Editor’s note: This letter to Senate Pro Tem John Campbell is by Jeff Wolfe, the founder and chairman of groSolar.
John,
I was astonished to hear that you personally support S.30. This bill would be a horrible setback to Vermont’s business and environmental communities, and even without passage into law will send a strong signal to the renewable energy industry that Vermont is CLOSED for business.
I have fought hard to create a renewable energy industry in Vermont and the U.S. You know my work at groSolar, you are likely less familiar with my work as a national leader in the industry. I have created jobs in a couple dozen states, and have worked to make renewable, sustainable energy affordable for Vermonters and all Americans, while striving to protect our state economy and our global environment.
Most recently I was instrumental in having groSolar not leave Vermont, and in having NRG Energy start to create jobs in Vermont through a first-in-the-nation pilot I convinced them to start in here. (Not NRG Systems, different, Fortune 500 company, largest owner of solar in the U.S.)
These companies, and many others, can chose where to do business. There are other states that are working hard for these jobs, and that is where they will likely go if this bill passes even the Vermont Senate. Your stance that this simply provides “local control” over clean energy projects is a pure smoke screen. If you were truly worried about that then pipelines and transmission lines (associated with traditional dirty energy sources) would not be excluded from the bill. (Not that their inclusion would make the bill acceptable.)
But if you support this bill, not only does that support end, but I will help recruit and support opposition to you in the next election, and will put my money where my mouth is.
And do not accuse me and my industry of trashing Vermont for the sake of jobs. Renewable energy is a necessity to maintain our environment, to combat the scourge to Vermont (and the world) that global climate disruption will be. You either believe that, or you do not. If you believe that, then as a real Vermonter you would want a good portion of that energy created in Vermont to provide a more resilient infrastructure, keep our costs under control, and not foist our needs on others. If you say you believe it, but believe all that energy should come from somewhere else because it’s too hard to live near (untrue) then who should live near it? Someone else? (Lots of people live near solar and wind projects, and like it.)
This anti renewable energy effort is well documented as being funded by the Koch brothers and their allies. I’m truly surprised and stunned that you are falling for their lies, deceit, fake science, and name-calling. As the “leader” of the Vermont Senate, I expect more from you.
John, I’ve supported you for a lot of races. But if you support this bill, not only does that support end, but I will help recruit and support opposition to you in the next election, and will put my money where my mouth is. I’m not a single issue voter, but this one bill, because it sets back action on climate change, affects almost every issue I care about. Middle class prosperity, human health, environmental health, recreation, are all negatively affected by this
bill.
Please change your mind, please join me in vigorously opposing this bill.
