Roper: Hypocrisy of clean heat standard advocates on display
Heile, Miller and Kleppner bring to mind the Joseph Goebbels quote about the best propaganda trick being to accuse your opponents of that which you yourself are doing.
McClaughry: Another heat pump report
The Vermont Climate Council wants us all to keep warm with electric heat pumps, to defeat the menace of climate change. Here’s another report from a heat pump user to keep in mind.
Steve Thurston: The cold truth about heat pumps
In as much as the PUC has already told the Legislature that heat pumps are not “affordable,” why is the Democrat controlled Legislature still pushing Vermonters to install heat pumps? This bill should die in the House Energy Committee.
McClaughry: Cost of heat pumps — one Vermont experience
“The good news is the units did reduce our oil usage quite a bit, probably 75 to 80 percent. However, our monthly electricity bill increased by over $300 dollars! With the astronomical installation costs, we won’t break even on these units until long after our kids have graduated from college in 17 years.”
Roper: Can we dispense with the ‘we’re just asking’ BS?
With S.5, our elected representatives aren’t “asking” us to pay more to heat our homes with oil, propane, natural gas, and kerosene, they are forcing us to do so.
Keelan: S.5 train wreck has been postponed — temporarily
While S.5’s start has been postponed for two years, my wife and I are considering converting our 200-year-old home and our transportation needs to all-electric. We obtained cost estimates from our electrician and heating contractors, and from Tesla. Here are our discoveries.
Vermont fuel dealers still unrepresented on the Vermont Climate Council
Lawmakers who are intent on pushing through the clean heat standard have been stacking the deck against small, mom-and-pop fuel dealers who stand to lose the most if the clean heat standard becomes law.
Roper: Biomass controversy boils over in Vermont Climate Council
If the result of implementing the Global Warming Solutions Act were to mean causing an electricity shortage and price spike in our most populous city/county, negatively impacting politically favored entities such as Burlington Electric, Vermont Gas and UVM, the GWSA would more than likely cease to be a viable state policy.
Steve MacDonald: I think it’s time for Vermonters to start a yellow vest movement opposing the clean heat standard
Marches, protests, anti-S.5 events with hundreds of folks in yellow vests. It paints a picture that will travel around the internet and the world. You’ll find advocates and experts in all corners willing to step up and point out why this won’t do what they say at any price.
S.5 passes the Senate with veto-proof majority despite massive voter opposition
Three Democrats, Sens. Dick Mazza, D-Grand Isle, Bobby Starr, D-Orleans, and Irene Wrenner, D-Chittenden North, joined all seven Republicans in voting no. But the one vote everyone was watching was that of Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington.
Mermel: Victory for opponents of Affordable Heat Act — potentially a poisoned chalice
The Affordable Heat Act with one amendment passed the Senate 19-10 on Thursday. However, opponents won a victory by forcing its supporters to attach an amendment which delayed a vote enacting the legislation until Jan. 15, 2025.
Scott: More work needs to be done on Senate Bill 5
“The way in which the Clean Heat Standard is implemented including the way in which clean heat credits are priced and how incentives or subsidies are offered to households and businesses must be established before meaningful analysis is possible,” Gov. Phil Scott said.