Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today issued a formal Attorney General Opinion related to Governor Phil Scott’s Executive Order 06-25, titled “Promoting Housing Construction and Rehabilitation.” The opinion was requested by Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth and House Speaker Jill Krowinski on October 1, 2025, to address whether the executive order exceeds the governor’s authority by changing existing law. There are, however, two sections of the executive order – one concerning the regulation of wetlands and one related to building energy standards – which are unlawful if they are intended to immediately change law without first following the agency rulemaking process under Vermont’s Administrative Procedures Act. In her letter today to the legislative leaders, she concludes that: "Reliance on the Order as a source of new law carries legal risk and may delay desired residential and commercial development outcomes."

Vermont Business Magazine State Auditor Doug Hoffer released an audit today of the Vermont Department of Health’s Food and Lodging program. The audit, the first of four the Auditor’s Office will be releasing in the coming months relating to how state government responds to Vermonters’ complaints, assessed whether Food and Lodging investigates complaints within their own required timeframes and whether inspectors confirm that the violations they find have been corrected. In addition, the audit evaluated whether VDH uses performance measurement to improve their important public health duties. Between 2022 - 2024, Food and Lodging received 1,081 complaints. Complaint types include allegations of bed bugs, inadequate cooking, contaminated food equipment, and unsanitary conditions.

Vermont State Police BCI were notified and began an investigation into a reported death of an adult male who was found unresponsive at Killington Ski Resort in the K-1 area.  Killington PD was notified and assisted with the investigation. It was determined that Michael Dore was skiing with friends when he collapsed. Killington Ski Patrol arrived and attempted CPR. Michael Dore was pronounced deceased during ambulance transport. BCI along with a medicolegal death investigator from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner determined that Dore's death appears to be from a medical event and not a ski accident. Nothing suspicious was observed or reported by first responders or witnesses.  No autopsy was ordered. No further information is available currently.  

Vermont Business Magazine Dispatch Energy LLC, a full-service provider of distributed energy solutions, has announced the acquisition of Green Lantern Solar based in Waterbury, Vermont, an integrated provider, developer, owner and operator of solar photovoltaic assets. Dispatch will acquire over 64 solar and battery storage projects from GLS, totaling 208.9 MWdc, at various stages of development and operations. This transaction brings Dispatch’s total portfolio to 489.5 MW, as the company works to aggregate distributed generation resources nationally. Financial terms were not released.

Vermont Business Magazine M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB) was the largest 7(a) Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in its footprint by units in Fiscal Year 2025 and, for the 17th consecutive year, ranked among the nation’s top 10 Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) lenders. M&T continues to lead 7(a) SBA lending throughout its footprint in the Eastern U.S., outpacing its peers in loan volume and achieving top rankings in the Baltimore, Buffalo, Connecticut, Delaware, Philadelphia, Syracuse and Washington, D.C. SBA districts. M&T also placed among the top five lenders across its New England SBA districts. In Vermont, M&T was the #2 lender with 38 loans for $2.8 million.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to investigate Secretary Kristi Noem’s recent awards of multiple no bid contracts as part of a $220 million ad campaign to firms with which she and her senior advisors have personal ties. Senator Welch asked Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to investigate and provide answers on Secretary Noem’s use of a “national emergency” to issue these taxpayer-funded contracts.  

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fulfilled its statutory obligation and completed required comprehensive site cleanup reviews, known as "five-year reviews," for a Superfund site on the National Priorities List in Vermont during the 2025 Fiscal Year. Burgess Brothers Construction Company operated the facility as a sand pit, salvage yard and landfill from the 1940s until the mid-1970s. Starting in the early 1950s the site was used as a metal salvage facility and disposal area. The two lagoons received liquid wastes and sludge from about 1967 to 1976. Union Carbide Corp.'s Bennington Plant disposed of wastes from battery manufacturing, an unknown quantity of lead sludge, and the equivalent of 47,780 drums of hazardous wastes at the site. Facility operations contaminated soil, ground water and surface water with heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Vermont Business Magazine With President Trump hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia in Washington, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Wednesday released the following statement: Yesterday, Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) of Saudi Arabia in his gold-leafed office, calling him his “very good friend.” This extravagant welcome for the Saudi dictator, head of the wealthiest family on Earth, is notable for several reasons. First, by cozying up to MBS — the man who starved hundreds of thousands of people in Yemen, had a U.S. journalist dismembered with a bone saw, and has ordered a record numbers of executions in the last two years — Trump signals to the world that the United States is now on the side of authoritarianism, not democracy.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University (VTSU) has announced that its plumbing and electrical registered apprenticeship programs have grown over 40% since 2021. Enrollment for the current academic year is at a record high of over 914 apprentices, 90% of whom are Vermont residents. This year, VTSU has 317 employer partners sponsoring apprentices. These employer partners, like Vermont Mechanical, rely on VTSU’s registered apprenticeship program to provide the classroom education that goes hand-in-hand with the on-the-job training apprentices receive with their employer. 

Vermont Business Magazine Nitrogen is a bit of a conundrum. In its gaseous form it’s the most abundant element in the atmosphere, but few organisms can readily use it. And while all living organisms contain nitrogen, a new University of Vermont study finds that even tiny amounts of nitrogen can fuel cyanobacterial blooms and disrupt lake ecosystems. Historically, excess phosphorus has been the culprit behind many cyanobacteria blooms in Lake Champlain, prompting occasional beach closures and spurring monitoring efforts. This new UVM research underscores the importance of understanding the role nitrogen plays in generating toxic algae blooms, too. Cyanobacteria is one of the oldest life forms on the planet. They are photosynthetic organisms that belong in aquatic environments. The problem is when cyanobacteria, often called blue-green algae, populations get out of balance. This can happen when runoff laced with phosphorus and nitrogen enters a lake system.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program (Viability Program), a program of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB), has released an application for grant awards available for capital projects that improve on-farm water quality. These funds are a part of Vermont’s Clean Water Budget, and eligible farm businesses can apply for $5,000 to $50,000. Applications are now open and are due by January 9, 2026. Funded projects will support farm businesses investing in capital projects that improve water quality, and eligible costs can include construction, renovation, and equipment purchases. Additional priority will be given to projects that have co-benefits such as improved business viability and climate adaptation. These projects advance Vermont’s clean water goals, help farmers comply with the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs), and support the long-term success of farm enterprises.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, Community Action Agencies, Wheels for Warmth volunteers and partners announced the record-breaking year for the annual Wheels for Warmth initiative, which began in 2005. Wheels for Warmth collects tires from around the state which are then sold at two sale locations. The program encourages Vermonters to donate tires they no longer need. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) inspects the tires, and those deemed safe are sold at a discounted rate. Tires not viable for resale are donated for agricultural use. All proceeds are donated to participating capstone agencies to go toward heating fuel assistance for Vermonters in need. In 2005, Wheels for Warmth raised just under $12,000. This year, 20 years later, $115,000 was raised in tire sales, recycled tires, and donations from individuals and businesses.