by Andrew Stein March 20, 2013 vtdigger.org Senate President Pro Tempore John Campbell, D-Windham, said that the Vermont Senate is delaying a floor vote on the contentious energy regulation bill S30 until next Tuesday.
The reasoning behind his decision, he said, is twofold: He wants all senators to be able to vote, and he feels personally compelled to vote on the bill because of an email from an influential renewable energy businessman and member of the Democratic Party, which was made public by VTDigger earlier this week.
Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell. VTD/Alan Panebaker
‘ Quite honestly, because of that letter being put in Digger ‘¦ if I don’ t vote on this thing, it looks like I actually paid attention to this threat that was put forward,’ he said. ‘ I just won’ t do that. That’ s everything that’ s wrong about the system.’
The letter Campbell referenced (see below) was sent by Jeffery Wolfe, who founded the large-scale solar company groSolar (dba of Global Resource Options, Inc based in White River Jct) and sits on the national advisory board for the Union of Concerned Scientists.
In that email, Wolfe wrote: ‘ 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.’
Sitting in the Senate’ s most powerful office, Campbell told VTDigger that because of Wolfe’ s comments he feels ‘ it’ s imperative’ that he votes on the bill.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Campbell presided over the Senate for Lt. Gov. Phil Scott who was away, which means he couldn’ t vote on the bill unless there was a tie. In addition, Campbell said, Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington, will be out for the remainder of the week and he asked the President Pro Tem to hold a vote on the matter when he is present.
Campbell said he supports the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee, which passed the bill out to the Senate floor.
Therefore, he supports the legislation.
‘ And that may cost me my seat,’ he said. ‘ It very well may cost me my seat, and I’ m willing to do that. The fact of the matter is, I don’ t like bullies ‘¦ I really feel if I’ ve got to get up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror, I’ ve got to make decisions that I think are best for Vermont and our future.’
Campbell said that he supports renewable energy ‘ 100 percent,’ but he wants to ensure that new projects are sited in a manner that is not destructive to Vermont’ s environment.
‘ Any time you get off of oil, you are doing something good,’ he said. ‘ But in our rush to do that, are we forsaking other really important things about this state? And I think that question needs to be asked.’
Although Campbell hasn’ t yet identified any donations from Wolfe, he said he would return any funds that he has received.
‘ I’ m reviewing my campaign finances to see just how much he’ s given to me because I will be sending his checks back,’ Campbell said.
‘ I always tell people if you make a contribution, please understand you are not buying access to me because you’ ll have access anyways. And you are not buying my vote,’ he added.
Editor’ s note: This letter to Senate Pro Tem John Campbell is by Jeff Wolfe, the founder and chairman of groSolar. It was first published by vtdigger.org on March 18.
"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.)
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."