Georgetown’s Greenhorns, or More Hot Air from Gore?
John Griffing
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GEORGETOWN, TX — A small Texas town — widely known for being one of the most politically “Republican” in the state — is now part of former Vice President Al Gore’s “green” pipe dream, and is appropriately facing an “inconvenient truth” of its own, according to reports.
Georgetown, the place where legendary attorney Dan Moody took on the KKK, is now a jewel in the crown of green progressives. In fact, it’s been featured in a Smithsonian documentary of the most “progressive” towns in America.
Why? Because it promised to go “100 percent renewable” seven years ago, without making sure that promise was “100 percent” affordable, energy-efficient, or clinically sane.
Thanks to the bold initiative of Gore favorite and errand boy Mayor Dale Ross, the hard-working (and mostly retired) taxpaying residents of Georgetown, are now paying more than $1,000 per household in higher electricity charges over the last four years.
Think about that, folks; the average household in this picturesque Texas hamlet — straight out of a Thomas Kinkade paintain — is needlessly paying $1,219 in higher electricity costs. That’s for all 71,000 residents of Georgetown, all thanks to the decision of its Republican mayor, to shift the city’s municipal utility to 100-percent renewable (back when he was merely a city council member.)
Ross was reelected in 2018 with 72 percent of the vote. The key to his success? “Without being too self-reflective,” Ross attitributes his large popularity (a fluid state of affairs) to being a “people” person.
“I just like people.” As a Republican, Ross checks off most of the typical party boxes: less regulation, low taxes and tough on crime. But on the environment, Ross is something out of a Greenpeace pamphlet: it’s true if he wishes hard enough that it’s true; except, it’s not true. Thanks to Ross’s insatiable faith-based belief in the efficacy of renewable energy sources — Georgetown (pop. 67,000) last year became the largest city in the United States to be powered entirely by renewable energy.
For perspective, the largest U.S. city fully powered by renewable sources previously was Burlington, Vermont (pop. 42,000), home to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders — a hallmark of laissez-faire capitalism (if Sweden were the starting point, and Venezuela were the end point.)
“You think of climate change and renewable energy, from a political standpoint, on the left-hand side of the spectrum, and what I’ve done is toss all those partisan political thoughts aside,” Ross says. “We’re doing this because it’s good for our citizens. Cheaper electricity is better. Clean energy is better than fossil fuels.”
But, it’s not cheaper, it’s only subjectively “better” (and that depends on whether human beings come first, or second in the worldview of the beholder.)
The problem, as with all “hockey stick” arithemetic, is that the numbers never match the pie-in-the-sky projections (gloomy or favorable) of the those doing the predicting.
Ross is a celebrity to scores of eco-fascist lefties worldwide, but he’s a legend only in his own mind — and a pariah to Georgetown voters (who may be less enthused next election cycle.)
Lorraine Brady, the editor of the town’s paper of record, the Williamson County Sun, claims she’s requested details on the city’s renewable energy contracts but the city hasn’t provided answers.
The Sun published an article Wednesday titled “A Bruising Encounter” written by Brady describing a recent run-in with Ross.
In the article, Brady claims Mayor Ross starting questioning her coverage after the two ran into each other at the Williamson County Museum Friday night.
“Accused us of using unreliable facts however he wouldn’t answer my questions when I asked him specifics,” says Brady.
“He went on to say that he had influence with how the city spends its money and that would again have an impact on the paper. I said well in that case I need to look for another job and he said yeah that’d be a good idea,” says Brady.
CBS Austin followed up with Ross, who claims the editorial is untrue.
“I was kind of surprised when I read that because its inaccurate,” says Ross. “First of all I cant do that.”
Ross dots the media landscape, both at home and abroad. Al Gore made it a point to feature the Texas Republican mayor at renewable energy conferences, too; but, thirty pieces of silver spend fast. Ross is even featured in one of Gore’s documentaries.
But while Ross is lauded far and wide, the residents of his own town are paying a heavy price. The City of Georgetown is now in the hole $29.8 million, debt racked up in only four years, 2015 to 2018.
“Georgetown’s electrical costs were $3.5 million over budget in 2015, ballooning to $6.3 million in 2016, the same year the mayor locked his municipal utility into 20- and 25-year wind and solar energy contracts to make good on his 100 percent renewable pledge,” according to Fox News.
Power expenditures cost the city $9.5 million more than expected in 2016, rising to $10.5 million last year, according to The Williamson County Sun.
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