Dear Editor,
The recent actions of Americans for Prosperity (AFP) and the Vermont Republican Party (VTGOP) reveal a concerning inconsistency. AFP, founded by the Koch brothers and a mouthpiece for Big Oil, is campaigning to repeal Vermont’s Act 18 of 2024, the Clean Heat Standard, citing concerns that it will “increase the cost of living,” “make it more expensive to heat your home,” and “make Vermont less competitive with our neighbors.” However, these claims overlook a critical fact: Act 18 is not actually being implemented.
In contrast, AFP has issued a strong statement in support of President Trump’s economic agenda, which includes imposing tariffs on key trading partners and our Canadian neighbors to the north. These tariffs are poised to raise energy costs for Vermonters, thereby increasing the cost of living, making home heating more expensive, and reducing Vermont’s competitiveness — exactly the outcomes AFP warns against. This contradiction suggests that AFP’s opposition to Act 18 may be less about protecting Vermonters and more about preventing regulatory oversight of the fossil fuel industry.
Governor Phil Scott has taken a measured approach by forming an interagency task force to assess the potential impacts of these federal tariffs. While this was a prudent first step a month ago, there has been limited communication since then to Vermonters about how to prepare for the potential effects on their purchasing power and energy costs. Governor Scott could help inform Vermonters preparations by addressing the real impact President Trump’s actions will have on groceries and energy costs. He has an effective model of crisis communication that he could redeploy and hold regular informational briefings on what is currently known.
Instead of focusing on procedural gimmicks and rallies to halt a state policy that is not advancing, the VTGOP could acknowledge the financial and emotional stress that the Trump tariffs, mass firings, and funding freezes are having on Vermonters, the likely impacts on the cost of groceries, heating and cooling their homes and driving their cars, and our Republican colleagues could speak up against those federal policies and against the agenda of Americans for Prosperity.
At the Town Meetings in my district it was clear to me that Vermonters are worried about what is happening federally. It’s time for all of our elected leaders to align our actions with the interests of Vermonters by acknowledging and confronting policies that are actually harming our state’s economy and residents.
Rep. Laura Sibilia is an independent representing Dover, Jamaica, Somerset, Stratton and Wardsboro and the Ranking Member of the House Energy & Digital Infrastructure Committee
