Current News

by John Herrick vtdigger.org State regulators on Thursday questioned whether to postpone review of Vermont Gas’ proposed pipeline extension from Middlebury to New York. The South Burlington natural gas utility must obtain a federal regulatory waiver before the state has the authority to approve the pipeline project that crosses state lines to the International Paper mill in Ticonderoga, New York. But first Vermont Gas must submit an application for a section of the project to New York regulators for approval.

Steve Wark, the spokesman for Vermont Gas, said Friday the company won’t file an application until December.

Without this application, federal regulators may not decide on the waiver. Until Vermont Gas obtains the waiver, the state does not have full authority to permit the pipeline.

Lisa Ventriss, President of Vermont Business Roundtable (VBR) and Jeffrey Carr, President, Economic & Policy Resources (EPR), have announced the 2nd Quarter results of their joint initiative, the VBR-EPR Business Conditions Survey. The survey, which is conducted quarterly, provides a predictive index going forward. The most recent survey indicated a mildly optimistic to neutral outlook. The new economic indicator, constructed as a Diffusion Index, is designed to follow economic sentiments of Roundtable members over time, and serve as a tool for analyzing and presenting insight into the Vermont economic outlook, as a leading economic indicator.

The 2nd Quarter survey, which achieved a response rate of 73 percent overall, included a 50 percent or greater response rate from all sectors within the membership. The survey asked eight questions about the economic outlook, demand, capital spending, and employment. Survey results show that:

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc, (Keurig) (NASDAQ: GMCR), a leader in specialty coffee, coffee makers, teas and other beverages with its innovative brewing technology, and Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: KRFT), one of North America's largest consumer packaged food and beverage companies, announced a multi-year licensing, manufacturing, and distribution agreement for Kraft's branded coffees in Keurig^® portion pack formats compatible with Keurig® consumer and commercial brewing systems in the U.S. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Latest fine offering is cider brined, low in sodium and without added sugar

Bacon eaters looking for full, lip-smacking flavor with less sodium and sugar are in luck thanks a new premium bacon from Vermont Smoke and Cure about to hit retailers’ shelves.

One of the keys to the new Low Sodium Uncured Bacon is a special brine using naturally sweet Vermont apple cider, a centuries-old combination of spices and just enough sea salt plus salt containing potassium rather than sodium. Smoked over corncobs and maple wood, this carefully crafted blend of cider and spices provides a taste that ensures you won’t miss the sodium or sugar.

Vermont renewable energy entrepreneur and President and CEO of AllEarth Renewables, David Blittersdorf, received an honorary degree from Boston’s Wentworth Institute of Technology and delivered the keynote address at their summer commencement Saturday.

Blittersdorf, who grew up in Pittsford, Vermont, received an associate’s degree in Mechanical Design Engineering Technology from Wentworth in 1977, and later earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Vermont in 1981. The following year, he founded NRG Systems (recently renamed Renewable NRG Systems) of Hinesburg, Vermont, and over the next 27 years developed it into a global leader in wind resource measurement technology.

Vermont borrowers who took out a loan from Western Sky (also known as CashCall or Delbert), one of the largest online lenders of high-interest consumer loans, are reminded that September 1, 2014, is the deadline to file their claim for a cash refund. Specific details regarding the Western Sky/CashCall settlement and how to file a claim are available here.

To date, the Vermont Attorney General has settled with four lenders and one payment processor, resulting in over $1,100,000 in combined total restitution for Vermont borrowers, and $105,000 in direct payments to the State. Borrower refunds for these other settlements are being issued automatically.

BioTek is pleased to announce Dan Hannah, U.S. Field Service Manager, has been awarded the Patriot Award by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program (ESGR), a Department of Defense office.

An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors for support provided directly to the nominating Service member and his or her family. The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support Citizen Warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed. Brian Shapley, one of BioTek’s Field Microplate Specialists, nominated Mr. Hannah based on Dan’s support of Brian’s service in the Navy Reserve.

Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies (CGCS) has awarded $64,000 in tuition waivers to this year’s Leadership Summit participant organizations.

Seven organizations received tuition waivers of $4,000 apiece for employees who wish to pursue one of nine online master’s degree programs at Norwich University during any of the five start dates between September 2014 and September 2015.

This year’s participant organizations include the American Red Cross of Vermont & New Hampshire, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Green Mountain Concert Services, Modern Technologies Solutions, Inc., National Life Group, Pwnie Express, and The Vermont Flannel Company.

FirstLight Fiber, a facilities-based telecommunications service provider operating fiber optic networks in Upstate New York and Northern New England with connectivity to Canada, announced today that it will provide data center and connectivity services to SymQuest, a design, installation, and support business that handles the information flow of electronic communications over the cloud in addition to its other managed services.

FirstLight’s Vermont data center, served by its own geographically diverse fiber optic systems, offers the reliable, secure facility that SymQuest needs as the company further develops its growing retail cloud division. In addition to utilizing FirstLight’s data center services to accommodate its retail-based cloud service offering, SymQuest will also utilize FirstLight’s Ethernet and Internet solutions, which will enable SymQuest to continue to provide high quality and reliable copier and network services for area businesses.

Vermont resorts will expand the efficiency, quality and coverage of their already superior snowmaking systems for the 2014-15 season as part of a nearly $15 million upgrade in partnership with Efficiency Vermont. Efficiency Vermont’s Great Snow Gun Roundup supports the purchase of approximately 2300 new low energy snow guns for the upcoming season, and in return the resorts will donate 1800 older model snow guns to scrap.

Green Mountain Power today announced that special guests have made their home in the company’s Middlebury hydro facility and they are welcome to stay. GMP is now providing shelter to a colony of state endangered little brown bats. State biologists believe that the colony has chosen the more than 100 year-old hydro building because of its proximity to the Otter Creek and the warmth inside the building created by the power generation.

“It’s so great that in addition to generating clean energy, our hydro facility is home to the Little Brown bats, an endangered bats species,” said GMP spokesperson Kristin Carlson. “Whether it’s osprey, bears or loons, GMP has a strong commitment to Vermont’s environment and wildlife and this is only the latest in our work to support Vermont’s treasured natural environment. We are thrilled to be able to do our part to help protect this endangered species as it tries to recover in Vermont.”

Gov. Peter Shumlin and Joe Flynn, Director of Vermont Emergency Management and Homeland Security, today urged communities to prepare for new criteria related to state disaster relief funding that will go into effect in October.

Flooding is the most common and costly hazard faced by Vermont communities. After a federally-declared disaster, 75 percent of qualified public losses may be reimbursed by FEMA’s federal Public Assistance program. In Vermont, the Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund (ERAF) also contributes to help cover repair costs. Communities that take four specific actions to prepare for and mitigate flood damage will qualify for higher percentages of state support after declared disasters.

The four basic municipal actions needed to qualify for 12.5 percent state share are:

• Participate in the National Flood Insurance Program – or have applied.