In a recent comment on the H.520 situation, one GMD writer wrote…

Why bother? Now, I hear that Douglas has said he won’t even meet.

This is pathetic.

For what it is worth, I don’t think we should give up…even now…I think given the right attitude, we still might find a way to save it. What if we had, say, John Wayne at the head of the party?

It might go like this:

FromThe Hypothetical Herald

MONTPELIER, VT—  Senate President Pro-Tem Peter Shumlin drew his sword and threw away the scabbard this morning.

“We are going all out on H.520” said Shumlin.  “We may not override the Veto, but we are going all out, and when we’re done, the people are going to wonder why Governor Douglas hates the environment so much.”

“We’ve done everything we can to find common ground.  We’ve even offered to protect the Governor’s precious tax break for big energy.” said the President Pro-Tem.  “But the time for compromise has now passed.  And this bill will be a reality in the next session of the Legislature.”

Unidentified sources have indicated that the Democrats are putting together a war chest of contributions raised from party members to fly certain legislators home from vacation for the special session on July 11.

One Democrat who asked not to be named said he had been told in no uncertain terms that he needed to vote for this bill.  “They told me if I didn’t vote to override, I’d spent next year as the junior man on the shit-shoveling committee.”  Democratic Leaders would neither confirm or deny that they were enforcing party discipline on this issue.

But that’s just my opinion.

(Okay, I've acccepted this is more than a one diary issue). A long time ago there were two bills; a renewable energy bill and a building efficiency bill. Over a wild and wacky session, these bills joined together into what came to be known as the global warming bill. Advocates in each chamber joined together on the new hybrid bill, whose efficiency element was going to cost a little money. To fill this gap, there was first the fuels surcharge – which got (thankfully) dumped as being too regressive. After fits and starts, and in the 11th hour, came the new funding source; the legendary tax that primarily targeted Vermont Yankee.

So advocates moved forward, re-energized. What they didn't realize was that the old bill was gone, and what was in its place was more complicated. By appending the Yankee tax, they tapped into a surprisingly deep and wide resevoir of frustration and energy from the many on the left who have felt that VY has been given a sweetheart deal at the expense of Vermoners' environment and safety. As such, what had been a global warming bill to some was now a Vermont Yankee bill to others (and to some it was equally both).

Fast forward to the mistake in timing that was this week's decision to put the funding source back on the table (instead of holding that card until the veto session) in order to call Douglas's thin bluff at taking the issue seriously. The truth is that no matter when they would've pulled this card, the reaction on the left would have been similarly angry/frustrated/confused.

As a proponent of the global warming bill from early on, I've always looked at it AS a “global warming” bill, and have only just come to understand that many saw it otherwise. To those that saw it as a VY bill, this move is utter capitulation (and I'm not talking about the predatory Greens with their own anti-Dem agenda, such as Colby-boy), leaving those of us more firmly in the global warming camp wondering why people are talking as though the bill has been compromised. But with the narrative on the Dem leadership that's in full circulation; that they run away from controversy and cave upon meeting conflict, it's the capitulation argument that rings true for people.

A lot of lessons here. The big one is that Legislative Leadership should get out more and listen more (as should I, frankly). If they (we) had, they might have realized what they were really doing in plugging into the simmering, untended political lesion that is Vermont Yankee. It's clear that the VY tax couldn't be added as casually and modularly as one might add a sales tax increase, and that reality is just now dawning on those in leadership, as well as folks like me.

The other lesson is that Dem leadership better not give an inch on the global warming elements of the bill in the upcoming veto override session. I'm told both the House and Senate intend to hold firm this time. If they know what's good for them, they'll stick to that.

And when will the Vermont press call him on it?

 Here's what Douglas said on VPR this morning:

(Douglas) “I made it very clear that there are two objections to the bill that they presented to me. One is the unfair tax on Vermont Yankee, and the second is creating an untested and extensive bureaucracy, without really understanding what its mission is and without any track record.”

He won't stop saying it, but it's still a lie.

First, the bill says that energy efficiency programs will be  

provided by the energy efficiency utility appointed by the board under subsection 209(d) of this title and operating in accordance with section 209  of this title.

In other words, the services would be operated by Efficiency Vermont. Efficiency Vermont is not a bureaucracy, it's not part of state government, it is an activity of the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, a nonprofit corporation in Burlington, Vermont. 

Second, he calls this organization something that doesn't understand its mission and has no track record. 

Let's take a look at the record. Efficiency Vermont has been in business since 2000.

The combined lifetime economic value of all Efficiency Vermont investments since 2000: $207 million.

The lifetime economic value of Efficiency Vermont investments made in 2005: $37 million.

Through energy efficiency investments made since 2000, Vermont is now using 5% less energy than the state would have used.

In 2005, the cost of saving electricity with energy efficiency was approximately 3.6 cents per kWh. That's almost two-thirds less than the 9.6 cents per kWh that utilities would have paid for a comparable electric supply.

Gov. Douglas's own Public Service Department has evaluated the savings claims of Efficiency Vermont, and has found that they are valid. Efficiency Vermont has been recognized around the world, and has been honored by Harvard's Kennedy School of Government for its activities. In fact, I attended the press event at the State House when Douglas spoke eloquently about Efficiency Vermont's award.

So isn't there someone in state government who will tell the truth? 
 

( – promoted by Jack McCullough)

From the Barre Montpelier Times Argus

June 27, 2007

…highs yesterday in the region were around 90 degrees, with 91 recorded in Montpelier…

Unfortunately, the arrival of hot summer weather also has brought in some unhealthy air.

… the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a warning Tuesday advising that unhealthy ozone levels and air quality across New England can aggravate asthma and other lung diseases, and make people more susceptible to respiratory infection and other breathing problems.

Adults with respiratory problems and children are especially vulnerable.

DAMN- Just think of what the H.520 Headline could have been….

From The Paper In My Mind

MONTPELIER, VT– Senate Majority Leader Peter Shumlin and Speaker of the House Gaye Symington braved near record high temperatures and an EPA health warning to castigate Governor Douglas for his obstruction of The Energy Bill.

“On a day when our children, who should be swimming, are warned to stay indoors, we call upon the Governor to recognize that we have a big problem” said Shumlin as he stood under the blazing summer sun.

“Because protecting a tax break for big business is more important to Governor Douglas”, added Symington, “I am disappointed to say that we are probably not going to be able to pass a global warming bill this year.”

“But we’re sure as hell going try”, growled Shumlin…

But, as far as I know, as of 8:23 PM tonight, that didn’t happen.

I’ve been gently taken to task by some in my assertion that the Democrats “Caved” on H.520 by offering to surrender the funding mechanism (a perfectly equitable tax on Vermont Yankee) for H.520- the Energy Bill.

So I will rephrase my point…

DEMOCRATS MADE A STUPID STRATEGIC DECISION AND LOST GREAT OPPORTUNITY

Now, we probably won’t only not get an energy bill, but the Governor won’t get tagged with the responsibility.

I am very, very, very disappointed.  I’m still a Democrat, but I’m a disappointed one…and I kind of hope they can find away to make it up to me, and, more importantly, to themselves, soon.