Political Group Americans For Prosperity Targets Vermont Voters Continuation

Americans for Prosperity Expands Presence in Vermont Amidst Climate and Energy Policy Changes

In a significant development, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a political organization founded by Charles and David Koch in 2004, has established a chapter in Vermont. This move comes during a period of intense focus on climate and energy policies, with the second Trump administration taking a more aggressive stance against such initiatives.

Charles Koch, a prominent figure in the political landscape, has been credited with using his influence to alter the Internal Revenue Service code, allowing special interest groups like AFP to operate in secret. Koch and his family amassed great wealth through Koch Industries, an oil refinery and pipeline conglomerate.

The Koch brothers were also founding figures of the Tea Party movement, which advocated for lower taxes, less government regulation, and more power for the individual states. However, they have also been criticized for their role in climate science denial and clean energy opposition, with Greenpeace labelling them as the "financial kingpin" in this area.

Ross Connolly, the head of Americans For Prosperity in New England, has stated that the organization will be in Vermont for the long term. Connolly, who joined AFP in 2013 after working for Republican campaigns, has been influenced by Friedrich Hayek's book "The Road to Serfdom."

AFP's arrival in Vermont could provide the state with infrastructure and full-time staff, enabling a permanent presence. This could potentially influence the state's political landscape, given AFP's history of promoting pro-fossil fuel policies.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy have spent six months deregulating fossil fuels and slashing clean energy projects. Trump's 2026 budget proposal eliminates the agency's research arm, which is responsible for helping the country adapt to climate change.

Moreover, the Koch-funded networks have heavily influenced both Trump administrations, with key figures like Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth having ties to Koch-affiliated groups. Charles Koch's fingerprints are also visible in the Federalist Society and the Supreme Court decision Citizens United.

The Kochs took advantage of a government regulation that encouraged refineries to accept the gunk coming from the Alberta tar sands, which became the basis of their empire. However, their influence extends beyond the energy sector, with projects like Project 2025 calling for the breaking up of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the nation's premier climate science agency.

Critics argue that Connolly's policies, if implemented, could lead to a loss of freedom, the creation of an oppressive society, and the serfdom of individuals, especially people of color and women, according to the book "Dark Money."

As AFP expands to 37 state chapters, only one is in the six New England states, located in New Hampshire. This raises questions about the potential impact of AFP's influence in Vermont and the broader implications for the region's climate and energy policies.