Current News

Vermont Business MagazineSunwealthhas announced the completion of the World Learning School for International Training (SIT) solar project installation.The 196.5 kW project, located on World Learning’s SIT Brattleboro, Vermont campus, will help the national non-governmental organization achieve $10,000 in energy savings per year. The project will also mitigate 183 metric tons of carbon in the first year of operation and produce approximately 260,200 kWh of renewable energy annually – equal to burning 211,866 pounds of coal per year.

by Ellen Kahler, Executive Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs FundVermont’s struggle to grow its workforce weakens our economy, inhibits the ability for Vermont businesses to expand their operations, and threatens the ability for Vermonters and future generations to grow and thrive here in the Green Mountains. An aging workforce, stagnant wages in jobs without career ladders, the cost of housing and childcare, the opioid epidemic, and a need for more young adults entering the workforce are all contributors to our workforce dilemma.

Vermont Business MagazineVermont Attorney General TJDonovan has joined with five other state attorneys general to oppose the USDepartment of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)’s plan to roll back an important Greenhouse Gas Performance Measure. The Measure went into effect on September 28, 2017. It requires all states to track on-road greenhouse gas emissions, to set locally-appropriate performance targets, and to ensure consistency in data collection. The coalition of attorneys general filed comments on proposed rulemaking by FHWA that would repeal the Greenhouse Gas Performance Measure.

In their comments, the attorneys general underscore the need for the Measure given our rapidly changing climate, and call for it to be kept in place and enforced.

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier this year the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), based in Brattleboro, inaugurated a new recognition program – the Environmental Sustainability Leadership Awards. Lynn Rubinstein, NERC Executive Director explained that, “This is an exciting new initiative that we are delighted to launch in conjunction with our 30th anniversary.”

by Jeffrey RWakefield, UVM There was no golden dome on the top of the Davis Center, but the fourth floor of the UVM’s student center bore more than a passing resemblance to the Vermont State House on Monday morning. Nearly 50 state legislators took up residencefor UVM’s fifth annual Legislative Summit.After addressing education, climate change, the Vermont economy and healthcare policy in past years, the summit’s topic this year was “Water: How Will We Ensure That It Is Clean and Plentiful.” The summit was divided into three sub-areas: groundwater contamination, causes and consequences of algal bloom and Lake Champlain as sentinel.

Vermont Business MagazineFood law and policy experts this week launched a nationalHealthy Food Policy Project(HFPP) that identifies and elevates local laws and policies that promote access to healthy food and contribute to strong local economies, improved environmental quality, and health equity. The project, which focuses on socially disadvantaged and marginalized groups, is available athealthyfoodpolicyproject.org.

Audubon Vermont Things are starting to return to normal at Audubon. We're seen some snow, our trails are open, and we're entering the season of Turkeys.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) invites communities interested in charting a path to a more prosperous and self-sufficient future to participate in the 2018 Climate Economy Model Communities Program. A collaboration of VCRD, Efficiency Vermont, Vermont’s utilities and other partners, the Program works with two communities annually to help build and implement locally developed plans that increase economic opportunity, affordability, and resilience in the face of climate change. The Program kicked off in 2017 with Pownal and Middlebury being the first two communities to join the effort.

Vermont Business Magazine The Act 73 Working Group released its recommendations today for long-term water quality funding to meet the state’s clean water goals. Significant long-term investment is needed to restore and sustain the high quality of Vermont’s waterways. While existing resources available from state, municipal and private sectors will meet theirportion of the required clean water investment in the immediate future, these resourcesare stressed and unlikely to be adequate after FY 2021.

With an eye toward developing long-term water quality solutions, the Vermont Legislature passed Act 73 in June. The Act 73 Working Group formed to develop a report that would include recommendations for an equitable and effective long-term clean water funding strategy. The Working Group examined solutions to address the primary goal of Vermont’s clean water initiative, which is not simply to raise and spend money, rather it is to reach water quality standards.

Vermont Business MagazineIn response to growing customer demand in its European medical device and drug delivery business, Bethel, Vermont-based GW Plastics announced this week a merger with product development and 3D printing firm NeraTek Limited of Sligo, Ireland. NeraTek will be merged into Avenue Mould Solutions, which GW acquired in July. NeraTek provides product development, 3D printing, additive manufacturing, and prototyping design services for leading medical device and pharmaceutical companies.

Vermont Business Magazine This afternoon, Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) spoke against the Trump-Ryan tax proposal being debated by the House of Representatives.A final vote on the bill is expected tomorrow by early afternoon. “If you asked 435 members of Congress if they want to raise taxes on students, the answer from 435 members would be ‘no.’ This bill was written by and for the donor class. Let’s defeat this bill and stand up for the middle class.”

Vermont Business MagazineUSCitizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will present 35 citizenship candidates to the Honorable Colleen ABrown, Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the USDistrict Court for the District of Vermont, at a ceremony to be held at Christ the King School in Rutland Wednesday.The Honorable Judge Brown will preside over this special venue ceremony and will deliver theOath of Allegianceto America’s newest citizens.