Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Public Service Department today released its proposed public engagement plan to guide a comprehensive review of Vermont’s renewable and clean electricity policies and programs. This engagement process will help implement a core recommendation of the Comprehensive Energy Plan, published in January of 2022, which calls for consideration of comprehensive adjustments to Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard as well as related renewable energy programs – including consideration of moving toward 100% renewable or carbon-free electricity.

Vermont Business Magazine Whether you walk, drive or bike, the shorter days and longer nights make it especially important to see and be seen on the road. To help prevent injuries, the Department of Health’s Watch For Me VT program has launched Be Bright at Night, a road safety initiative that is distributing free reflectors and safety information for people and communities throughout the state. A recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, found road-related injuries involving pedestrians and cyclists have been increasing. Data for early 2021 showed cyclist deaths rose by 5% from 2020, and more pedestrians were hit and killed in the U.S. in 2021 than at any time in the past 40 years.

Vermont Business Magazine The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets announces $900,000 in funding through the new Dairy Farm Innovation and Alternative Management Grant. With a focus on climate and community-forward production strategies, this grant offers funds for farmers, producer associations, and technical service providers to implement projects that enhance the resilience of our Northeast regional food system. This grant opportunity opens for applications today, December 1, 2022 and closes Thursday, February 2, 2023.

Vermont Business Magazine Jenna’s Promise and Two Sons Bakehouse have announced a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting ceremony at Jenna’s Coffee House on December 2, 2022. Located at 38 Lower Main Street West in Johnson, the underpinning of Jenna’s Coffee House will be the partnership of Jenna's Promise and its workforce development program with Two Sons Bakehouse. The pairing aims to help to shift the model of care for people with substance use disorders by hiring people in recovery to help staff the business alongside industry veterans. Remarks and the ribbon cutting will start at 10:00 am and end at 11:00 am. There will be free food provided by Two Sons Bakehouse, coffee provided by Jenna’s Promise Roasting Company, and conversation with community members, local business leaders, and elected officials.

Vermont Business Magazine In November 1927, Vermont endured a devastating flood, rivaled only more recently by Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011. On the 95th anniversary of the flood, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) shares lessons on flood resilience. Nearly 100 years ago, heavy rainfall hit Vermont when soils were already soaked from fall rains. In some places, rivers flowed through communities 13 feet higher than normal, causing devastation across the state and New England. The fallout was grim, taking 84 lives and destroying countless homes, buildings, bridges, roads, and railroads. With the massive spring flood in the Mississippi Valley, and then the November flood in New England, the federal government began efforts to help communities recover.

Vermont Business Magazine Global climate change brings increases in precipitation extremes, from severe drought to heavy rainfall events, both expected to become more prevalent through the 21st century. Powerful weather events already impact human environments, with intense fires and flooding, and greatly transform natural ecosystems. How will these periods of excessive rainfall or drought affect establishment of forest tree species and their future distribution—how they migrate, survive, and adapt to a changing climate? In the life of a tree, the young seedling stage is the most sensitive to climate extremes due to shallower roots and less access to water stored in soil.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has announced that the purple crowberry (Empetrum atropurpureum), a diminutive alpine shrub last documented in Vermont in 1908, has been rediscovered on Mt. Mansfield. The purple crowberry grows low to the ground in rocky habitat above the tree line. The species is identifiable by needle-like leaves and purple berries, and is found in the Northeast in Maine, New Hampshire, and New York. The purple crowberry is listed as uncommon in New Hampshire and state endangered in New York.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says its Hammond Cove public shooting range in Hartland will close December 12, and the West Mountain Wildlife Management Area public shooting range will close December 14. “We want to thank all of the people who have supported the operation of the two ranges in Windsor and Essex Counties which are essential to hunter skill development and the safe use of firearms,” said Alison Thomas, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s director of outreach. “Both ranges will close for the winter and reopen next spring.”

by Annette Smith Not long ago, utilities envisioned a new renewable electricity system that would involve time-of-use rates and load management via smart meters. The idea was that customers would do laundry and charge electric vehicles (EVs) at night when demand for electricity and prices were both low. Grid customers and utilities have a long way to go to understand how this new system would actually work. Having lived off-grid in Vermont for more than 30 years – using solar, batteries and a back-up generator – I have a good understanding of how to adapt to this new renewable energy system. What I have learned may be helpful to others.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Kathy Hochul on November 30, 2023, announced the start of construction of the 339-mile Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line, being developed by Transmission Developers Inc, to deliver reliable clean energy from Hydro-Québec in Canada directly to New York City. The construction of this green infrastructure project, which begins following the execution of a major union labor agreement between the developer and New York State Building and Construction Trades, is expected to bring $3.5 billion in economic benefits to New Yorkers while creating nearly 1,400 family-sustaining union jobs during construction.