Letter to the editor: Affordable Heat Act is irresponsible

A reply to three lengthy commentaries/letters over the past two weeks on the subject of affordable home heating.

The print, online, and TV media are full of messages stating that Senator Chris Bray “voted to raise your taxes” and that the Affordable Heat Act sponsored by him will result in large increases in fuel bills.

The Affordable Heat Act will push Vermonter’s oil, LP, and kerosene costs higher to induce us to switch to Vermont’s expensive electricity. However, the legislature’s focus should be on reducing the cost of electricity instead of setting Vermonters up to … (read more)

I read with interest and a shake of the head the editorial on Sept. 26 by state Reps. Bongartz and James entitled “Get the Facts on the Affordable Heat Act.”

Many Vermonters have been told that Act 18, the Affordable Heat Act, will result in much higher fuel prices, that it’s a “carbon tax,” that it involves mandates or requirements for how they heat their homes or the fuel they use, and that the unprecedented … (read more)

Senator Chris Bray (and other legislative leaders) are working hard to help Vermonters move off of the high-cost, price-volatile roller coaster of imported fossil fuels. He deserves our appreciation for this important work.

In today’s world of dueling information campaigns — where exaggeration, misinformation and outright lies are prolific — learning to distinguish between fact and fiction is crucial.

As Governor, I believe we must make Vermont more affordable by helping Vermonters keep more of what they earn, while we simultaneously make transformative, strategic investments in important areas like community revitalization, climate action, housing, ch … (read more)

The reality is: for both people and the planet, business as usual doesn’t work.

I want to focus on just one aspect of the bill: the assignment of clean heat credits to various measures that are proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating buildings. 

At the Legislative Breakfast on March 27, Representative Joe Andriano made a strong statement in opposition to S. 5, the Affordable Heat Act. I hope he can be persuaded to change his position.

I would encourage anyone who is interested in gaining an accurate understanding of the bill to go online and look up the text of the bill itself.

I’ve spent a lot of money for my small contribution to address climate change. But, can you afford to?

Vermont’s contribution to easing the climate crisis may be tiny. But acting collaboratively with other states and countries can produce positive results.

In reading the back-and-forth comments about the Affordable Heat Act, S.5, I hear the frustrations of many voices.