Peter Walks for Democracy

In the last week, we’ve had more wins for the power purchase agreement. Last Tuesday, the Centre County Commissioners voted 3-0 to enter. On Monday, the State College Borough voted 6-1 to join. Tonight, Last night, Patton Township’s Board voted 5-0. They join the State College Area School District and Harris Township. All told, there are about 20,000,000 kWh in so far. This amount avoids about 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, equivalent to the emissions associated to roughly about 1,800 homes. 

I want to say that the staff and consultant who have gotten us here are amazing. Them, our municipal and energy solicitors, and our consultant from Green Sky have gotten us here. During these meetings, the public has been provided details that share the process, the hiccups, the costs, the risks, and the benefits through lower long-term costs and action on climate change.

Several officials defended the project, noting the campaign of disinformation and attacks on staff (and yours truly) that has spewed out of the Tor Michaels Radio Show. Over the last couple of months, Spotlight PA, The Centre Daily Times, and StateCollege.com have run stories on the SPPA that have exposed the conspicuously unstated connection between State College Borough Council member Josh Portney and Tor “Michaels” McCartney vis a vis Representative Scott Conklin’s office.

On November 18th, Patton Township’s Chair, Ms. Pam Robb, called out their bad faith (video will be available here). In their own ways, so did State College Borough Council President Evan Myers and members John Hayes Gopal Balachandran, and Matt Herndon on November 16th. State College Borough Council meeting on Monday, resident and former State College Borough Council President Jesse Barlow called it “noise,” “a distraction,” and “a destructive act.”

Resident Vicki Fong noted that the attacks “started as ideological differences.” But they have proceeded into attacks that marked our staff with words like “scandal and slush fund.” She continued, “Questions can be asked and concerns can be stated.” But the attacks are “unconscionable and will not be tolerated.” Portney and McCartney, fueled by other bad-faith actors, have been the source of these attacks. Any reasonable person has to wonder what’s in it for them to spread this much disinformation.

Josh Portney made a motion to prevent the Borough from paying the “at risk” legal fees. It didn’t get a second.

Council then voted 6-1 to enter the SPPA. Portney was the lone dissenter, solidifying himself as a true inactivist and functional merchant of doubt.

Mayor Nanes thanked everyone who has helped us get to this point.

When we are said and done, it will be fascinating to examine the form, function, and interpersonal and organizational dynamics of the working group and the dynamics we/they had to navigate. Council members Nalini Krishnankutty, John Hayes, and Gopal Balachandran spoke about how we have learned and the balance of openness, honesty, skepticism, and trust. I’ll add consistency to that. At the end of the day, those lessons will be very powerful. I look forward to making them more available.

We have a few more votes to go. Later today, the State College Borough Water Authority will vote. Next month Ferguson Township, College Township and the College Township Water Authority, and the Centre Region Council of Governments will vote.