterdays’s testimony: The lead sponsor of H.289 (Renewable Energy Standard), in consultation with energy industry lobbyists, promoted the raising of electricity rates to accelerate private and investor-owned power industry development. The bill sponsor also characterized the utilities as representing ratepayers, which is odd given there would be no need for the PUC if that were true. (Interestingly, the same lobby is simultaneously seeking exemptions for power generating and distribution infrastructure from siting regulation through S. 236, a bill currently in Senate Finance.)
Joint Fiscal Office encouraged the committee chair to hear from DPS. Transmission costs, by direction, were not included by RES WG. The committee chair made it clear that costs to ratepayers were not her concern, only the revenues to the state (which come from taxpayers). Supposed savings to the state are predicated, in part, on reduced healthcare costs and fewer disaster recovery expenses from climate change mitigation, by subsidizing industrial energy through increased rates and higher electricity costs incurred at state and municipal facilities and by individual Vermonters.
Watch here:
James Ehlers
The author is a public health advocate with Vermonters for Clean Energy. A former U.S. Navy officer, he is a past recipient of the U.S. EPA Regional Merit Award for his clean water initiatives.
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Categories: Energy, Legislation
The Marxist Cabal that has infested the People’s House needs to be removed.
“The committee chair made it clear that costs to ratepayers were not her concern, only the revenues to the state (which come from taxpayers). ” This statement is similar to Sentator Chris Murphy, D-CT, uttering illegal border crossers matter most to the Democratic party on national TV. Despots indeed.
the key board thumpers are still asleep/// will have to have in the future/// gas cook stoves /// gas lighting/// gas hot water heater/// no more out side lights/// hope everybody has a good day///
Good luck with that/// natural gas is already a regulated utility///LP gas can be banned for sale///They already can turn off your electric meter with a keystroke///
you’ll be busy collecting wood for your fire///
It is glaringly apparent that the chair of House Ways and Means, emilie kornheiser and rep. ms. sibilia firmly represent all the stakeholders surrounding H.289. environmental groups, utilities, renewable energy companies and with disdain- public interest groups. Neither representative apparently recognizes the sworn oath or affirmation they took to represent the citizens of Vermont in their zeal to encumber us with crippling electricity rates while also mandating the electric heat pump as the “approved” heating method.
These “hearings” and the ‘testimony” uttered are but for show, to fulfill the need to follow procedure. The deal was made long ago- in the shadows- with these irresponsible and corrupt legislators bowing to special interest dollars and the promise of increasing power and influence.
Vermont’s citizens and voters have spoken, in apathy, neglect -and in zeal- endorsing this exact legislative cronyism and the results. Elections have consequence, our will be a totalitarian system controlling all of Vermont’s energy use and hence- Vermont’s population as well.
Sadly, we who are awake and can see the truth in your statement, are in the minority. And because of that, voting doesn’t work. However, if this passes, I foresee investments in Vermont decline in all areas other than renewables, which have finite investment value. Not to mention unaffordability for individual rate payers. These people have tunnel vision. Will we see a mass exodus?
The mass exodus will not occur- it will be slower. For several decades the affluent have left Vermont for lower taxed states, while maintaining their business here- or leaving prior to retirement and sale of that business. Others trickle out in search of lower taxes, better economic conditions and better jobs-
However- there is also a steady stream in, those seeking relief from other states that have hight taxes, cost of living- so it’s a NET 0 proposition. This years legislative session will change that dynamic as Vermont’s overall tax burden grows to rival other liberal leftist New England States, making even Maine look better than Vermont. Add the effects of the GWSA soon to come- and Vermont just looks stupid for investment other than to ride the green energy mandate- If one can hire enough employees. I can think of more than one Vermont businessman that proudly showed off their recently acquired Florida Driver’s License. I too, will be one of the ex-pats in 2024. Some of Vermont’s tax laws are punitive to small business- and while 8.75% may be Vermont’s current top rate, the effective rate for some is closer to 15%. That’s before the effects of non-homestead property tax rates hit- and the proposed 3% millionaire tax? Reason enough to spend 6 months and a day elsewhere.
my yard is full of fire wood for next year/// will heat my water and cook my food on the wood stove/// no gas stove, no hot water heater no problem/// but there is another problem/// no fossil fuel no wood delivery/// got to get rid of these idiots///
The bill doesn’t define ‘renewable energy’.
Of course, comrade Sibilia is behind this idiocy.
“Supposed savings to the state are predicated, in part, on reduced healthcare costs and fewer disaster recovery expenses from climate change mitigation, by subsidizing industrial energy through increased rates and higher electricity costs incurred at state and municipal facilities and by individual Vermonters.” Does that mean we can expect tax cuts at that time ? (sarcasm)
Our New England grid is already one of the cleanest in the country – 25% zero emission nuclear (with only 2 plants operating – down from 5 a few years ago), 20% zero emission hydro from Canada, 50% low emission natural gas (compared to oil and coal) and 5% other. Unless we invest in more nuclear plants, and buy more hyro from Canada, we will have to build more gas plants to maintain grid stability regardless of how much wind and solar capacity is built. There were entire weeks this winter when the expected solar daytime bell curve was practically non-existent because of dense cloud cover. What will power the grid when we are 100% renewable and this happens? Batteries first must be charged with electricity from the grid and then they last for hours, not days, weeks or months.
Yes, the rates need to be increased to help fund the Net Zero boondoggle and all the peripheral nonsense needed to support it, the current power grid sucks, and will not or cannot support the any increase in service needs, so guess what you’ll be paying !!
Yup, you’ll be on the hook like it or not, we have fools in charge …………………………….
China’s CO2 emissions increased by 750 million tons between 2019 and 2021. Vermont’s annual emissions are about 9 million tons. This legislature is wasting their time and our money on their latest exercise in virtual signaling. “China continues to approve new coal power projects at the equivalent of two plants every week. In 2022, the government approved a record-breaking 106 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired power capacity.” China is laughing behind their backs at Vermont.