(Voluntary update: When I posted this, I hadn’t spotted BP’s earlier post on the same subject. Didn’t mean to steal anyone’s thunder.)

There’s been a series of articles in the Burlington Free Press lately about IBM, and it’s pretty much been portents of doom. “IBM’s Vermont Plant Continues to Lag.” “Economist Forecasts IBM Layoffs.” And, of course, the ever-popular play-one-community-against-another, “Iowa Woos IBM.”

So now, in the 1/22 edition, “Plant Wants Energy Flexibility.” In which IBM declares that it wants to end its payments to Efficiency Vermont.

The company wants the state to allow large corporations that agree to do at least $1 million a year in energy-efficiency work to opt out of contributing to Efficiency Vermont, a state program funded through a charge on every electric bill, O’Kane said. By running its own efficiency program, IBM would have more flexibility, he said.

“It would, in our view, be much more effective if we could make investments and then get audited,” said O’Kane, government affairs director for IBM.

Let’s leave aside for the moment the laughable notion that the Douglas gang would conduct effective audits of an IBM efficiency program. Anyone see a pattern here? Storm clouds over state’s biggest corporate employer, hints that they may look elsewhere… followed by demands for relief. Do you suppose this will be the last item on IBM’s wish list? Do you think they might use all the bad news as leverage? And, given the Administration’s pro-corporate proclivities, don’t you think IBM will be given pretty much whatever it wants?

One more question for those more knowledgeable than I: If large corporations are allowed to opt out of these payments, what kind of a cut will be forced on the extremely effective but already underfunded EV program?  

• It’s been all but officially announced that Deb Markowitz is running for Governor. If the rumors that she has been raising money are true, she’ll have to open a campaign account sooner rather than later. The question, then, is who will run for Secretary of State in 2010? Expect a primary, expect a relatively strong Prog candidate, and expect an unexpected name or two.
• Philip posts a picture of Obama uber-financial-contributor Jane Stetson of Norwich in a plum inauguration seat next to Chelsea Clinton. Given that Obama intends to continue the tradition of giving major donors ambassadorships, how much you wanna bet Stetson lands herself one?
• Philip also posts what I forgot to: the info on the Burlington Dems’ fundraiser with Speaker Smith. Woops. It’s today, 5:30-7:00 pm
  
  “In the Wine Cellar of 135 St. Paul Street, Burlington (Corner of Main Street and St. Paul Street).” Suggested contributions start at $25, and info (and RSVPs) can go to Selene at 802-578-7250 or selenehs-at-gmail.com.
• The Dean era is over – is the 50-State Strategy toast too? Bowers thinks so. Meanwhile rumors are that the GOP is looking into emulating it themselves (you know, because it worked). Ahh, Democrats…

It looks like IBM is leveraging job cuts and the bad economy in an attempt to op-out of the Efficiency Vermont obligation.Currently in the plan out of IBM’s $1.6 million given to Efficiency Vermont it got 90% back by following rules to create efficiencies. It is a complicated payment process but the basic op-out plan proposed would rely on IBM doing voluntarily what it now is required to do by law .Compliance would be verified after the fact by an audit .This must be part and parcel of the self-certification compliance style that Governor Douglas spoke of so movingly in his inaugural address .All the buzz words we have been hearing are in play here,flexibility,op-out and others too numerous to mention.  If  this obligation is removed where are the guarantees and auditors going to be and where are the penalties for non-compliance ?

In what way does IBM envision using this flexibility it so desires ?

House Natural Resources and Energy Committee Chairman Tony Klein, D-East Montpelier, said he’s inclined to make the change”If there are things we can do to help them without doing any harm, then we should do it,” Klein said. “On the surface, it sounds like a beneficial idea to everybody involved, but we have to make sure it is.”

O’Kane, government affairs director for IBM laid down IBM’s concerns about energy costs in meetings with two House committees Wednesday, he offered a stark reminder of why legislators might want to help: The company’s 5,300 employees receive more than $250 million in pay a year, he said. The economic benefits of that reach far beyond, he said.

…The company wants the state to allow large corporations that agree to do at least $1 million a year in energy-efficiency work to opt out of contributing to Efficiency Vermont, a state program funded through a charge on every electric bill, O’Kane said. By running its own efficiency program, IBM would have more flexibility,  “It would, in our view, be much more effective if we could make investments and then get audited,”

http://www.burlingtonfreepress…

That’s the headline (minus the quotes) from a piece in today’s Rutland Herald.

I think it’s an odd way to frame it.  Why not “Vermonters turn to assistance from diminishing fund?”

Perhaps because that doesn’t frame it as the fault of the unemployed, who are clearly at fault for being a drain on our system.  It couldn’t possibly be the responsibility of the state for failing to meet the needs of the system by underfunding it, or the responsibility of employers to pay more into the system.

From the New York Post:

Caroline Kennedy last night withdrew her name from consideration to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate after learning that Gov. David Paterson wasn't going to choose her, The Post has learned.

I think this is a good thing. It's not just the question of whether she's paid her dues. She's done some charitable work, and that's been valuable, but from my reading it doesn't appear that she's really done anything political, which is kind of important if you aspire to be a politician. I also think there are bound to be other Democrats in New York, including strong women, who would be just as good for the job, who wouldn't have to carry the weight of having been handed it, and who have actually gone out and scrambled for votes year after year.

Jim Douglas.

Check it out.  WhiteHouse.gov has a whole new look.

Music to my ears.  As a Mac user, blogger, and constant internet user for my job, I love that both President Obama and Vice President Biden are internet savvy Mac users.  

[Wow it is so nice to type President Obama and Vice President Biden without the term “elect”.]

President Obama has already brought 21st century change to the White House.  Not only will Obama use a laptop in the oval office, but The White House website has a fresh new look with its daily blog.  Check it out under the tab:  The Briefing Room.

Also meander over there every Saturday morning to check out President Obama’s weekly video address at  http://www.whitehouse.gov/week…

Even more importantly, want things quickly and up to the minute, then sign up for Obama’s twitter account.  

Obama takes over thewhitehouse twitter account. Follow @ http://twitter.com/thewhite…,

Special thanks to Tristan O’Neil, Director of New Media at Vermont Business Magazine for the head’s up on all these Presidential electronic media changes!

I am a fan of Vermont State Parks; I mean I became a facebook fan.

So there is nothing wrong with a “Vermont State Parks” Facebook page. I do wonder if this is “news”. I also wonder if this is the kind of “expertise” Gibbs is bringing as Commissioner.

Remember Gibbs is super qualified (sarcasm drip):

Gibbs is an Eagle Scout, avid outdoorsman, snowboarding coach and adventure racer who hikes, bikes, climbs, paddles and snowboards as often as his schedule permits.  

Anyway, like I said, there is probably nothing “wrong” with this. It is odd and we better not find out it cost money, or took some huge amount of staff time etc…

As matter of fact, I hope it was Gibbs doing it at home sitting watching TV or something. Lets hope Gibbs is actually doing some good and not just playing on Facebook on the tax payers dime…

WATERBURY, Vt.—Fans of the Vermont State Park system have a new place to share their enthusiasm: Facebook.

Officials set up the Facebook page where park users can share their favorite parks and their favorite locations and things to do in the parks.

Vermont Forest and Parks Commissioner Jason Gibbs says the Facebook friends are “Internet ambassadors” who help spread the word about the many opportunities that exist within Vermont's state parks and recruit new visitors.

Gibbs says the diversity of affordable recreational opportunities at the parks must be matched by a diversity of outreach activities.
 
Full story on the AP