Current News

​Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) Wednesday on the floor of the U.S. Senate gave remarks on the Inflation Reduction Act, calling on his colleagues to study the bill thoroughly and to come up with amendments and suggestions as to how to improve it in order to meet the needs of the American people. "Given that this is the last reconciliation bill that we will be considering this year, it is the only opportunity that we have to do something significant for the American people that requires only 50 votes and that cannot be filibustered. This is an opportunity that must not be squandered."

Vermont Business Magazine Nomad Transportable Power Systems, a company founded by US-based battery manufacturer KORE Power, unveiled a portfolio of mobile energy storage systems (units); these mobile-focused, lithium-ion storage units can disrupt fossil-fuel dominated sectors by removing traditional barriers to energy storage adoption such as cost, siting, and installation. At a ribbon cutting event in Waterbury on Monday, Jay Bellows, CEO of NOMAD, hailed the arrival of mobile lithium-ion storage as a new opportunity to slash pollution and deliver reliability.

​Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Geological Survey (VGS) released five new geologic maps to help address issues like groundwater contamination, landslide hazards, and geologic resource planning. The new surficial geologic maps show the types of glacial and other loose materials above the state’s bedrock like clay, sand, gravel, and till.

Vermont Business Magazine Through support from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Rutland Natural Resources Conservation District (RNRCD) and Town of Clarendon are implementing a floodplain restoration project on the Cold River. The project is funded by the Clean Water Fund Grant Program with matching funds from the town.

The restoration project includes the removal of a pile of dredged river sediment and the permanent conservation of an adjacent floodplain. Berm removal and conservation will improve and maintain floodplain function thus address sediment and nutrient loading in the Cold River in Clarendon, reduce flood heights and velocities, and provide storage of sediment within the floodplain.

Vermont Business Magazine Despite concerns over supply chain interruptions and tariff investigations, the US solar industry saw record solar and energy storage demand in 2021. Aegis Renewable Energy can attest to this, having one of its busiest years yet. Solar Power World has recognized the company's installation success by ranking Aegis Renewable Energy at No. 196 on the 2022 Top Solar Contractors list. Aegis is ranked 79 among solar Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) firms and ranked 81 in the US for Top Commercial Contractors. The Top Solar Contractors list is developed each year by industry magazine Solar Power World to honor the work of solar installers in the United States.

Green Mountain Solar The Public Service Department has issued a request for public input asking Vermonters for their opinion on where our electricity comes from, and Green Mountain Solar is here to speak up! We believe that Vermont’s renewable energy policies are not ambitious enough, and in their current status, can be counterproductive by leading to detrimental greenwashing. Vermont should review these policies to align with Vermonters’ demand for truly green energy. There is a common misconception in Vermont: That our grid is already green enough. The truth is that our current renewable energy policies lead to textbook greenwashing. It all starts with our state’s goal of 90% renewable energy for the electric grid by 2050 as outlined by the States Comprehensive Energy Plan.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police and other law-enforcement agencies are investigating after receiving multiple reports of explosive devices or suspicious items in and around college and university campuses across Vermont on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. No devices have been found, and the threats all appear to be unfounded.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) today announced the recipients of the Vermont Community Leadership Award and Vermont Lifetime Leadership Award. These awards will be presented at VCRD’s 2022 Vermont Community Leadership Summit on August 10 at the Vermont Technical College in Randolph. This year, the Lifetime Leadership Award is being presented to Brenda Torpy, the former CEO of Champlain Housing Trust (CHT), and Sarah Carpenter, the former Executive Director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA). The 2022 Community Leadership Award will be given to Pam Parsons of Richford and the Executive Director of the Northern Tier Center for Health (the NOTCH).

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Electric Department (BED) issued a peak alert for Thursday, August 4 as part of its Defeat the Peak program launched during summer 2017, encouraging members of the Burlington community to reduce their energy usage from 5:00-7:00pm.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) is encouraging members to conserve electricity tomorrow (Thursday) evening as high temperatures roll into the New England. Specifically, VEC asks members to conserve electricity from 5-9 pm.

Vermont Business Magazine United Way of Northwest Vermont (UWNWVT), an organization dedicated to improving lives in Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties, has awarded $180,000 in subgrants to local organizations and programs in support of their efforts to reduce substance misuse among youth and young adults in Vermont. The funding comes from a Vermont Prevention Center of Excellence (PCE) grant awarded to United Way through the Vermont Division of Substance Use Programs (DSU) with federal funds from Department of Health & Human Services and SAMHSA State Opioid Response and CDC Overdose Data to Action.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Tuesday applauded the passage of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, which will greatly expand health care coverage for America’s veterans, including those who were exposed to toxic burn pits during their deployments.