Current News

Vermont Businiess Magazine Test results received this morning indicate that a number of water sources in North Bennington show varying levels of a potentially harmful chemical. The public water supply has been tested and is not affected. The Department of Environmental Conversation (DEC) is distributing drinking water to those affected or potentially affected as additional tests are conducted.

The chemical, Perfluorooctanoic (PFOA), is a possible carcinogen. Following news reports of potential PFOA contamination in Hoosick Falls, N.Y., DEC took the proactive step of testing water supplies in North Bennington. Samples from the immediate are of concern were tested, along with the public drinking supply. Results were received this morning that showed the public water supply has not been affected but some residential and commercial wells are.

As Entergy grapples with groundwater leaks at the dormant plant, federal officials and company administrators defend the use of plastic swimming pools to handle liquids contaminated with low levels of radiation

by Mike Faher/The Commons The Intex Easy Set swimming pool retails for anywhere from $35 to $500 depending on its dimensions, and it’s advertised as one of “the easiest family and friend-sized pools to set up in the world.” But in Vernon, the Easy Set is serving a much different purpose: to help manage a complex groundwater-intrusion problem at Vermont Yankee. Photos of the plant’s interior show several blue pools marked with yellow radioactive warnings due to the full load of contaminated water inside. Pumps and hoses are connected to the pools in some images; others show nearby large inflatable bladders apparently filled with water.

Vermont Business Magazine Flood Warnings for several areas of Vermont are still in effect and the National Weather Service says that will continue into Friday for certain spots. Several local and state roads have been closed throughout the day, many have reopened, other roads will likely close and re-open as river levels fluctuate.  State road closures are being updated on VT Alert.  Those updates can be sent directly to your cell phone or e-mail with a free account.  Visit vtalert.gov to register. Road closure information can also be found on 511vt.com and on social media.

Vermont Business Magazine Each day more and more light-emitting diode (LED) lighting products are showing up on the shelves of Vermont stores. LEDs are known for requiring very little energy to power, lasting for more than 20 years, and providing excellent quality light. Unfortunately, some LED products have recently started to flood the lighting market that may not perform when it comes to light quality, energy savings, and lifetime. These products are made with cheaper parts, they are generally packaged very similarly to higher-quality, certified products, and they tend to sell for a few dollars less apiece.

Vermont Business Magazine A recently-released report sponsored by AARP Vermont shows that the Vermont Department of Public Service (DPS), which represents ratepayer interests before the regulatory Public Service Board, has an inherent conflict of interest and needs immediate reform. The report examines the actions taken by DPS over the past eight years before Vermont’s utility regulators. It finds that, time-after-time, the DPS entered into settlement agreements that were very generous to utilities, not to Vermont’s residential utility customers. The report calls into question several business decisions made by Green Mountain Power and Vermont Gas Systems and the Department's response to them. Overall, the AARP report says that the DPS is not properly advocating on behalf of ratepayers, which is its mission. Chief among AARP's recommendations is that the Legislature should eliminate the Division of Public Advocacy and the position of the Public Advocate in the Department of Public Service. In its place, AARP says, the Legislature should create an independent Ratepayer Advocate. The Legislature will be hearing testimony on this issue in the Statehouse today.

Vermont Business Magazine A wildlife management area in southern Vermont recently underwent a major expansion, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The Turner Hill Wildlife Management Area located in Grafton and Athens has nearly doubled in size, adding 460 acres to bring the property total more than 1,000 acres. The wildlife management area contains numerous beaver-influenced wetlands providing vital habitat for the federally endangered Northeastern bulrush, as well as amphibians, turtles, and waterfowl. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has certified four new all-time state record fish, all caught in 2015. New state records were set for the species of yellow perch, redhorse sucker, cisco and bowfin (taken by bow and arrow). “2015 was another great year for record fish catches in Vermont,” said Shawn Good, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “And, what’s even more exciting is the fact that anglers are really starting to understand the wide diversity of fishing opportunities we have throughout the state. Three of the four species that had records set this past year are not what most anglers typically think of as sport fish. Fishing in Vermont can go way beyond bass, trout and some of the other more commonly targeted species.” 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC) Environmental Careers and Opportunities (ECO) AmeriCorps program is seeking  members and program partners to build on the success of its inaugural year. Applications are currently being accepted for both roles. The deadline for service sites to apply is March 7. Member applications are accepted through April 18. Applications are available at: http://ecoamericorps.vermont.gov.

by C.B. Hall Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Railway has offered the town of Shelburne the alternative of relocating the railroad's planned salt shed and to a South Burlington location as a means of resolving protests over constructing the facility in Shelburne at a point just north of the village center. The railway (VTR) is expected however to continue clearing the site, armed with a just-issued authorization from the Department of Environmental Conservation.

The Shelburne selectboard and numerous residents have cried foul over the VTR plans, citing traffic and noise issues and environmental dangers to the LaPlatte River, which runs alongside the site.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Senate gave its initial approval today (16-13) to a bill that would end marijuana prohibition in the state and regulate the cultivation and sale of marijuana for adult use. It must approve the measure a second time in order to send it over to the House of Representatives. A second vote is expected sometime this week. S241 would make it legal for adults 21 years of age and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and establish a tightly controlled system of licensed marijuana cultivation sites, testing facilities, and retail stores. It would also create a study commission to examine issues such as edible marijuana products and home cultivation, which would not be allowed under the bill. It would remain illegal to consume marijuana in public or drive under the influence of marijuana. If approved, rulemaking would begin this summer, but the new law would not take effect until January 2018.

Vermont Business Magazine Keurig Green Mountain, Inc (NASDAQ: GMCR) announced that at a special meeting today, Keurig’s stockholders formally approved the previously announced merger agreement between Keurig and a JAB-led investor group. The shareholder vote was 102,536,858 (68.72% of the outstanding shares) in favor, 9,520,275 opposed and 682,732 abstained. Subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, at the effective time of the merger, each share of Keurig common stock will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive $92 in cash, or $13.9 billion. This represents a 78 percent increase in the stock price from its close before the deal was struck. The transaction remains subject to various closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of March. The acquisition by European investor JAB Holdings was agreed to December 6.

Vermont Business Magazine ​Secretary of State of State Jim Condos today applauds the House Government Operations committee for its strong and unanimous bi-partisan vote to pass out H.458 - Automatic Voter Registration introduced by Representative Chris Pearson. “AVR saves time and money by making voter registration easy for eligible voters.  It will increase the accuracy of our statewide voter checklist and curb the potential for fraud, protecting the integrity of our elections,” says Secretary Condos. This proposal is poised to streamline the federally mandated voter registration at the DMV with a new process in which the state identifies and automatically provides the data for eligible Vermonters to be added to the voter checklist electronically with confirmation from the local town clerk.

This will add more eligible voters to the Vermont rolls, cementing Vermont’s ranking as a state with one of the highest registration rates in the country.