The debate over the Affordable Heat Act comprises two distinct dialogues. One centers on the reality of climate change, and is, at some level, ideological; while the other focuses on the practical implications of the outcomes of that first dialogue.
Conservative writers and thinkers are doing a far more effective job of controlling the dialogue around the practical implications of the Affordable Heat Act. (Given they have no interest in substantive dialogue around climate change, they need not engage on that front, meaning the discussion around the reality of climate change is largely rhetorical and occurs in an echo chamber.)
The problem currently, is that Democrats are relying too heavily on ideology to bolster their support of this bill. And are doing so at the expense of numbers that refute those put forth by places like the Ethan Allen Institute (whose numbers almost certainly can’t be trusted, but are, at least, being presented).
Please, Sen. Chris Bray, sell me on this bill. Not on the reality of a warming planet, not on the need to do something, not on the hazy idea that “renewable electricity” is preferable to fossil fuels; but on the affordability of this bill. Convince me that my relatively new, on-demand, fuel-efficient liquid propane boiler will be adequately replaced by heat pumps. And that I can afford those heat pumps.
Alan Rawls
North Ferrisburgh