by Guy Page
There’s nothing more unfair to poor Vermonters than Vermont energy laws and policies that force them to pay for expensive, subsidized energy-saving devices like heat pumps and electric cars, John Rodgers, GOP candidate for Lt. Governor, said on VDC-TV’s Friday at Four on August 30.
Rodgers, a Glover farmer and businessman and former state representative and senator, is running on the GOP ticket against incumbent Lt. Governor and Democrat David Zuckerman in the Nov. 5 general election.
Rodgers promised to become a more activist lieutenant governor, willing to introduce legislation sought by constituents and testify in committee hearings.
State laws passed after extensive lobbying by the renewable power industry require utilities to charge artificially-high, non-market rates for electricity created by renewable power companies. Some evenue from these high rates is then re-directed to carbon reduction measures, including heat pumps. Also, the State of Vermont via the Transportation Fund provides direct subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles.
However, there is as yet no direct fuel tax assessed on electric vehicles for highway upkeep, as there is on gasoline/diesel powered vehicles.
Vermont’s pushing carbon reduction onto the backs of the poor needs to stop, Rodgers said.
“Poor people should not be subsidizing wealthy people’s solar panels,” John Rodgers said.
Rodgers also points to the apparent ‘pay to play’ nature of Vermont lawmaking. Big industrial renewable power developers are among the biggest political donors, “and they are all getting rich on those policies,” Rodgers said. “It’s not illegal, but it’s corrupt.”
Rodgers also noted that endemic crime, drug abuse and homelessness in Vermont’s urban cores is not only hurting the addicted and crime victims, it’s hurting businesses. He cites a friend of his who operates a Burlington business that relies on high volume of foot traffic.
“His business is off 20% because people have just stopped going downtown,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers also addressed the growing inability of native, working Vermonters to buy a home.