Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Power Systems Corp (TSX: NPS), a Barre-based next generation renewable energy technology company, on Wednesday announced financial results and completed its quarterly filing requirements for its second quarter ended June 30, 2016. The company expects trading to resume within four to five business days after this filing. Northern Power was required to re-file its 2015 financial reports because of an error in when some foreign revenues could be accounted for. In so doing, the quarterly reports were delayed and trading was curtailed. The 2015 report was issued in July 2016. Northern Power is best-known for its remote generation systems, in particular its 100 kw wind turbines.

Vermont Business Magazine Phil Scott, candidate for Governor, released a comprehensive economic development plan at a press conference today, reinforcing his commitment to making the economy and affordability his top priorities. Joined at the event by 20 legislators and Vermont business leaders, Scott presented his economic plan, which contains more than fifty (50) specific proposals, initiatives, and ideas to strengthen the economy and make Vermont more affordable.

This comprehensive blueprint for Scott’s economic initiatives represents the most comprehensive plan presented by a candidate for Governor, giving voters a clear view of how Scott’s Administration will lead.

Debbie Winters, who owns Firetech Sprinkler in Colchester and hosted Thursday’s event, offered context for why economic development is the biggest issue for her in this election:

by Tom Pelham Vermont’s energy policies enacted and implemented over the past six years by the majority party parallel the same wasteful and undemocratic pattern as their healthcare and education policies. This 2015 report by the federal Energy Information Agency (EIA) provides baseline context for Vermont’s CO2 emissions. It reports that at 5.6 million metric tons, Vermont’s CO2 emissions are the lowest in the nation and on a per capita basis are second lowest among the 50 states.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is among ten senators who this week introduced legislation to reform the appeals process for veterans benefits. Because of redundancies and inefficiencies in the current process, most veterans wait years for decisions on their appeals.  The new bill (the Department of Veterans Affairs Appeals Modernization Act) would replace the current appeals process – which today stands at more than 450,000 appeals awaiting decisions – with one that Leahy and the other senators said is simple, fair and transparent. The bill is sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and cosponsored by Leahy and Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Tom Udall (D-NM), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Patty Murray (D-WA).

Vermont Business Magazine Fundraising for the 11^th Annual Kelly Brush Ride powered by VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations surpassed $400,000. The Saturday ride supported the Kelly Brush Foundation’s mission to empower those living with paralysis through sport and recreation and to improve ski racing safety. More than 700 cyclists and 30 handcyclists, along with more than 100 volunteers participated in the event that was held on September 10 in Middlebury. The total amount raised was $425,000.

Vermont Business Magazine On August 26, EcoSolutions, a Vermont-based engineering design/build firm specializing in the application of innovative ecological restoration technologies and use of low impact designs (LID) for stormwater and wastewater projects, deployed a two-part pilot project to explore the feasibility and performance of a new approach in mitigating the impact of excess phosphorus runoff to waterbodies such as Lake Champlain. Phosphorus is one of the primary causes of algae blooms. While many algae blooms are not toxic, some kinds of blue-green algae produce natural toxins that can be released when the algae die. This summer has seen numerous beach closures as a precaution to swimmers.

Vermont Business Magazine  If you were anywhere near the Winooski River in Montpelier or Middlesex this past Saturday, you probably saw dozens of people wading through the water carrying buckets and pushing canoes full of tires. There were kids as young as six, employees from local businesses, and even an entire AmeriCorps crew from the NCCC Atlantic Region out of Baltimore. It may have looked like an odd scene, but the facts of the matter—and the numbers—are common for Friends of the Winooski River volunteers. 

This year, 60 hardy citizens risked soggy boots and gloves to remove over 100 tires and several truck loads of junk metal and trash (the final weight is still pending) in a three hour period and, shockingly, from mostly the same stretches of river that are cleaned up every year. These numbers are up from last year when volunteers picked up trash from four sites and pulled 52 tires out of the river. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and the Vermont Foodbank reported this week a 40 percent increase in food donations in 2016, topping the 25-30 percent increase seen in 2015. This announcement comes during September’s Hunger Action Month. It confirms healthier, fresher foods like fruits, vegetables and frozen meat, are making their way into refrigerators and onto plates of Vermonters in need.

“The energy around these new partnerships is contagious. Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law is making lives better, improving nutrition and choice at food shelves, and reducing waste at landfills,” said Deb Markowitz, Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources.

Vermont Business Magazine Black plastic doesn’t belong in your recycling bin. Black plastic is pretty easy to identify. It’s plastic, and it’s black. And in Chittenden County, it doesn’t belong in your recycling bin. We recommend reusing black plastic containers to store leftovers, or in a craft project. But if you can’t invent another use for them, black plastic goes in the trash. If you’re wondering why, keep reading. SEE RECYCLING FLYER BELOW.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin and Transportation Secretary Chris Cole  today announced just over $4 million in transit grants to Green Mountain Transit and the Ascutney, Windsor and St Johnsbury regions.  A $3.9  million Federal Transit Administration competitive grant was awarded to the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) for purchasing buses for Green Mountain Transit (formerly known as CCTA), the largest transit provider in Vermont.  This critical funding will help with purchasing approximately 10 large vehicles to replace nearly 10 percent of their aging fleet. This will allow GMT to continue to provide Vermonters with over 3 million trips per year to jobs, schools, shopping, medical facilities, recreation and personal business. 

Vermont Business Magazine Less than a week after Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) and Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called on House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz to hold a hearing on recent prescription drug price hikes, the chairman announced a hearing to investigate the cause of and potential solutions to prevent skyrocketing drug prices.

Vermont Business Magazine Citing Sue Minter’s experience and commitment to fighting for the middle class, Vermont State Employees’ Association (VSEA) endorsed Minter this past weekend as members gathered for the union’s 72nd annual meeting in Killington. VSEA is the union covering most of state government's workforce. If elected governor, Minter would be the ultimate boss of all state employees, including over 5,000 in the union, and her administration would negotiate future contracts with the union under collective bargaining.