Current News

Vermont Business Magazine New England should have sufficient resources to meet the peak demand for electricity this winter, according to ISO New England, operator of the region’s electric grid. Weather is the largest driver of energy use and resource availability in New England, and ISO New England utilizes a rolling three-week energy supply forecast, incorporating a variety of factors to provide an early warning to the region should energy supplies become constrained. This winter the ISO does not anticipate calling for controlled power outages, and would resort to this drastic step only to prevent a collapse of the power system that would take days or weeks to repair. 

Vermont Business Magazine After 30 years of policy leadership, Betsy Bishop has announced her departure from the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. A leadership transition for the organization is set for summer 2024. During her 15 years as the President, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce has become the most influential business advocacy organization in the state. Bishop has dedicated her career to the Vermont business community. Her advocacy work has been vital to the promotion and advancement of policies that spur economic development and create jobs statewide.  Bringing innovative direction to the Vermont Chamber, Bishop has built a lobbying powerhouse to ensure policy leaders consider advancing the Vermont economy in their actions. She is also the founder of the Vermont Futures Project, a foundation focused on creating an economic action plan for the state based on data, research, and education.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police has officially opened its new Williston Barracks, as troopers and dispatchers completed the move to the new field station Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. The new barracks is located at 3294 St. George Rd., also known as Vermont Route 2A, about half a mile south of the former barracks location. The new location is adjacent to a new park and ride, which was built simultaneously. VSP’s newest field station covers about 22,600 square feet and has an 11,000-square-foot garage for storage of various special teams vehicles, such as the Crime Scene Search Team, Mobile Command Post, Tactical Services Unit, and Bomb Squad.

Vermont Business Magazine A meeting convened by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce with Commissioner Peter A. Feldman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) took place on December 1 at the South Burlington Public Library. Vermont business leaders connected with the Commissioner to learn more about their value as a resource to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The meeting also covered approaches to product safety, industry trends and best practices, standards, and opportunities to advance consumer safety together.

Vermont AOT & State Police Today at approximately 6:50 am, DMV Enforcement and Safety Division responded to a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crash in Irasburg. The commercial vehicle, a tractor trailer unit loaded with propane, had gone off VT 14, crashed into the Black River, and caught fire. When DMV Enforcement arrived at the scene, EMS was evaluating the operator of the commercial vehicle. Due to the potential for secondary explosions, rescue personnel were moved back 1 mile and began evacuation of residents in the area. The cause of the crash and recovery of the CMV are ongoing. Road closures are expected to last an extended period of time.

Vermont Business Magazine According to GasBuddy, average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.42/g, down 1.6 cents per gallon from last week's $3.43/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.13/g while the highest was $3.63/g, a difference of 50.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 0.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.21/g today. 

by Maia Segura Leveraging funds from outdoor recreation and economic development grants, the Town of Rockingham and Bellows Falls Downtown Development Alliance (BFDDA) recently launched “Walk the Rock,” a Bellows Falls town and trail promotion where local hikers, visitors, and urban adventurers discover some of the area’s hidden gems, earning a collection of prizes while they explore. Driven by a map featuring five trails around downtown Bellows Falls highlighting some of the town’s most treasured views and local retailers, hikers are offered two ways to play: hiking designated trails to earn stickers and a stainless-steel water bottle; or by filling a passport with signatures from retailers to receive a gift certificate to a participating business of their choosing. 

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Do you want to learn how crop producers, pesticide applicators, and beekeepers can work together to reduce accidental pesticide exposure to honey bees and sensitive crops?Join the Vermont Bee Lab and UVM Extension on December 15th at 1pm to learn about FieldWatch, a free-to-use mapping tool that can enable easy communication and collaboration as required by Vermont’s new rule for the protection of bees. The Bee Lab will introduce the different FieldWatch registries, including DriftWatch, BeeCheck, and CropCheck, and request feedback. Your interest and engagement will help determine how this program operates in Vermont! This program qualifies for 1.0 Vermont pesticide recertification credits, just enter your Pesticide Applicator ID Number at registration.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is urging customers to stay safe and be alert to changing weather conditions as forecasters call for a storm to hit Vermont starting Sunday afternoon, bringing the possibility of heavy wet snow, especially in higher elevations, tonight into Monday. When waterlogged snow accumulates, it can weigh down trees and damage lines, causing outages.

Vermont Business Magazine  Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) released the following statement in response to the end of the short-term ceasefire and resumption of bombing in Gaza: “The resumption of bombing is having immediate and devastating impacts on the civilian population in south Gaza: People who were ordered to evacuate from the north to the south are now under fire. "An estimated 193 civilians, including children, have already been killed. There are no safe places for the 1.8 million civilians displaced in south Gaza today. No humanitarian aid trucks entered from Egypt on Friday. The medical system in the Gaza Strip is decimated and infectious disease is surging.On Tuesday, November 28th, Sen. Welch called for an indefinite ceasefire, to stop the bombing, prevent further loss of civilian life, extend access to humanitarian relief to those who have been displaced, and continue negotiations to secure hostages. Read his full statement on the need for a ceasefire and a strong recommitment to two-state solution."

by Emily Bradbury What do goat’s milk caramel, ginger cashew granola, maple hot sauce, and raspberry almond cookies all have in common? Aside from the fact that they’re all made at Butterfly Bakery of Vermont, there is a common thread. “Everything we make is inspired by Vermont’s working landscape,” said Butterfly Bakery of Vermont owner, Claire Georges. “Whether that’s peppers and onions grown in a field, goats grazing down the road, or maple from the trees.” On a mission to bring the flavors of Vermont to customers around the globe, Butterfly Bakery of Vermont makes shelf stable products using simple ingredients. 

Vermont Business Magazine Girls on the Run Vermont, a nonprofit organization that uses a research and physical activity-based curriculum to inspire girls in 3rd through 8th grade to be joyful, healthy, and confident, is excited to announce that coach registration for GOTRVT’s 25th anniversary spring season is now open statewide. Utilizing a fully updated and refreshed curriculum, GOTRVT coaches will empower participants to develop critical life skills, build confidence, cultivate positive connections with peers, and stand up for themselves and others. The ten-week season begins March 18, with teams meeting twice a week for 90 minutes. The twenty-lesson curriculum covers topics such as positive self-talk, friendship, managing emotions and more, all created to nourish participants’ social, emotional, and physical well-being.