Well, I showed up at the State House this morning for another day of drama surrounding S.30, the former “wind moratorium” bill that’s been successively stripped of almost all its effective provisions.
But there wasn’t any. Drama, that is. In the space of about two minutes, the Senate took up the latest version of S.30, no one offered any amendments, and it sailed through on a voice vote with a single “No” heard from the floor.
For those just joining us, S.30’s last few remaining teeth were extracted on Tuesday. (A good account of that action was written by VTDigger’s Andrew Stein.) The latest version of S.30 does not include any requirement for the Public Service Board to consider Act 250 criteria in siting decisions for new energy plants, including conformity with town development plans.
The Tuesday action was considered a big win for advocates of renewable energy. And there was talk of a counterattack by opponents of wind energy. But it didn’t materialize. If you believe the hallway chatter, wind opponents had decided S.30 was a lost cause. They may try to attach anti-wind language to other pieces of legislation — and there’s more than enough time for that kind of maneuvering.
The desiccated husk of S.30 is headed to the House, where little or no action is expected.
Not that it really matters; even if S.30 became law, it would have little or no impact.
… that some of the items that were REMOVED from S.30 are much akin to the suggestions that the Vermont Energy Generation Siting Board are currently proposing in their latest deliberations.
additional proof that the entire undertaking apparently an excersize in futility & complete waste of time resulting in exposing the abject folly of all concerned.
As I read the comments of key windies in online comment sections including the vitriole & poutrage I can only say they should be ashamed esp legislators & ringleader Benning. The false & misleading information is simply stunning.
http://vtdigger.org/2013/03/26…
This is what happens when a grandstanding lawmaker gives false hope & credibility to a hopeless cause, whips up the frenzy to a fever pitch with over-the-top hyperbole, then rides the crest of the wave of populist poutrage & gives false hope to a highly charged emotional issue. Worse than if a less daunting piece of legislation had been proposed or better yet none at all.
I feel sorry for those who actually believed the lies of the windies who are well aware of the deception and were swept into this mess. Hopefully they will receive the truth, see that issue is not as portrayed & recognize that they’ve been played like a fiddle.