Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Unless otherwise noted, all Green Mountain Care Board meetings are held in the Pavilion Auditorium at 109 State Street, Montpelier, VT.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Climate Action report was presented to Governor Phil Scott on Tuesday, July 31. It sets forth many goals on how to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deal with the consequences of climate change. It also contains discouraging news about the rise of GHG emissions in Vermont, which will make achieving ambitious goals even more challenging and perhaps unlikely.

Vermont Business Magazine Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions estimates in Vermont continued to rise for calendar year 2015, increasing from 9.45 million metric tons CO2 equivalent (MMTCO2e) in 2014 to 9.99 MMTCO2e in 2015. This increase puts Vermont approximately 16% above the 1990 baseline value of 8.59 MMTCO2e and adds to the difficulty of reaching the statewide goal of 50% below 1990 emissions levels by 2028.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that President Donald Trump has signed a major disaster declaration for Chittenden, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange and Orleans counties. Those counties suffered substantial damage during severe storms on May 4 & 5 of this year. A Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identified almost $1.3 million in public infrastructure damage statewide from the May 4-5 storms, exceeding the $1 million minimum Vermont must show to be considered for a disaster declaration.

Chittenden, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange and Orleans counties each exceeded the $3.68 per capita threshold needed to qualify communities and public utilities in those counties for assistance. A preponderance of the damage involved washouts, debris removal and power restoration.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Auditor Doug Hoffer today released a new audit report regarding the Choices for Care (CFC) program managed by the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living DAIL. The auditor found several cases of possible improper payments or even possible fraud within the program. Nationally and in Vermont, the use of home-based care has given rise to compliance and fraud issues. For example, Vermont’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit (MFRAU) has obtained fraud convictions of attendants and/or their employers.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s 2018 Clean Water Week, which kicked off Sunday and runs through August 4, celebrates Vermont’s lakes, rivers and wetlands, as well as the efforts of businesses, farms, communities and organizations to protect and restore clean water. Clean water is essential to Vermont’s health, quality of life and strong economy. It supports diverse recreational opportunities, serves as a major drinking water source and provides critical fish and wildlife habitat.

Vermont Business Magazine Forbes named Vermont Federal Credit Union as the best credit union in Vermont in their first-ever “America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions” list. Vermont Federal Credit Union was one of 145 credit unions to be recognized by Forbes in their inaugural Best In State Credit Unions list, and the only credit union in Vermont to be named. This honor places the Credit Union amongst only 2.4% of financial institutions nationwide to earn the recognition. The Credit Union was selected based on a survey of more than 25,000 bank and credit union customers in the U.S., including our market area. The survey focused on participant’s opinions of their current and former banking relationships.

Forbes article stated, “The banks and credit unions were rated on overall recommendations and satisfaction, as well as five subdimensions (trust, terms and conditions, branch services, digital services and financial advice).”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health will be providing for blood tests for some people who may have been affected by PFOA contamination of drinking water in Bennington and North Bennington, but who have not been previously tested for PFOA levels in their blood. The Vermont Legislature has made funding available for this effort. In 2016, private drinking water wells in the area around the former Chemfab/Saint-Gobain facility had detections of PFOA ranging from non-detect to nearly 3,000 parts per trillion, well above Vermont’s health advisory of 20 parts per trillion.

A blood test can measure the level of PFOA in an individual's blood, and this can be compared to levels measured by CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for adults and older children in the U.S. Most adults have low levels of PFOA in their blood.

by Julie Moore To help kick off the first Earth Day nearly a half-century ago, cartoonist Walt Kelly drew a poster of his character Pogo with a litter stick and a burlap sack surveying a garbage covered Okefenokee Swamp, where he lives. Like the event it boosted, the quote from the drawing, “we have met the enemy and he is us” has endured and become part of our national conscience.

Senator Patrick Leahy The Senate Judiciary Committee failed the American people. In a stark departure from bipartisan precedent, Senate Republicans are seeking to prevent the Senate from fulfilling its obligation to review the full record of a nominee for a lifetime appointment to our nation’s highest court. We must ask: What do Senate Republicans so badly want to hide?

Vermont Business Magazine AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” of Saturn Insurance Inc (Burlington, VT). Saturn is a captive of BP p.l.c. (BP), an integrated global oil and gas company. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) remains stable.

Vermont Business Magazine Farmers, chefs, food producers and others working in Vermont agriculture are invited to apply to the second round of Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) Conference Scholarship Program grants. This round of funding supports participation in the Food Tank Issues Summit: Food Loss & Food Waste, happening in New York City on October 3rd. Speakers at the summit this year include Marion Nestle, best-selling author and professor emeritus at New York University and Dan Barber, author, chef and co-owner of Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, in addition to many other food systems leaders.