To: Ian Grossman, Re-elect Governonr Jim Douglas campaign
Subject: the Solar Bus

Ian,

I appreciate your interest in the Solar Bus project. At this time I feel I must respectfully decline your request to use the Solar Bus as a campaign vehicle on the Governor's campaign tour. I do not feel it would be appropriate for me to support the Governor in his re-election campaign considering the key issues I outlined to you previously. Under his leadership, we missed a great opportunity to have a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS), and wind energy projects on both private and state owned land have been stalled.

I feel I have been objective and fair in coming to this decision. I did ask you to provide clarification on the Governor's position on the these issues but have received no answers to my specific questions. And since you first called, I have done all the objective research I could to determine Governor Douglas's track record on renewable energy policy and I have found a lack of support.

Knowing what I now know, I think it would be inappropriate for the Governor to appear in front of the Solar Bus, or any renewable energy project. To me it would seem like a photo opportunity around a very popular issue, with no substance behind it.

Renewable energy is one of the key issues facing our state and our nation. It connects the economy, the environment, health care, jobs, and foreign policy. At at time when Vermont receives a large percentage of its power from an aging nuclear power plant that has lost fuel rods and had a fire in recent weeks, it is obvious that whoever gets elected this November will be facing some tough decisions in regards to energy production in Vermont. Solar energy is a core solution that can help the economy, and help ensure that our air and water is clean for generations to come. We need a leader who wants to do more than stand in front of a prop for photos; we need someone who will push renewable energy legislation through because it's good for Vermont.

As I told you on the phone, I would love to pick up the Governor in the Solar Bus and drive him anywhere he wants to go, and have him stand in front of the Bus and announce a new energy plan that favors renewable energy sources with substance. But you have not been able to demonstrate to me that the Governor really understands the importance of renewable energy, or his plan to use his executive power to significantly increase its use in our state.

It is my hope that by declining your request, my voice will be heard and perhaps the Governor will realize that Vermonters need more than talk and photos in front of a solar powered bus. We need someone who has the vision to back up the talk and lead us to a solar powered future with more jobs, cleaner air, and energy independence.

Respectfully,
Gary Beckwith
The Solar Bus

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THE SOLAR BUS
a biodiesel and solar energy education project
http://solarbus.org
info@solarbus.org
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