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Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday evening, the City of Burlington received its first readings from the COVID-19 Wastewater Monitoring Program since the Thanksgiving holiday. The readings show a major increase in the marker of COVID-19 in wastewater across the city, indicating significantly higher prevalence of the virus in Burlington. Wastewater surveillance for COVID-19 is a leading indicator, and increased levels of COVID-19 RNA can show up in wastewater monitoring up to seven days earlier than testing results.

New Report Quantifies Energy, Public Health, & Climate Cost Savings of Local Solar

Vermont Business Magazine Newly available data demonstrates the enormous benefit of local solar power to everyone in New England. From 2014 to 2019, small-scale solar in New England saved utilities and their customers more than $1.1 billion in wholesale electricity costs. Notably, these savings were enjoyed not only by people with solar, but everyone with an electric bill. Vermont saved $17 million in 2019 and $79 million since 2014.

Vermont Business Magazine The Health Department reported a single-day record 178 cases Thursday, which Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, described at a press conference as significant, but not unexpected at this point in the pandemic. “What I do want is for all Vermonters to be reflecting and thoughtful,” Dr. Levine said. “One day does not represent a trend, but this one day should give us pause and allow us to again reexamine the factors that go into higher case counts and reexamine our own recent behaviors.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House Republican Caucus unanimously re-elected its leadership on Monday. Representative Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney) will return as House Minority Leader, while Representative Rob LaClair (R-Barre Town) will return as House Assistant Minority Leader.

"I am honored to have the support of my constituents and fellow House Republicans," said McCoy. "I look forward to working with returning and new members to partner with Governor Scott so we can rebound from COVID-19, grow our economy, and reduce the cost of living."

Vermont Business Magazine Three Vermont communities have each received $3,000 in grants from AARP Vermont to jump start Winter Placemaking Demonstration Projects that focus on creating public spaces and streets that are safe and accessible for everyone. Proposals from Burlington, Wilmington and Poultney were selected from a host of applications for the initiative. This is the third year of AARP’s Placemaking Grant Program. The program aims to help communities build social capital that can help lead to permanent change that supports healthy, active lifestyles for people of all ages and abilities

Vermont Business Magazine Despite best efforts to minimize power outages, storms that knock out the electricity are, unfortunately, a fact of life. With more Vermonters working and attending school from home, it’s especially important now to be sure you and your family are set to comfortably weather power outages. Now is a good time to build or restock your household emergency kit and gear.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Burlington International Airport (BTV) opened Taxiway Golf, which is BTV’s first full-length parallel taxiway to the primary runway, 15-33, after four construction seasons. Taxiway Golf, standing at 9,000 feet in length, has been made possible due to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Project (AIP) funds in the amount of $35.4 Million, with a local match provided by the Airport.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan informed the Governor’s Office that he would defend any constitutional challenges to the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), including any brought by the Governor or his administration. In a letter by Deputy Attorney General Joshua Diamond, the reasons for the constitutionality of the GWSA were also described in detail. The letter was prompted in part by comments attributed to Secretary of Administration Susanne Young at the first meeting of the Climate Council that indicated the Administration may seek judicial action on the GWSA.

Vermont Business Magazine Previous research has indicated that rurality may contribute to food insecurity, one of the biggest problems facing our country today. A recent study surveyed food-secure and food-insecure people in rural Franklin County, Vermont. The survey found that food-secure and food-insecure people accessed food differently, with food-secure people able to reliably obtain food from both local supermarkets and grocery stores outside the county, while those who are food-insecure access outside supermarkets far less. They are often forced to rely on community meals, church organizations, and the food shelf.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) announced today the successful deployment of a first-of-its kind vehicle-to-grid charger to reduce energy use on the grid during peak demand. GMP is the first utility to install and successfully integrate this new charger technology with the grid and one of its electric fleet vehicles to draw energy from the car to help lower demands on the grid when peaks in energy needs occur. This innovative work shows how electric vehicles (EVs) and the clean energy they store can become a reliable source of power to reduce peak demands which will in turn save money and reduce carbon.

Vermont Business Magazine A home energy expert demonstrated what a virtual home energy visit looks like this week as part of the final Weatherization Wednesday event for 2020, officially concluding this year’s Button Up Vermont weatherization campaign.

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VAHHS is Vermont’s association of non-profit hospitals and health systems and we work to ensure our health care system is strong and stable and ready to respond to anything – including a global pandemic. The holidays are upon us and, unfortunately, so is a new wave of COVID-19 cases in Vermont. It’s very important for Vermonters to be vigilant about stopping the spread. For most of us, that means we’ll have to reimagine our holiday celebrations.