College Republicans’ misguided support for a carbon tax
In what many view as a stark about-face, College Republicans across the country are endorsing a carbon tax to address climate change.
Roper: Yada, yada, yada carbon tax
What these folks are actually advocating is that Vermonters live with both the natural impacts of climate change plus the self-inflicted economic wounds of useless climate change policies.
Roper: Those sneaky carbon tax supporters
Support for the carbon tax outside the Statehouse is driven primarily by influential big donors from the renewable energy industry. These folks would benefit mightily from a carbon tax.
A reply to Paul Costello about ‘democracy and leadership’
Like a Trojan horse you come to our town with collaborators inside your belly, waiting to begin the frenzy of activism that will ensue as you troll for support. Do you not see how using manipulation and subsidies to prematurely realize your dreams only suppresses economic development?
VPIRG can’t defend its carbon tax plan
Having the government force a bunch of small businesses to subsidize their electric bills is good for Ben & Jerry’s business, as Burns notes. But he is not telling the truth when he implies this is good for Vermont business in general. It’s not.
Carbon tax goes down in flames in Washington state
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s inability to marshal a hefty price tag on carbon emissions through the liberal state’s legislature does not portend good things for a similar push on the national stage.
McClaughry: What the ESSEX carbon tax would do for Vermont
Eventually, when the carbon tax drives out all fossil fuel and all users have switched (at considerable expense) to higher cost electricity, there’s nothing left to subsidize that electricity. You’re stuck.
Roper: ESSEX carbon tax robs poor to pay rich
Wealthy Vermonters who have the financial wherewithal to install solar panels, buy Priuses and live in newer, better insulated housing can take full advantage of the ESSEX plan.
The ESSEX Plan: Symbolic environmentalism that will impose economic harm on Vermonters
Enacting the ESSEX Plan will damage Vermont’s economy, place an undue and unfair burden on lower-income Vermonters and encourage more people to leave Vermont in search of better economic opportunity.
Carbon tax assessment by top economist comes back ugly
The Ethan Allen Institute hired an economist and former policy director for the Vermont Department of Public Service to crunch numbers and determine what economic impact the ESSEX carbon tax plan will have on the state. The outlook isn’t good for Vermonters.
Roper: Sponsors can’t deny ESSEX carbon tax favors rich over poor
Poor Vermonters stuck with gasoline powered cars, oil burning furnaces, etc., will end up subsidizing the electric bills of their better-off neighbors who can afford Priuses, solar panels, weatherized homes, electric heat pumps and the like.
Roper: Questioning the highly questionable ESSEX carbon tax
The Vermont House Committee on Energy and Technology is taking testimony on the ESSEX carbon tax bill. Here are some questions our legislators (and all Vermonters) should ask regarding the bill.