Government is always in bed with someone or something, it all depends on which side of the political spectrum your on. If you favor dependable energy for consumers at the lowest possible cost, then your in bed with “big oil”
If your on a crusade to “save the planet” then you’ll be in bed with “big solar” and/or “big wind”. Obviously Gov. Shumlin is in between the sheets with both. As this story attests, http://www.wcax.com/story/32168544/shumlin-energy-siting-bill-veto-sparks-showdown.
But were told that the vast majority of Vermonters are on board.http://www.revermont.org/.
A few apparently are not.http://www.wcax.com/story/29033596/vermonts-split-over-solar.
While this is going on protest abound against a pipe line to bring natural gas to Vermont.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_SYWR98RAM.
The local newspaper recently published an editorial lamented that too many young ambitious young people are forsaking Vermont for “greener pastures”.http://timesargus.com/article/20160603/OPINION01/160609906/1021. Why, isn’t installing solar panels all over Vermont constitute a great career. We need Young adults to stay and work and PAY TAXES so Vermont can provide FREE HEALTHCARE for all the geezers until the State determines that they are not worth the cost and encourages physician assisted suicide.
Forbes magazine places Vt. at #42 in the nation for business. Energy cost and reliability are a big factor along with regulations.
I can certainly understand why farmers would want to lease some of their land for solar panels. It’s another source of income and perhaps a tax break to boot. But..
If Vermont is going whole hog with being “Carbon neutral” and at the same time generating enough reliable low cost renewable energy to satisfy business to expand to provide good jobs for young people to raise families. Why not eliminate dairy farming altogether. Blanket the pastures with solar panels. Fill them up. No more headaches over milk prices. And at he same time you’ve eliminated a major source of greenhouse gas. The methane from COW FARTS! http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/cow-emissions-more-damaging-to-planet-than-co2-from-cars-427843.html
We just need more government coercion. to save us from climate catastrophe. It’s just your freedom.