Current News

The dealer partnership between installer ReVision Energy and solar tracker manufacturer AllEarth Renewables of Williston, Vermont, was announced today. The new partnership will bring the innovative Vermont-manufactured AllSun Tracker solar electric system to homeowners and businesses throughout northern New England.
Designed and manufactured in Williston, AllSun Trackers use innovative GPS and wireless solar technology to follow the sun throughout the day to boost solar energy production by up to 45 percent. The ground-mounted solar systems are designed for homes, businesses, non-profits, and commercial-scale installations.
In northern Vermont, a single 4.2 kW solar tracker will produce an average of 490kWh of energy per month’enough to power the majority of an average New England home.

A $7 billion emergency aid bill for victims of Hurricane Irene, including the flooding in Vermont, and other natural disasters advanced to the next legislative step in the Senate late Tuesday as an initial Republican filibuster on the bill was broken in a vote of 61 to 38. The bill will replenish the depleted coffers of the Emergency Relief Fund of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In a Senate Floor speech illustrated with stark photos of the devastation wrought upon Vermont's highways and transportation infrastructure, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) urged the Senate to overcome "political games and point-scoring" in considering disaster relief remedies. Leahy is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee which last week drafted and approved the core of the disaster relief bill now before the Senate.

The University of Vermont rose 12 places in the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings to 82, a larger jump than any other school in the National Universities category but one.
UVM was also ranked 36th among 172 public universities, up from 41st last year, and was included on the magazine’s list of "A+ Schools for B Students."
"The quality of the UVM experience isn't defined by the rankings, but they do generate attention when they come out each year," said UVM provost Jane Knodell. "This year's uptick is driven by an increase in our reputation score, and by our improved retention and graduation rates, which can be directly linked to our investments in academics and the student experience in recent years. It reinforces the importance of sustaining our current strategic focus on implementing an innovative undergraduate general education program and continuing to enhance student success and satisfaction through a variety of linked initiatives."

The Vermont Telecommunications Authority recently welcomed new Board members, Pam Mackenzie, Chairwoman, and Representative Sam Young of Glover. Ms. Mackenzie, a former Comcast executive and active Board member with Chittenden County United Way and Vice Chair of the Vermont Public Television Board of Directors was appointed by Governor Shumlin.
Prior to joining Comcast in 2006, Mackenzie held various positions within the cable industry, including serving as Area Vice President of Adelphia Communications of Northern Ohio, Area Vice President for Adelphia in Western Pennsylvania. Mackenzie has also served as Regional Manager and General Manager for several systems in Arizona and California.
Before entering the cable industry, Mackenzie held several posts at the White House during the Carter Administration, including Director of Logistics, Management Analyst and Assistant Director of Presidential Correspondence.

The Vermont and the New Hampshire Valley American Red Cross announced today the closing of the last of their thirteen emergency shelters that were opened around the state in response to Tropical Storm Irene. Longer term housing arrangements have been made for the last few residents at the Red Cross shelter at the Hartford High School in White River Junction and it officially closed as of noon.
The widespread flooding and destruction from Irene forced many residents from their homes, and many took refuge in the thirteen Red Cross shelters that were opened after Irene hit Vermont on August 28, 2011. These Red Cross shelters were staffed with trained volunteers to meet the needs of the people staying there, including a safe place to stay, hot meals, emotional support and other assistance in response to the disaster.

The Addison County Chamber of Commerce recognized local businesses, organizations, and individuals with its annual awards during the Chamber’s annual meeting held on September 8th at the Middlebury Inn. Four awards were presented in front of a crowd of 100 attendees which included Chamber members, local business people and other dignitaries. In addition to the award presentations, the Chamber membership voted on a new board of directors.
Vermont Hard Cider Company was presented with the Business of the Year Award which is given to a business located in Addison County that demonstrates excellent business practices and provides a positive impact on the community. According to Andy Mayer, Chamber president, ‘Vermont Hard Cider’s growth, commitment to Addison County, and commitment to the environment, while enhancing theVermont brand make them a natural choice for the award.’

The University of Vermont Transportation Research Center has just released the 2010 Vermont Transportation Energy Report, a comprehensive look at transportation energy use and expenditures in the state. This annual report provides policy makers with relevant and timely data on topics related to transportation energy use, including levels of fuel consumption, trends in vehicle fleet composition and Vermonters' travel patterns. The large percentage of energy consumed and emissions generated by the transportation sector in Vermont makes it an important policy focus within the state.

The US Small Business Administration announces today that federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes located in Addison, Bennington, Chittenden and Rutland counties in Vermont as a result of excessive rain, flooding and cooler than normal temperatures that occurred from March 1 through June 1, 2011.
"These counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in New York. The Small Business Administration recognizes that disasters do not usually stop at county or state lines. For that reason, counties adjacent to primary counties named in the declaration are included," said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA's Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

The unprecedented level of devastation sustained by Vermont as a result of tropical storm Irene has captured the hearts of Americans.
Donations of food, emergency equipment and money have been received from all parts of the nation and will be distributed by way of grants.
Today the Vermont Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Committee (JFC) voted to provide a one day approval process for these grants in order to hasten hurricane relief efforts.
‘Our actions today will ensure that donations of assistance and materials, which have come from across the street and across the nation, will get to those who need it now, not a month from now’, stated Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell. ‘Speaker Smith and I are committed to provide assistance to those Vermonters whose lives have been seriously affected by this storm.’

Miro Weinberger announced his candidacy today for the 2012 Burlington mayoral race, promising the opportunity for a fresh start in City government.
Joined by his wife Stacy, daughter Li Lin, and a crowd of supporters in downtown Burlington, Weinberger, a Democrat, pledged to put Burlington’s fiscal house in order, restore accountability to City government, and provide strong, vocal leadership on important priorities.
‘It is critical that we succeed as a City at putting our fiscal house in order and restore trust to our government. Without fiscal responsibility, little progress will be made on other important priorities,’ said Weinberger.

Due to damage from Tropical Storm Irene, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) has closed the approximately 1.5 mile section of Route 107 in Stockbridge between Tozier’s Restaurant and Lambert’s Chainsaw Repair to all traffic except emergency vehicles.
The stretch of Route 107 in this area was completely washed away by Tropical Storm Irene. Roadway reconstruction efforts have been hampered by recent rains, which destabilized roadway embankments and caused trees to collapse into the construction area.
Restoring access to Route 107 is a state priority. Crews are working diligently to repair the road, stabilize the embankment and clear trees that are in danger of falling into the roadway. Although crews are allowing emergency vehicles to traverse the roadway if necessary, the area is not safe for public use and remains closed to all personal vehicles, including local traffic.

Governor Peter Shumlin today announced his appointments to the Green Mountain Care Board, a body that is central to the implementation of health reform in Vermont. The Board is responsible for creating the first single payer health care system in the country, which will control costs and guarantee coverage regardless of employment status.
‘In putting together this team, I looked for five really smart people who are fully committed to the goal of controlling health care costs, achieving universal coverage, and who can work as a team,’ Gov. Shumlin said. ‘I also looked for people who could think creatively about how to encourage and reward Vermonters and Vermont health care practitioners for improving health and getting the most value out of our health care dollars.’