Pro-Business Permitting

The Secretary for Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources, Jonathan Wood, has just written a welcome piece in the Freeps on permitting reform, and he’s exactly right that the permitting process itself is the barrier, not permitting in general.  The process allows for too much interventionist power by tiny constituencies, which drives up project costs (if a project is delayed, then cash flow is delayed), and if enough delay is incurred, projects get canceled because the payback period, Net Present Value, or any other financial metric tells the project manager it is now an unprofitable project.  Those with an ax to grind against the business community know this, and happily tangle the permitting process whenever a project does not meet their individual requirements.  Wood goes on to say:

 "Business interests, whether traditional or green, need to know that Vermont is a place they can look to for their future." (emphasis mine).

I would replace the word “know” above with “be actively convinced”, but the intent is there.  I applaud Wood’s commentary on the permitting process.  If we don’t change the way Vermont approaches business and economic growth, we will continue to see an aging Vermont demographic that is less and less able to support state spending through its tax receipts.  If the business climate does not change, we will continue to become more and more dependent on a federal entity for our very existence.  This may come as a shock, but I’m not ready or willing to walk the planet for the rest of my days expecting my rich Uncle (Sam) to bail me out when I can’t pay my bills.

Comments

[GreggB]

It's over VT has driven off the cliff. VT cannot catch up with the rest of the world. Live poor or leave.

[Dennis Lukas]

For once I agree with GreggB, and hard working people started leaving in earnest last year.People are not the only ones leaving, a trip up route 7 today shows business's closing.We are not alone. With the impending tax increases on U.S. business, they are laying off U.S. workers and out sourcing to other countries.IBM is losing contracts and may close. Our energy companies are going to Switzerland, (the same companies that will build your windmills and alternative energy sources).China is seeking guarantees on our 2 trillion we owe them.Ever stop to think why China is building up their military, one reason, falling sales and revenues from the U.S., the other reason, they may have to collect the debt we owe.Vermont will go on its merry way until there is nothing left.The past 10 years have proven this.