TO T HE EDITOR: THE NORTHFIELD NEWS OUR LEGISLATORS have passed seatbelt laws, which are good for the safety of all Vermonters. The underlying message is that we are in for a rough ride over the next two years. We are going to need to tighten our seatbelts, not in our vehicles, but on our wallets and checkbooks.

It costs us 4.5 cents per kilowatt hour from Vermont Yankee and 7 cents per kilowatt-hour from Hydro-Quebec. Our liberal math whizzes want to replace this with 20 cents per kilowatt hour for wind generation and 30 cents per kilowatt hour for solar. Neither wind nor solar are available to produce electricity for Vermont. They are going to prepare us for these higher rates by raising our current rates to 20 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Here are the implications. If they raise the rates on businesses, the businesses have to charge more for their products and services, and this comes out of the consumers' pockets. Our town is going to have to raise our property taxes to pay for our streetlights and other electrical consumption by the town. Our school budget is going to have to increase to pay for the additional costs.

The area of safety for the citizens of Northfield is at great risk. Now, we are having trouble maintaining our streets and maintaining an adequate police force. This presents us with a cold, dark town that cannot supply adequate police protection.

Our health is also at stake. Those of us who need oxygen and air conditioning because of breathing problems are going to be put in financial distress also.

We have to call, email, write or communicate any way we can to our local legislators to try to put a stop to this. We have to wait 2 years to speak with our votes.
ANTHONY VACH
Northfield