Vermont Climate Council’s Clean Heat Standard – a disguised carbon tax on Vermont  homeowners, renters, businesses, schools, hospitals and municipal governments, fell one vote short of passage on Wednesday.

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.”

Here’s a news item of interest. Anya Rader Wallack will be the new chair of One Care, the Accountable Care Organization that hopes to control as much health care in Vermont as possible.

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.

One of my favorite writers on current affairs is Kevin Williamson, who posts a piece every Tuesday at nationalreview.com. Last week he did an illuminating piece on President Biden’s current concern about “ghost guns,” unserialized and untraceable firearms that can be bought online and assembled at home.

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.

On April 20th, the Ethan Allen Institute hosted its 29th annual Jefferson Day celebration at Saint Michael's College, showing the first half of the Ken Burns film "Thomas Jefferson." EAI Board Chairman Jack McMullen presented former EAI president Rob Roper with an award for leading the organization from 2014-22. EAI Vice President John McClaughry fielded questions about the film afterwards.

"The evening was upbeat in its honoring Rob Roper's near decade long service as EAI president. The Jefferson film was remarkably well done and balanced showing his strengths and his human failings." 

~ Jack McMullen, Chairman of the EAI Board of Directors 

"It was my first EAI event and I loved the energy of the group and enjoyed spending time with like minded people." 

~ Randall Northrup, EAI Board Member

"It was a truly wonderful evening! Besides a well-deserved recognition of Rob Roper’s many accomplishments as EAI president, we were treated to a truly thought provoking and beautifully produced film about one of the most seminal yet complex figures in American history."
~ Robert Letovskey, EAI Board Member

A friend sent me the video of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy committee meeting of April 15, discussing the Clean Heat Standard bill (H.715). Twenty nine minutes in, it yielded this these gems:

Matt Cota of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association recently sent out its weekly bulletin to its hundred-plus members, the people who bring fuel oil and propane to keep you from freezing in Vermont winters. A major topic was the Clean Heat Standard bill (S.715)  that has passed the House and is now in the Senate.