Current News

Earlier this month, ISO New England Inc, the operator of the region’s bulk power system and wholesale electricity markets, completed a multi-year transition to a new market system that allows generators to submit supply offers on an hourly basis, an enhancement that will help improve power system reliability.

The Energy Market Offer Flexibility project, which received broad support from industry stakeholders, is designed to bring more accurate wholesale power pricing and financial incentives that recognize power plants’ actual risks from changing fuel costs. Now, power plant owners can change their offers to supply power on an hourly basis, which will allow them to account for fuel costs that change throughout the day.

· Generators can change price and supply offers hourly, reflecting changing fuel costs

As of today, the Department of Public Service has received in excess of 700 complaints regarding FairPoint Communication’s service since the work stoppage began in October. “The Department has grave concerns regarding the number of customers who appear to be experiencing serious delays in repair of service and we believe immediate remedial action is necessary,” said Public Service Commissioner Christopher Recchia. Today, the Department proposed, and FairPoint has agreed, to implement measures designed to ensure timely repairs for those most vulnerable without phone service. In addition, FairPoint will begin reporting on how the Company prioritizes repairs.

US Attorney Tristram Coffin on Friday announced that he will be leaving his position next month after serving as Vermont’s top federal prosecutor since 2009. US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) praised Coffin for his years of service, and he committed to working quickly to find a highly qualified nominee to serve as Vermont’s next US Attorney. Coffin announced his plan to return to private practice and join the Vermont law firm Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC. DRM Managing Partner Paul H. Ode, Jr., later confirmed that Coffin will join DRM as a director in the Burlington office, effective January 12.

The Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) has asked for an expansion of a Preliminary Damage Assessment by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to include eight additional counties. The added counties are Addison, Caledonia, Essex, Grand Isle, Orange, Rutland, Washington, and Windsor. The assessment initially included Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille, and Orleans counties. An initial review of damages suggests 12 Vermont counties could qualify for federal disaster assistance following response to and recovery from a severe winter storm that began on December 9th. The counties above could qualify for aid under a Public Assistance disaster declaration.

T-Mobile USA, Inc has reached a global settlement on mobile cramming with Vermont and 49 other states, the District of Columbia, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission. “Cramming” is the placement of unauthorized third-party charges on a telephone bill. Together with the settlement with AT&T Mobility announced in October, this resolves the issue of mobile cramming for nearly half of Vermont’s cell-phone users. The Office of Attorney General Bill Sorrell estimates that Vermont T-Mobile users could recoup more than $25,000 in refunds. In addition, Vermont will receive over $1 million for its leadership role in the multistate investigation of T-Mobile.

Recent polling data conducted by Braun Research on behalf of Saxon Partners, a real estate development firm, shows broad community support for the creation of a new South Burlington City Center, with additional support for the sale of the Marcotte Central School site to a developer who would provide significant funding to help bring the long-delayed project to fruition. SEE RESULTS BELOW

The poll, which queried 191 South Burlington residents 18 years or older, was conducted from November 13th to 15th. Among its findings, South Burlington voters responded favorably to the idea of a new City Center by the overwhelming margin of 7 to 1. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 6%.

by Governor Peter Shumlin Earlier this week, I made one of the most difficult decisions of my public life when I announced that I cannot support a move to a publicly-financed health care system in Vermont at this time. I have advocated for such a system for much of my public life, but over the past two weeks it has become clear to me that the risks and economic shocks of moving forward at this time are too great.

Vermont Business Magazine Don Rendall, the incoming CEO of Vermont Gas Systems (VGS), today announced a reset of the Company’s Addison Rutland Natural Gas project. The company will ask the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) to postpone hearings on Phase II of the project, scheduled to begin in January. The company will also file with the PSB a revised cost estimate for Phase 1 of the project, from Burlington to Middlebury. The Middlebury phase is now estimated at $154 million from its original $86 million. This is the second cost estimate increase.

SEE VIDEO BELOW

Vermont Business Magazine All key indicators showed small improvement last month as the labor situation showed marked improvement for the first time in several months. The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for November 2014 was 4.3 percent. This represents a decrease of one-tenth of a percent from the revised October rate (4.4 percent). The equivalent national average was 5.8 percent, which experienced no change from the previous month’s estimate. Vermont’s unemployment rate remains tied for tenth lowest in the US.

Randolph, Vermont, December 17, 2014– Aegis Renewable Energy installed the largest single rooftop solar array in the state at Ayers Brook Goat Dairy in Randolph, VT owned by Vermont Creamery. Generating 200,000 kWh of electricity per year, the array will power the farm and send excess energy through the GMP-Green Mountain Power regional grid to offset electricity used at the Creamery’s cheese making facility. Vermont farms are increasingly investing in long-term sustainable and renewable energy like solar and wind power to reduce operating costs and support environmental and sustainability goals. More than 50 Vermont farms have installed renewable energy systems to offset their electricity usage and source their energy locally.

EPA has released a short video that applauds the voluntary efforts of a professor and students at Bennington College to help their local community combat climate issues by analyzing energy use of municipal streetlights and working with the local power utility to dramatically increase efficiency, saving the town thousands of dollars and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2012, EPA’s New England office began an informal partnership with Bennington College to work with students in a class called “Solving the Impossible.” The class, taught by Professor Susan Sgorbati, charges students to study difficult policy problems and develop the skills to identify and implement solutions. EPA helped Professor Sgorbati by identifying environmental public policy problems for the students to address. One recent class tackled the issue of climate change.

By a vote of 335 to 303, University of Vermont staff members chose not to be represented by the Vermont State Employees Association union. A simple majority of employees who participated in the December 16-17 election was required to determine the outcome.