Current News

by Peter Sterling, Executive Director, Renewable Energy Vermont Why Is It Easier to Build a Dollar General than a Solar Project in Vermont? Over the last decade or so while most of us weren’t looking, something very concerning has happened in Vermont: it has become easier to build commercial strip development like a Dollar General store in a rural town than to build renewable energy.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported June 8 that COVID-19 cases are down and hospitalizations also have fallen. Deaths attributed to COVID-19 stand at 673. There has been only one death in June after 32 in May. May saw an increase in fatalities from April and March.

Vermont Department of Health The state Health Department testing sites will close June 25. Vermonters are encouraged to pick up free take-home tests from these sites to keep at home and use if needed. You can get up to four antigen test kits for each appointment, but only one LAMP (similar to PCR) per appointment. Take-home antigen tests meet many testing needs and will continue to be widely available at pharmacies around the state and at online retailers. If the tests are covered by your health insurance, you may be able to show your insurance card at the pharmacy counter and get test kits at no cost to you. Some health plans may require you to pay for the tests and then be reimbursed.

Vermont Business Magazine On May 19, the CDC recommended a booster shot for 5- to 11- year olds who completed their primary vaccine series at least five months ago. You can get a booster shot through your child’s health care provider, pharmacy or one of the walk-in clinics listed at healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine. If you have questions, reach out to your provider. The COVID-19 vaccines for kids ages 6 months through 4 years are in the final stages of review. On June 15, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration’s independent expert committee is scheduled to review Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine clinical trial data and make recommendations for authorization.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College, a private, non-profit institution and recognized leader in career-forward education, has received $1 million from an anonymous donor. The gift is a demonstration of confidence in the incoming tenth president, Alex Hernandez, and supports the college’s new strategic plan: R/Evolutionary 2030 Strategic Plan. Champlain College, known for its innovative, experiential, and interdisciplinary approach to higher education, prepares students to succeed in high-growth, high-demand careers. Hernandez started his term on Monday, June 6.

Vermont Business Magazine As of Thursday, average gasoline prices in Vermont have risen 21 cents to $5.01 per gallon. The US average is also up 21 cents to $4.98/g. The lowest price in Vermont is $4.75 in Warren. The highest is $5.99 in Bloomfield.

Vermont Business Magazine The Town of Weathersfield has welcomed solar electric generation once again by hosting a 500 kW AC solar array at the Town Garage, offsetting nearly 750 tons of CO2 emissions annually, and saving the Town more than $100,000 off its electric bills over the life of the project. The solar project was permitted, financed, engineered, and installed by Norwich Solar of White River Junction.

This public/private collaborative effort results in Weathersfield securing several local economic benefits including increased tax revenue with minimal demand on public services and savings on the Town’s electric bills, while also contributing to a more resilient local electric grid with in-town distributed generation. The solar panels will produce nearly 1,000,000 kWh of renewable energy each year, enough to support the average annual energy use of approximately 85 households.

Vermont Business Magazine Embodying the mantra “Hike Vermont,” Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel raised $3,600 for the Green Mountain Club through a clever fundraising event this spring. Lenny’s teamed up with Life is Good to create limited-edition Green Mountain Club t-shirts. 360 t-shirts were released exclusively at Lenny’s in mid-March to build momentum for the summer hiking season. Lenny’s donated $10.00 from each shirt sold to the Green Mountain Club. The shirts were nearly sold out by Memorial Day, the traditional kick off to summer hiking season.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s annual, statewide Summer Free Fishing Day is this Saturday, June 11, and it will be highlighted by a free family fishing festival in Grand Isle as well as opening day of the state’s regular bass fishing season.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Public Safety is working with police agencies throughout the state to address staffing needs at the two state- operated dispatch centers. These centers serve more than 100 public safety agencies as 911 Public Safety Answering Points. The two centers, in Westminster and Williston, currently work 24/7/365 to answer emergency and non-emergency calls for 162 police, fire and EMS agencies statewide — from the Vermont State Police to local departments. Additionally, the centers serve as administrative switchboards for many agencies. At both locations, but especially pronounced in Westminster, there is a shortage of trained staff available to handle the current volume of calls. The situation is expected to become more acute in the coming months, as call volume typically increases during the summer, and additional staff departures are expected.

Vermont Business Magazine The Poultney Select Board recently adopted new branding developed by a working group of community volunteers and the Content Lab at Castleton University. The new brand includes official typefaces, a logo, a color palette, and a new town slogan: 'Heart of the Slate Valley'. You may see it soon on highway signs, letterhead, websites, social media and more! The logo was developed over the past year by the Goal 4 Working Group of the Town’s Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) planning project, with ‘Goal Champion’ Nic Stark, guiding the process.

Vermont Business Magazine Thanks to a $1.3 million allocation included by Vermont legislators in the final version of bill S.11, signed by Governor Scott today, June 8, the groundbreaking Vermont Everyone Eats (VEE) program now has the necessary funding to continue to leverage FEMA support in providing COVID relief support for Vermont restaurants, farmers, and meal recipients. Everyone Eats is an innovative, multi-sector COVID relief program providing economic support to local restaurants, economic benefit to farmers, and restaurant-prepared meals for food-insecure Vermonters negatively impacted by COVID. All three pillars of the program — restaurants, farmers, and eaters — continue to benefit significantly from the relief this program provides.