Here is a bit of history many probably do not know.  In the 1970’s a property on Popple Dungeon Drive in Charlotte was being considered as a potential site for a nuclear power plant.  I do not know the history as to why this site was dropped in favor of Vernon, the current home of Vermont Yankee.  I do not know who the decision makers were or what the community response was some 35 years ago.  What I can do is picture how different this community would be, how different our relationship to Lake Champlain would be, if Charlotte had been chosen over Vernon.  Popple Dungeon Nuclear Power.

So what decisions can we make today that we can look back on, 30 odd years from now and say, I am so glad we did what we did in 2009.  Or maybe it could have been called Charlotte Nuclear Power.

My reason for running for the legislature last year was clear. I wanted to be a part of creating the vision and implementing a plan that would keep this state beautiful, clean, safe and abundant in meaningful, not superficial ways.  I wanted to be a part of building a vibrant economy that was in concert with our respect for our natural resources and thoughtful way of life.  It is my hope, that the Vermont Energy Act of 2009, passing out of the House with a 2:1 vote on Earth Day, will be part of that experience.  Here is what H-446 is…

Over the past two weeks, the floor of the House has been a hotbed of debate.  Some of this debate has been deeply moving, some quite humorous, and some simply tri-partisan bickering.  Much of the time, however, I find the debate lively and engaging, emphasizing the need to have divergent points of view brought forward to help guide us toward thoughtful decision making.

By happenstance, the seat I picked on the first day of the session provides me with instant access to many of these views.  To my left, is a 5th term Democrat.  To my right sits the youngest member of the House.  Directly in back of me is the Republican leadership.  It has proven to be a great place as we work our way through these issues.

Last week, we passed the Marriage Equality Bill, the Budget Adjustment Bill and the Capital Bill.   These have been extensively covered in the news so I thought a quick update on other activities might be a relief.  Here goes:

Transportation:  H-438, the Transportation Bill, passed out of the House at the end of March and is now in the Senate.  The bill proposed a $120 million bond to be funded by a $.05 gas and diesel tax for the next three years.  Here is one way to quantify this:  if you drive 15,000 miles per year and your vehicle gets 20 mpg, a $.05 gas tax would cost you $37.50 per year. Compare this to the potential cost of damage due…

(Note:  see Doyle Survey Results link above for a comparison of the Shelburne results to the full poll results)

The other day, I sat down with the Senator Doyle’s Town Meeting Day surveys and decided to “have at it.” What was on the mind of Shelburne voters and how did these surveys compare to the calls and emails I receive?  I counted each survey, all 201 of them, recording results, one question at a time.  I read longer responses on the back of the forms, then I entered the data onto an Excel spreadsheet and looked at the results.

Let us be very clear here.  The Doyle Survey is not a scientific poll. It is not set up to ensure a representative sample has been taken and the system for distribution is not standardized.  Since I tabulated the results myself without oversight, citizens must rely on my accuracy and integrity rather than standard survey protocol.

But the survey is not without merit.  As WPTZ noted last year,  “The Doyle survey is not a scientific poll, but a sampling of views of voters taking part in Town Meeting Day.”  After a quick call to my math genius friend John Huntington Smith, I learned that the survey may not be statistically significant but was useful in showing trends.  He said the survey has value, “you get a feel, it is not precise, but it is a feel.”   We talked about the inherent problems in the phrasing of questions, particularly question # 7. …

In 2006, the Legislature established the Commission on the Future of Economic Development (CFED).  Made up of leaders in the private sector and government, CFED was charged with identifying those elements that advance or impede economic development.  It was also asked to develop goals believed to be most critical to Vermont’s future prosperity and vitality.

From this work, the Committee identified four principal goals to establish economic viability, security and opportunity for all.  These were:

1.    Develop a highly-skilled multi-generational workforce
2.    Invest in digital, physical and human infrastructure
3.    Take advantage of our small scale to create nimble, efficient and effective government and regulation
4.    Leverage our brand and scale:  our rural character, reputation for environmental quality, and entrepreneurial spirit.

