Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) would like to remind all farm operations that the annual winter manure spreading ban is underway. Between December 15 and April 1, no manure or other agricultural wastes (including compost and spoiled feed) may be spread on agricultural fields throughout Vermont. This annual ban is required by the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs), which is a part of VAAFM’s overall strategy to protect water quality, the working landscape, and natural resources. The ban is a regulation that has been in place since 1995. The RAPs also prohibit the application of manure or agricultural wastes on frozen, saturated or snow-covered fields outside of the winter manure spreading ban.

Vermont Business Magazine iSun, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISUN), a Williston-based leading solar energy and clean mobility infrastructure company with 50-years of construction experience in solar, electrical and data services, reminds shareholders that it will convene a Special Meeting of Stockholders on Friday, December 17th at 2:00 PM EST to vote on three proposals recommended by the board to deliver greater value to shareholders.

by Peter Sterling Talk to anyone who has tried to bring renewable energy to Vermonters and they will tell you the same thing: despite our green reputation and the thousands of Vermonters who have asked for leadership to avoid the existential crisis climate change presents to humanity, our state government works every day to put the brakes on new solar energy and wind power projects. The latest example is the draft Comprehensive Energy Plan from the Vermont Department of Public Service which will guide state energy policy for the next five years.

Vermont Business Magazine After a two-month fundraising campaign, the community of St Johnsbury and the Vermont Land Trust have raised enough funds to protect Observatory Knob, a scenic 117-acre property within walking distance of downtown. The effort to protect this land, used by the community for over 100 years, got a major boost this fall when the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board awarded a $200,000 grant to acquire and protect the land.

Vermont Business Magazine Seventh Generation, a leading household, personal care and commercial cleaning products company and pioneer in the environmentally conscious products space, today announced a five-year partnership with Aspen Skiing Company (ASC), a four-mountain winter and summer destination in Colorado. Today’s travelers prioritize hygiene across the entire experience and ASC recognizes the heightened importance of trust in cleanliness at all of its properties. This is why ASC has chosen Seventh Generation Professional as the Official Front of House Cleaner and Disinfectant for Aspen Skiing Company’s four ski areas.

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Nuclear Waste Policy Committee of the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (VT NDCAP) will hold its final regular meeting for 2021 on Monday, December 20, 2021 from 1 pm to 2 pm. This meeting will be conducted primarily as a webcast and teleconference. However, in accordance with Vermont Open Meeting Law, the following physical location will be available for those wishing to attend this meeting in-person:

Vermont Business Magazine Twenty-five Vermont residential customers and two local Impact Investors are the proud co-owners of two, new 150 kilowatt solar projects in Norwich. The 25 local homeowners will have lower electric bills by receiving the net metering credits from the projects as offsets on their Green Mountain Power utility bills.

Vermont Business Magazine Negotiations on a new union contract between the University of Vermont Medical Center and its nurses and technical professionals fell apart late last week. The Burlington hospital said today it would leave its final offer on the table until Friday. The hospital suffered a bitter nurses strike in 2018. The hospital said it is still financially struggling because of COVID. The nurses and professionals say they are still being paid uncompetitive wages, resulting in ongoing recruitment and retention problems. The nurses contract expires this spring and the technical contract in 2023.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Wednesday reported an increase of 111 cases of COVID-19 for a total of 348, after two days under 300. This follows 532 on Sunday and Friday's record of 740 cases. Bennington County reported the most cases with 64, as the southern counties have seen a surge in cases. There were also 51 in Rutland and 43 in Windsor counties. Bennington is on the verge of having the most cases per capita, supplanting Orleans County.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced his appointment of Larry Labor, Republican, to fill the Orleans-1 House District vacancy. Labor replaces former Representative Lynn Batchelor (R-Derby) who resigned in October. Labor spent much of his career as the director of pharmacy and vice president of professional services at North Country Hospital in Newport. He has served on the Morgan select board since 2009 and previously served as chair of the State Board of Pharmacy. He was appointed to the NEK broadband initiative representing Morgan.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS) announced the recipients of this year’s Building Communities Grants for Facilities today. These grants will fund $900,000 in construction and capital improvements for 80 projects across Vermont, helping communities grow and thrive.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections detected 11 new cases of COVID-19 at Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) in Newport during three rounds of recent outbreak testing. The testing, which occurred on December 3, 7, and 10, identified three cases among staff and eight cases in the incarcerated population. Currently at NSCF, there are three active incarcerated cases and three active staff cases. Statewide, five positive incarcerated cases and 16 positive staff cases currently exist across six correctional facilities, one field office, and Central Office.