Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency came to Montpelier to announce that seven grantees in the state of Vermont have been selected to receive $3,025,000 in EPA Brownfields assessment and cleanup funding. These funds will aid under-served and economically disadvantaged communities around the state in assessing and cleaning up abandoned industrial and commercial properties.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of the state’s expanded effort to identify sources of PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) chemical contamination in the environment, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) sent letters to public drinking water system operators to begin testing for PFAS. Act 21, which was passed by the Vermont Legislature and signed into law by Governor Phil Scott in May, requires all public and noncommunity water systems to conduct monitoring for PFAS by December 2019. If monitoring confirms PFAS contaminants in excess of 20 parts per trillion (ppt), the water system is required to implement treatment to reduce PFAS contaminants below that level.

Vermont Business Magazine The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (HR 3962) authorizes a variety of tools to help energy users become more efficient while requiring the country’s largest energy user – the federal government – reduce its energy use by employing energy-efficient technologies. The bill incentivizes the use of technologies that are commercially available today, can be widely deployed across the country, and will quickly pay for themselves through energy savings. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined by 45 Senate cosponsors, on Monday, July 29, will introduce the Freedom for Americans to Travel to Cuba Act of 2019. The bill would eliminate restrictions on travel to Cuba by American citizens and legal residents. Identical legislation is being introduced today in the House by Representatives Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Tom Emmer (R-Minn.).

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan announced the Burlington Community Justice Center (CJC) has been designated as the new provider of Court Diversion and Pretrial Services in Chittenden County. Court Diversion is a restorative justice alternative to the court system that allows youth and adults, referred by prosecutors, to take responsibility for their unlawful actions and work with community volunteers to repair the harm they caused. Pretrial Services works with defendants who have mental health or substance use treatment needs who are going through the court process. Vermont law directs the Attorney General to administer services in all counties.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Governors Association (NGA) announced Wednesday the launch of the Outdoor Recreation Learning Network to help governors and their staffs leverage their unique natural, cultural and historical resources to advance economic, workforce, health and environmental benefits. The US Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that the outdoors industry employed more than 4.5 million people nationally in 2016, and generated more than $730 billion in economic impact. Vermont outdoor recreation accounts for 34,000 direct jobs and brings $2.5 billion into the economy.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, the Vermont Department of Taxes, and other State agencies will host meetings in Windsor County on July 30, 2019, as part of the Governor’s Capitol for a Day initiative. After a successful year of touring every county in Vermont, State officials will kick off the second round of Capitol for a Day events in Windsor County.

Vermont Business Magazine With renewable energy expected to be the fastest growing source of US electricity generation for at least the next two years, Burlington-based solar developer Encore Renewable Energy has once again been recognized by Solar Power World magazine for its development and installation business, rising to #19 solar developer nationwide and #1 in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The personal income tax, the state's most important revenue source, once again pushed Vermont's General Fund tax revenues well ahead of economists projections, for both the month and the fiscal year. Revenue collections for the month of June 2019, the final month of Fiscal Year 2019, indicate that General Fund tax revenues collected for the month totaled $130.06 million, or $8.34 million above the June consensus cash flow expectations. For the year, General Fund revenue collections exceeded expectations by $58.37 million, or 4.55%.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is reminding Vermont farmers interested in cover cropping assistance to apply by August 1, 2019. The Agency is offering more than $500K in funding for Vermont farms through the Farm Agronomic Practice (FAP) Program. The FAP Program invests state funds in soil-based agronomic practices to improve soil quality, as well as reduce erosion and surface runoff from agricultural fields. Farms can apply to receive up to $8,000 per farm operation for one of, or a combination of field practices, such as cover cropping or no-till or conservation crop rotation.

Vermont Business Magazine As Vermont prepares to significantly increase the funds available for clean water projects, the state’s Clean Water Board is reaching out to Vermonters, asking them to weigh in on the best way to allocate funds. Public input will help the Clean Water Board make its budget recommendation, representing approximately $33 million of the $50 million anticipated to be available for water quality projects in State Fiscal Year 2021. Clean water funding supports municipalities, farmers, and others implementing priority projects to improve water quality in Vermont’s lakes, rivers, and wetlands.

Vermont Business Magazine At a Congressional hearing this afternoon, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) asked Special Counsel Robert Mueller a series of questions on collusion and Russian interference in U.S. elections. When asked by Welch if election interference with no consequences was now “the new normal,” Mueller replied, “I hope this is not the new normal, but I fear it is.”

Rep. Welch is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House committee responsible for investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Source: Welch WASHINGTON – 7.24.2019