“Bold and disciplined action is needed to accomplish these goals,” the report stated.  “The legislature, administration, and myriad of economic and community partners must work together with unerring discipline to focus our policies, regulations, programs and incentives on the critical interconnection between Vermont’s assets, our collective values, our capabilities, and the opportunities which will increase state revenues and the prosperity of all Vermonters.”  http://www.snellingcenter.org/cfed

This session, the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development has been working on a bill to develop near-term and long-term economic strategies guided by the four CFED goals.  Near-term strategies focus on stakeholder collaboration for effective use of the stimulus monies.  An example of this would be writing unified proposals for competitive grants. Long-term strategies set a statewide framework for collectively…

March 5, 2009

First, the good news:  The American Recovery and Investment Act (ARRA), also known as the “Federal Stimulus Package,” was signed into law in February.  It is estimated that the ARRA will bring in approximately $925-950 million in resources over the next two years.  It is a highly complex package coming in roughly 300 different funding streams, each with its own terms and conditions.  Some of the funds will require state or local funding matches while others have tight time constraints. Most have very specific project parameters.

On February 26, Stephen Klein from the Joint Fiscal Office presented preliminary estimates as to the dispersal of these funds.  He cautioned us that these were truly preliminary.  They are still reviewing the implications and strings attached to these funds.  A percentage of matching dollars will likely be required to capture $240 million of these funds.  He estimated the following:

1.    $275-300 million will go to the Vermont General Fund
2.    $290 million will go to project funding such as transportation, energy, broadband, upgrading.
3.    $210 million to state, local and communities for schools, organizations, higher ed., research and businesses
4.    $25 million to individuals in the form of Pell grants, food stamps, SSI etc.

Representatives from the Legislature and Administration have been meeting continuously in order to better understand contingencies, plan and coordinate best use of these monies once they are available.

More good news:  Vermonters can also expect approximately $500 million in tax cuts for individuals…

A Visit to Vermont Yankee

This week, I attended a tour of the Vermont Yankee plant in Vernon hosted by Entergy.  About 20 legislators attended the tour.  Press and lobbyists were excluded.

All of us had been through security screening the week before the visit.  Apparently my traffic violations were not cause for concern and I was permitted to enter the plant.  I was issued a helmet, safety glasses and earplugs and was able to snap a picture outside the plant.  Once inside, alas, my camera was confiscated.

As a result I cannot show you the dizzying number of buttons, lights and computer screens pouring out graphs.  I cannot show you the repaired cooling towers, the dry cask storage, the spent fuel rods lying at the bottom of the hotel-size pool.  I cannot show you the faces of the employees hoping to keep their jobs.  I stood on top of a nuclear reactor.  I followed directions not to touch anything in radioactive areas.  I had lunch with employees.  “I wouldn’t work here if it weren’t safe,” said a union rep.  A conspicuously pregnant woman chatted with legislators.

By statute, the legislature grants approval for “continued operation” of the plant, however it is the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that has jurisdiction over re-licensing. Many Shelburne residents have contacted me to vote against Vermont Yankee due to safety concerns.  The legislature cannot and must not make decisions based on safety issues.  Nuclear safety is federally regulated and falls to the NRC.  In…

February 5, 2009

The State House has been a busy place with many people wanting to weigh in on the issues facing our state in these troubled times.  We are currently spending about 85% of our time in individual committees and this week, agency commissioners visited us to present budget information and the status of recent rescissions.  In addition, over 100 bills have been sent to committees.  I currently serve as clerk on the Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources Committee and have been placed on an additional joint committee to address issues related to Lake Champlain.  I will present this in a later column.  Here are a few highlights from last week:

SCHEDULE CHANGE:  Speaker Shap Smith has informed us that the legislature will be in recess (unpaid) for the first two weeks in March rather than the traditional one week.  Dropping a week in March allows flexibility to add it back in May when we have a clearer picture of the Federal Stimulus Package.  After April 15th, we will be better able to quantify additional revenue downgrades.

