Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Four candidates are vying for three seats up for election this year on the board of directors of the Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC). The candidates are: Carol Maroni (District 3); Mark Woodward (District 4); Charles “Charlie” Van Winkle (District 5); Art Woolf (District 5).

Vermont Business Magazine The Hammond Cove Shooting Range in Hartland, Vermont will open on April 1, at 10 am. The range operates under rules set by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Range users must sign in with an onsite range safety officer and have a valid Vermont hunting or fishing license or be the guest of someone who does.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Fish and Wildlife is asking drivers to be cautious when travelling at night in early spring or to take alternate routes to avoid driving near ponds and wetlands where salamanders and frogs are crossing during their breeding season. Vermonters are reporting a particularly horrendous mud season this year, keeping some off the roads. But the warm, rainy nights in early spring give us another good reason to avoid even the paved roads: breeding frogs and salamanders that are on the move.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 200 cases of COVID-19 for Tuesday (87 Monday, 56 Sunday, 104 on Saturday and 143 Friday.) Cases have fallen by 11 percent in the last week (131 cases). The VDH reported no additional deaths today for 617 statewide. There have been 13 fatalities in March. The state is on pace for the fewest COVID-related deaths since last July.

Vermont Business Magazine Today the Vermont Senate voted on S.226, an omnibus housing bill that reforms permitting and land use regulations to make it easier to develop new housing, provides tax incentives and grants to promote housing development, and makes housing more affordable for the middle class. The bill reads in part: "The purpose of this chapter is to enable formation of special municipal and 16 regional land banks to revitalize communities by vesting the banks with the 17 authority to purchase, own, and convey real property that is blighted or vacant."

Average Health Insurance Premiums and Cost Burden Fall; Areas of Needed Improvement Emerge

Vermont Business Magazine Nearly 97% of all Vermonters have health insurance, matching the state’s highest insured rate on record. According to the 2021 Vermont Household Health Insurance Survey released today, almost 600,000 Vermonters are covered. The data is consistent with studies from the US Census Bureau which found that, in 2020, Vermont ranked second in the nation for its percentage of people with health insurance

Supporting electrification infrastructure and equity for Vermonters

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House has passed comprehensive transportation and appropriations bills that include significant investments in the state’s efforts to electrify the economy, including funding for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) in public power communities. VPPSA represents its 11 community-owned electric utility members as a leading advocate for this funding and celebrates reaching this stage in the legislative process.

Vermont Business Magazine Tuesday morning, Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray and colleagues from across the nation met with Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, DC, to discuss the needs of states coming out of the pandemic, particularly rural broadband access. Since taking Office in January 2021, Gray has consistently advocated to close the broadband gap in Vermont, convening experts, supporting increased federal funding, as well as calling for increased state investments in telehealth. Gray also made the case that broadband access must be considered the modern day highway for human rights, including the right to health, education, and government participation.

Vermont Business Magazine TIME announced today that Green Mountain Power (GMP) is named one of the top 100 influential companies in the world. The annual TIME100 Most Influential Companies list highlights companies making an extraordinary impact around the world. GMP was chosen for its pioneering grid transformation work including large-scale projects and its innovative home battery storage programs that provide power to customers during outages and save millions for all customers by driving down costs and carbon emissions. GMP is also doing groundbreaking work to integrate electric vehicles into the grid to benefit all.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network has agreed to commercial contract terms with UnitedHealthcare (UHC) for the coming contract year. The agreement runs through March 31, 2023, and affects about 2,900 subscribers (about 2,000 in Vermont) and their families in Vermont and Northern New York who have UHC coverage through their employers. UHC has been leaning on hospital groups across the East to lower their costs.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 87 cases of COVID-19 for Monday. There were 56 Sunday, 104 on Saturday and 143 Friday. Cases have fallen by 11 percent in the last week (131 cases). The VDH reported two additional deaths today for 617 statewide. There have been 13 fatalities in March. The state is on pace for the fewest COVID-related deaths since last July.

Vermont Business Magazine CATIC, a regional title insurance company, announced six, $10,000 gifts to affordable housing nonprofits serving every region of the State of Vermont. The six organizations are: Champlain Housing Trust; Downstreet Housing and Community Development; Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity, Franklin/Grand Isle; NeighborWorks of Western Vermont; RuralEdge; Windham and Windsor Housing Trust.