Defeating the "Clean Heat Standard" or Carbon Tax on Home Heating
The attempt to upend heating in Vermont's built environment collapsed this legislative session. The "Clean Heat Standard" (CHS) bill was touted as the most impactful plan to meet the carbon reduction goals mandated by the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act. It planned to replace fossil-based heating fuels with (carbon-intensive) biofuels or wood burning systems; and force local fuel dealers to pay for installing cold-climate heat pumps and weatherizing homes across the state.
Two GWSA Pillars Down, One to Go.
The Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI-P), a stealth carbon tax on gasoline and diesel, died last December when the only three states that originally agreed to participate all backed out. That was one down. The Clean Heat Standard (CHS), a stealth carbon tax on propane, natural gas, kerosene, and heating oil was just successfully vetoed by Governor Scott. That’s two. The next piece of the Global Warming Solutions Act up for consideration is Vermont participation in the California Clean Car & Clean Truck Standards – an ultimate ban on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Biden’s Ministry of Truth
An unforced error is when a politician volunteers or says something stupid and/or politically harmful without realizing its effects. President Biden offered an excellent example of an unforced error when last month when he announced formation of a Disinformation Governance Board, and dispatched Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to build support for it.
Climate Guru Again Calls for More Nuclear Power
The New York Energy and Climate Advocates put out a press release on April 15 that should be of some interest. “As New York’s Climate Action Council conducts public hearings on how to meet the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, climate scientist and former director of NASA’s Goddard Institute Dr. James E. Hansen, labor representatives, community leaders, and engineers called for a bold and inclusive climate strategy, embracing both renewables and zero-carbon nuclear.”
State Policy Network Interviews New EAI President Meg Hansen
The Ethan Allen Institute is an affiliate member of the State Policy Network (SPN), through which we collaborate and share resources with fifty-plus similar but independent state-level public policy organizations across the nation. SPN sat down with EAI's new president Meg Hansen to learn more about how the Institute is improving the lives of Vermont residents, and her thoughts on the challenges ahead as EAI seeks to make Vermont a better place to live and work.Electric Vehicles and African Child Labor
A few weeks ago I devoted three WDEV radio scripts to the pros and cons of switching to an electric vehicle. This is a large topic to deal with in five minutes of air time, so I want to add two thoughts now.
Proposed Climate Spending to Developing Countries
The March 29 Washington Post reported that President Biden has requested more than $11 billion to help developing countries adapt to the ravages of climate change and build greener economies in his $5.8 trillion budget plan.