APPROPRIATIONS:  The Committee had a full week of testimony on the proposed FY 2010 budget and the Governor’s proposal to cut over 600 state employees. Administration has given the various state agencies targeted employee reduction numbers and a dollar figure.  This will be the fourth round of cuts.

TRANSPORTATION:  The Ethan Allen Amtrak route is still a hot topic in this committee and the hall has been filled with people and groups…

There has been much news regarding the looming budget deficits facing Vermont and the Nation.  While efforts to guide our state through this economic downturn predominate, the 14 committees in the House are also working on other critical issues.  I thought a better use of this column this week would be to provide you with an update on a few of them.

Natural Resources Committee:  Most of the efforts here will be on 1) how to expedite, to site, and deploy new renewable energy sources and 2) the pending question of continued operation of the Vermont Yankee.  Specific legislation has not yet reached the committee.

Judiciary:  This committee has received a draft copy of Senate bill S.13 which was developed in response to the growing concern regarding sexual crimes against children.     This bill proposes a statewide comprehensive approach and includes initiatives directed toward school programs, reporting requirements, sex offender registry compliance, the elimination of deferred sentences for offenders, and mandatory sentencing.

Transportation:   The committee has heard extensive testimony regarding future plans for the Vermont Rail System.  Under special scrutiny is the economic impact of the proposal to replace rail service with bus service along the western corridor.  The long term plan is to upgrade the tracks and restore train service. There will be a public hearing at the State House on January 21st at 5 P.M which I will attend.

Education:  5 of the 11 members are new to this committee now chaired bv Johanna Leddy Donovan of Burlington.  The…

Shelburne News Question 4:  Alternative sources of power generation must play a significant role in our energy planning into the future.  What do you feel are the most viable energy options for Vermont?

First, I would like to take the word “alternative” out of “alternative energy.” That is economically and environmentally the most viable option.  If we subsidized renewable sources – wind, solar, water, geo-thermal and biomass energy – as we have petroleum, ethanol and nuclear, they would be the clear economic winners, not the “alternatives.”

Second, all of the current available options are viable: wind, solar, hydro, and biomass. Our geography and weather patterns make us well suited to wind and small hydro-generated plants.  Our forests and farmlands produce a variety of forms of biomass: wood, grass, and agricultural waste products.  Solar is an option in open or highly developed areas. Electrically-powered mass transit could one day take pressure off our roads while reducing carbon emissions.

Third, I support an aggressive plan to develop localized generation of power – power that is owned, constructed and operated by Vermonters. Localized generation strengthens our grid, creates greater independence, and keeps money here.  Energy options must be determined region by region based on microclimate and economy.  In addition, the closer the production to the consumer, the greater the efficiency.  It is estimated that nearly 8% of energy is lost over long transmission lines.

Fourth, we must identify and overcome those barriers that are preventing construction of green energy. We are at…

Shelburne News Question 3:  Lack of private sector job growth in our state is viewed by many as a critical condition, with growth being experienced in government and non-profit jobs which do not contribute to the tax base in a meaningful way.  How would you addresss this concern of your constituents if elected?

As I travel through our community, I hear many stories:  a craftsman with dwindling orders; an engineer facing downsizing; a self-employed woman with crushing healthcare costs.  I also hear good news:  jobs are growing in the technology sector and small start-up businesses.

Vermont’s economic future appears to be as an incubator for entrepreneurial ventures and green businesses attracted to our quality of life, agricultural heritage and environmental ethic. We are poised to be leaders in energy technology and are attractive to businesses with under 100 employees.  While businesses create private sector jobs, the state must address those factors which make business viable:

1.    Build a healthy infrastructure throughout the state.  Reliable broadband, cell service and transportation are essential.
2.    Provide entrepreneurial funding or seed money to get businesses off the ground. Some may fail, but the ones that survive provide jobs and pay taxes.
3.    Support renewable energy.  This responds to a problem and creates a range of jobs.
4.    Develop a high quality, educated and trained workforce
5.    Streamline the state permit process without harming the environment.  People tell me they don’t mind following the rules – just make the process…