Current News

Vermont Business Magazine As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, Bucknell University has partnered with Encore Renewable Energy of Burlington, Vermont, to install a 1.6 peak megawatt solar array on approximately seven acres of University-owned land beyond Bucknell’s West Athletic Field and Art Barn, near the 12th fairway of Bucknell Golf Club. Encore will provide comprehensive project development, financing and construction services to advance the project.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power has been recognized as one of the top 10 utilities in the country for leading transformation toward a clean, modern energy system that benefits all, by the Smart Electric Power Alliance. GMP joins utilities including Austin Energy and Seattle City Light on the 2021 Utility Transformation Leaderboard. Along with an energy supply that is 95 percent carbon free, 64 percent renewable and getting greener all the time, GMP is committed to being 100 percent carbon free by 2025 and 100 percent renewable by 2030.

Vermont Business Magazine Tuesday marked Lineworker Appreciation Day, celebrated by the nation’s electric cooperatives, and VEC is honoring all its employees who work hard to keep the lights on. “Whether they’re restoring power after a major storm or maintaining the infrastructure critical to our electric system, lineworkers are key to the co-op,” said VEC Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Towne.

Vermont Business Magazine The Farm to School Vision Grant opens this Thursday, April 15th. This new grant program is part of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Market's Farm to School Program. The purpose of the grant is to help communities build better food systems through youth education and empowerment. We know that passionate people from all over the state are working with youth to help make more just, sustainable and compassionate local food systems and we want to help amplify those efforts. Up to $38,000 is available.

Vermont Business Magazine In December, Community Bank NA challenged the community to help low-income Vermont families heat their homes in conjunction with Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s (CVOEO) WARMTH program. The bank pledged to match WARMTH donations dollar for dollar during the month of December, up to a total of $17,500. Statewide, overall donations equaled $163,323, which is more than $30,000 above last year’s campaign total.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders joined Oregon’s US Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-2), who are leading a bicameral group of 21 lawmakers in introducing the Keep It in the Ground Act—urgent legislation to stop new fossil fuel leases and put an end to nonproducing leases for extraction of coal, oil, gas, oil shale, and tar sands extraction on public lands and in public waters. The combustion of fossil fuels that have been extracted from America’s public lands and waters currently amount to more than 20 percent of America’s total carbon dioxide emissions.

by Jane Stromberg This earth day, let’s focus on taking steps that will protect the unique traits that keep Vermont, well, Vermonty. Whether it’s the quaint covered bridges or the thriving local farm scene, climate change is eroding the character of the Green Mountain State through more swings in extreme temperatures, severe storms, frequent flooding, and invasive species. With so much richness at stake, our day-to-day decisions have never been more important. One of the most impactful choices you can make is where your power comes from and people can rest assured that when they decide to go solar, this decision is followed by a multitude of environmental benefits.

Vermont Business Magazine The Health Department continues to reach out to reschedule people who had appointments through the state registration system for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine through Friday. If you receive a voicemail from the Health Department, please return the call. If you are having trouble finding a new appointment online, we may be able to help you find an earlier one by calling 855-722-7878. Also, the VDH is reporting today 100 new cases of COVID-19 and four more deaths for a statewide total of 237.

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded $46,669,040 to the Vermont Agency of Human Services for the state’s Hotel/Motel Vouchers Program for individuals who were high risk populations and required non-congregate medical sheltering. The approved participants in the state program were able to stay in hotels and motels statewide.

Vermont State Police Shortly before 3:30 pm Wednesday, April 13, 2021, Harley Breer surrendered peacefully to a uniformed Vermont State Police trooper in Marshfield. He was taken into custody without incident. No further information is currently available. The Vermont State Police had been investigating an assault that occurred Friday evening, April 9, 2021, and sought Breer since that time.

Vermont Research News A recent study of a random selection of patients at the Community Health Center of Vermont in Burlington examined how well Vermonters sleep. Seven of the 30 respondents reported having a formal diagnosis of sleep apnea and about half (16/30) reported having trouble falling asleep at least several times each week. The most common barriers to sleep included the use of electronics in the sleep environment (60% ), caffeine use and co-sleeping arrangements. Other high barriers included insomnia due to COVID-19 worries and financial concerns.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont business organizations and advocates, representing cumulatively more than 9,500 employers with more than 200,000 employees, are urging the Vermont Legislature to conform with the federal treatment of forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in the tax year 2021, just as they did in tax year 2020.